Chris Ward (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Ward is an English
footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for Lancaster City
having played in the Football league for Lincoln City
.
, Ward began his career with local sides Springfields and Fulwood Amateurs whilst studying at Ashton-on-Ribble High School and Preston College
before signing for Lancaster City
at the age of 18. Ward quickly made an impression at Lancaster, scoring on his full debut in the 2-0 away victory over Winsford United
on 24 August 1999. A deluge of goals for Lancaster attracted the attention of scouts and on 24 April 2001 Ward agreed to join Birmingham City
for £25,000; his contract would officially begin at the start of the 2001-2002 season.
Ward failed to make the first team at Birmingham and in October 2001 he joined Forest Green
on a months loan, making his debut in the 2-2 home draw with Northwich Victoria
on 29 September 2001 and scoring his first, and only, league goal for the club a week later in the 5-1 away defeat to Doncaster Rovers
. In March 2002 he joined Southport
, again on loan, debuting in the 3-2 home defeat to Boston United
on 1 April 2002.
Released by Birmingham at the end of the season, he joined Barrow
, making his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Hucknall Town
on 17 August 2002 and scoring his first league goal for the club in the 1-1 away draw with Runcorn on the following Tuesday. Ward's time with Barrow would be brief as after just a month with the club he signed for Leigh R.M.I.. After making his debut in the 1-0 away defeat to Farnborough Town
on 21 September 2002, Ward notched his only league goal for Leigh in the 2-1 home victory over Stevenage Borough
.
where he linked up with sometime Lancaster City
team-mate Mark Bailey
. He made his Football League debut for the club as a 74th minute replacement for Adie Mike
in the 0-0 draw at Darlington
on 2 November 2002 and scored his first goal for the club on his full league debut against Carlisle United
on 4 February 2003, but he struggled to establish himself at Sincil Bank
and was released at the end of the season.
then Bamber Bridge
. Moves to Kendal Town
and Mossley
followed. He moved on to Clitheroe
, scoring on his debut in the 3-1 home defeat to Bradford Park Avenue on 6 January 2007. Teaching commitments caused Ward to miss most of the 2007-2008 season but he resumed his Clitheroe career at the start of the 2008-2009 season. In November 2008, Ward linked up with his one-time Lancaster City
manager Tony Hesketh at Chorley
, debuting in the 3-1 away defeat to F.C. Halifax Town
on 15 November 2008. Hesketh departed the hot seat at Chorley to return to Lancaster City
and Ward was one of five players who followed him from Chorley
to the Giant Axe based club ahead of the 2009-2010 season. He marked his return to the club by scoring on his debut in the 5–0 home Northern Premier League Division One North
victory over Prescot Cables
on 15 August 2009.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
having played in the Football league for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
.
Early career
Hailing from the Preston suburb of Ashton-on-RibbleAshton-on-Ribble
Ashton-on-Ribble is a suburb of Preston, Lancashire, England.The terms Ashton-on-Ribble and Ashton are often used synonymously, although Ashton is a specific electoral ward whilst Ashton-on-Ribble is a term applied more generally to much of the west of Preston...
, Ward began his career with local sides Springfields and Fulwood Amateurs whilst studying at Ashton-on-Ribble High School and Preston College
Preston College
Preston College is a further education college in the city of Preston, Lancashire, England. The college originally opened as W.R. Tuson College in September 1974 and was renamed on 1 September 1989.-Campus:...
before signing for Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
at the age of 18. Ward quickly made an impression at Lancaster, scoring on his full debut in the 2-0 away victory over Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
on 24 August 1999. A deluge of goals for Lancaster attracted the attention of scouts and on 24 April 2001 Ward agreed to join Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for £25,000; his contract would officially begin at the start of the 2001-2002 season.
Ward failed to make the first team at Birmingham and in October 2001 he joined Forest Green
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
on a months loan, making his debut in the 2-2 home draw with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on 29 September 2001 and scoring his first, and only, league goal for the club a week later in the 5-1 away defeat to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. In March 2002 he joined Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, again on loan, debuting in the 3-2 home defeat to Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on 1 April 2002.
Released by Birmingham at the end of the season, he joined Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
, making his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
on 17 August 2002 and scoring his first league goal for the club in the 1-1 away draw with Runcorn on the following Tuesday. Ward's time with Barrow would be brief as after just a month with the club he signed for Leigh R.M.I.. After making his debut in the 1-0 away defeat to Farnborough Town
Farnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
on 21 September 2002, Ward notched his only league goal for Leigh in the 2-1 home victory over Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
.
Lincoln City
In October 2002, Ward returned to the Football league signing for Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
where he linked up with sometime Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
team-mate Mark Bailey
Mark Bailey (footballer)
Mark Bailey is a former professional football defender who played in the Football League for Rochdale, Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town. He is the son of the former Port Vale player Terry Bailey.-Early career:...
. He made his Football League debut for the club as a 74th minute replacement for Adie Mike
Adie Mike
Adrian Roosevelt "Adie" Mike is an English football forward. He came through the youth ranks at Manchester City, and made his professional debut against Notts County on 25 April 1992, scoring his first goal in the following match against Oldham Athletic.-References:* * at...
in the 0-0 draw at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on 2 November 2002 and scored his first goal for the club on his full league debut against Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
on 4 February 2003, but he struggled to establish himself at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
and was released at the end of the season.
Return to the non-leagues
He linked up with Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
then Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge F.C.
Bamber Bridge F.C. are an English football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play their home games at the QED Stadium in Bamber Bridge...
. Moves to Kendal Town
Kendal Town F.C.
Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...
and Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
followed. He moved on to Clitheroe
Clitheroe F.C.
Clitheroe F.C. are an English football club based in Clitheroe, Lancashire, playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were established in 1877 as Clitheroe Central...
, scoring on his debut in the 3-1 home defeat to Bradford Park Avenue on 6 January 2007. Teaching commitments caused Ward to miss most of the 2007-2008 season but he resumed his Clitheroe career at the start of the 2008-2009 season. In November 2008, Ward linked up with his one-time Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
manager Tony Hesketh at Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
, debuting in the 3-1 away defeat to F.C. Halifax Town
F.C. Halifax Town
Football Club Halifax Town, otherwise known as FC Halifax Town are an English football team who currently play in the Conference North. The club replaced Halifax Town A.F.C. who went into administration during the 2007–08 season.-Formation:...
on 15 November 2008. Hesketh departed the hot seat at Chorley to return to Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
and Ward was one of five players who followed him from Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
to the Giant Axe based club ahead of the 2009-2010 season. He marked his return to the club by scoring on his debut in the 5–0 home Northern Premier League Division One North
Northern Premier League Division One North
Division One North is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at tier 4 of the National League System, tier 8 of the English football league system...
victory over Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
on 15 August 2009.