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Joel Ward (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Joel Edward Philip Ward (born 29 October 1989 in Portsmouth
, England
) is an English footballer who currently plays for Football League Championship
club Portsmouth
. He is naturally a centre back, but has made his breakthrough into the first team as both right back and defensive midfielder.
.He is now in the first team and is a good defensive midfield player.
in order to gain first team experience. Ward soon made his debut in a League Cup
match against Cardiff City
on 12 August, playing the full 90 minutes as Cardiff ran out 2-1 winners. His League Two
debut came later that week on 16 August in an away draw with Aldershot Town
. As the season progressed, Ward continued to appear in defence for the Cherries and he gained the first yellow and red cards of his career on 18 October in a 4–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town
, eventually being sent off for two bookable offences. However, his form meant that he returned to the side soon afterwards, making his Football League Trophy
and FA Cup
débuts: a home defeat by Colchester United
and a home win against Bristol Rovers
on 4 and 8 November respectively. He scored his first and only Bournemouth goal in a 4–0 win over Morecambe on 2 May 2009.
in the League Cup
as a central defender, before making his Premier League debut on 14 April 2010 against Wigan Athletic
, playing from start to finish at left-back as the game finished goalless. Ward played in most of Pompeys remaining league matches that season and remained at Fratton Park
in the summer even after they were relegated to the Championship
. He began the new season as first-choice right back, but later lost his starting berth to loanee Greg Halford
. Ward scored his first Portsmouth goal on 13 November in a 3-2 defeat to on 13 November. Starting with their 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers in February, Ward has been playing as an attacking midfielder in Portsmouth's new 4-2-3-1 formation.
. He attended the Anglican Bishop Luffa School in Chichester. Ward lives with his parents in Emsworth.
, playing, in the start of the season, as a right back, but also playing some matches as a central midfielder,, right midfielder and as an attacking midfielder.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
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...
) is an English footballer who currently plays for Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. He is naturally a centre back, but has made his breakthrough into the first team as both right back and defensive midfielder.
Portsmouth
Ward started his footballing career with East Lodge F.C. and signed a professional contract with Portsmouth in July 2008 after spending two years in the Academy and ReservesPortsmouth F.C. Reserves and Academy
Portsmouth F.C. Reserves and Academy consist of the reserve and academy footballers of Portsmouth F.C..- The Reserves :The Portsmouth Reserves consist of mainly young players under the age of 21 who are no longer eligible for the academy but are still trying to make the step up to the senior team...
.He is now in the first team and is a good defensive midfield player.
Bournemouth (loan)
The following month, he signed a one-year loan deal with BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in order to gain first team experience. Ward soon made his debut in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on 12 August, playing the full 90 minutes as Cardiff ran out 2-1 winners. His League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
debut came later that week on 16 August in an away draw with Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
. As the season progressed, Ward continued to appear in defence for the Cherries and he gained the first yellow and red cards of his career on 18 October in a 4–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, eventually being sent off for two bookable offences. However, his form meant that he returned to the side soon afterwards, making his Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
débuts: a home defeat by Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and a home win against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
on 4 and 8 November respectively. He scored his first and only Bournemouth goal in a 4–0 win over Morecambe on 2 May 2009.
Return to Portsmouth
Ward made his Portsmouth debut on 26 August 2009 against Hereford UnitedHereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
as a central defender, before making his Premier League debut on 14 April 2010 against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, playing from start to finish at left-back as the game finished goalless. Ward played in most of Pompeys remaining league matches that season and remained at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
in the summer even after they were relegated to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He began the new season as first-choice right back, but later lost his starting berth to loanee Greg Halford
Greg Halford
Gregory "Greg" Halford is an English footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He is naturally a right wingback or winger, but has played a number of other positions throughout his career, including striker and centre back....
. Ward scored his first Portsmouth goal on 13 November in a 3-2 defeat to on 13 November. Starting with their 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers in February, Ward has been playing as an attacking midfielder in Portsmouth's new 4-2-3-1 formation.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League The Football League The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football... |
FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... (loan) |
2008–09 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Portsmouth F.C. season The 2010-11 Season is Portsmouth's first season in The Championship after they were relegated from the Premier League during the 2009-10 season... |
42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 3 | |
| 2011–12 2011–12 Portsmouth F.C. season The 2011-12 Season is Portsmouth's second season in The Championship after they were relegated from the Premier League during the 2009-10 season.- Squad information :As 11 July 2011.- Transfers :... |
9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 54 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | |
Personal life
Ward is currently involved with helping and supporting local charity Faith and Football, which was set up by former Pompey defender Linvoy PrimusLinvoy Primus
Linvoy Stephen Primus is an English former footballer.Born in Forest Gate, England, to Caribbean-born parents, Primus began his professional career at Charlton Athletic; where he made four league appearances...
. He attended the Anglican Bishop Luffa School in Chichester. Ward lives with his parents in Emsworth.
Position Versatility
Mainly a central defender in the start of his professional career, Ward proved his versatility in 2010-11 season with Steve CotterillSteve Cotterill
Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
, playing, in the start of the season, as a right back, but also playing some matches as a central midfielder,, right midfielder and as an attacking midfielder.