Peter Ward (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Ward is a retired footballer, whose most successful times were with Brighton & Hove Albion
. He mostly played as a forward.
He now lives in the United States
, but can still be seen at Brighton games and events when he visits the UK.
plant in Derby
. While there he played for non-league side Burton Albion
. He was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
in 1975 for a fee of £4000. The move also saw Burton manager Ken Guttridge move to the Albion as Assistant Manager. Initially, Ward played in the Brighton Reserves. His first game with the first team came on 27 March 1976 against Hereford United F.C.
. He scored in the first minute in a game that ended 1-1. During the 1976-77 season, he scored 36 goals, beating the club record and winning him the golden boot. He is still revered by Brighton fans who sing a song dreaming of a team in which every player is Peter Ward: 'We all live in a Wardy Wonderland.' After finishing second in Division Two in 1978-79, Brighton were promoted to the old Football League First Division
. Ward put in a transfer request; however, differences were resolved and he still wore the Brighton shirt for the first game in the top flight which saw Brighton lose 4-0 to Arsenal
. In November of that year Brighton accepted a £400,000 offer from Nottingham Forest
, but Forest manager Brian Clough
changed his mind and withdrew it. http://thisisthealbion.co.uk/history/legends/legends06.html
and Andy Ritchie come south from United to Brighton
. He made 28 league appearances for Nottingham Forest and scored 7 goals, http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=3749 but things didn't really work out. Ward was sent on loan to American side Seattle Sounders
where he scored 18 goals in the 1981-82 season putting him 3rd in the list of top NASL goalscorers that season. http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1982.html#NASL
. Nottingham Forest refused to extend the loan deal further.
of the North American Soccer League
. He played the 1983-1984 NASL indoor and 1984 outdoor season in Vancouver. On October 17, 1984, the Whitecaps sold Ward's contract to the Cleveland Force
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Force. On June 26, 1987, the Force sent Ward to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Glen Lurie and the Stars' 1988 and 1989 first-round and 1990 third-round draft picks. Ward became a free agent at the end of the 1988-1989 season and the Stars did not offer him a contract. He used the summer outdoor sason to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
. On September 6, 1989, he signed with the Wichita Wings
of the MISL. On January 22, 1990, the Wings sent Ward and Mike Stankovic
to the Baltimore Blast for David Byrne
and Keder. In 1991, he again played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, now playing in the American Professional Soccer League
.
game against Norway
. He scored a hat trick
in a 6-0 win for England. He was selected for the full England squad against Luxembourg
a month later but didn't make it onto the pitch.
His only full cap came on 31 May 1980, in a 2-1 win over Australia. Peter Ward came on in the 85th minute, making his international career the shortest ever for an England player.
From 2002-2005, Ward coached at soccer at Tampa Catholic High School located in Tampa, Florida
Ward is soon to be immortalized at the Amex Stadium by being the first player featured in a hall of fame.
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. He mostly played as a forward.
He now lives in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but can still be seen at Brighton games and events when he visits the UK.
Early career and Brighton
Ward was an apprentice engine fitter at the Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
plant in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. While there he played for non-league side Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
. He was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in 1975 for a fee of £4000. The move also saw Burton manager Ken Guttridge move to the Albion as Assistant Manager. Initially, Ward played in the Brighton Reserves. His first game with the first team came on 27 March 1976 against Hereford United F.C.
Hereford 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',...
. He scored in the first minute in a game that ended 1-1. During the 1976-77 season, he scored 36 goals, beating the club record and winning him the golden boot. He is still revered by Brighton fans who sing a song dreaming of a team in which every player is Peter Ward: 'We all live in a Wardy Wonderland.' After finishing second in Division Two in 1978-79, Brighton were promoted to the old Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. Ward put in a transfer request; however, differences were resolved and he still wore the Brighton shirt for the first game in the top flight which saw Brighton lose 4-0 to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. In November of that year Brighton accepted a £400,000 offer from Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, but Forest manager Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
changed his mind and withdrew it. http://thisisthealbion.co.uk/history/legends/legends06.html
Nottingham Forest
Ward finally did move to Nottingham Forest in October 1980 in a three way deal which saw Gary Birtles leave Forest for Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Andy Ritchie come south from United to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. He made 28 league appearances for Nottingham Forest and scored 7 goals, http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=3749 but things didn't really work out. Ward was sent on loan to American side Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
where he scored 18 goals in the 1981-82 season putting him 3rd in the list of top NASL goalscorers that season. http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1982.html#NASL
Back at Brighton
Ward returned to Brighton on loan in October 1982. The loan lasted 4 months, during which time he scored 3 goals, including the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Nottingham Forest refused to extend the loan deal further.
United States
In September 1983, Ward signed with the Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He played the 1983-1984 NASL indoor and 1984 outdoor season in Vancouver. On October 17, 1984, the Whitecaps sold Ward's contract to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Force. On June 26, 1987, the Force sent Ward to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Glen Lurie and the Stars' 1988 and 1989 first-round and 1990 third-round draft picks. Ward became a free agent at the end of the 1988-1989 season and the Stars did not offer him a contract. He used the summer outdoor sason to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. On September 6, 1989, he signed with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
of the MISL. On January 22, 1990, the Wings sent Ward and Mike Stankovic
Mike Stankovic
Mike Stankovic is a retired Yugoslavian soccer defender who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.-Biography:...
to the Baltimore Blast for David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
and Keder. In 1991, he again played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, now playing in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
.
International career
In 1977, Ward had been selected for an England under-21England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
game against Norway
Norway national under-21 football team
The Norwegian national under-21 football team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, is the national football team of Norway for players of 21 years of age or under at the start of a UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship campaign...
. He scored a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in a 6-0 win for England. He was selected for the full England squad against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
a month later but didn't make it onto the pitch.
His only full cap came on 31 May 1980, in a 2-1 win over Australia. Peter Ward came on in the 85th minute, making his international career the shortest ever for an England player.
Personal life
In 2002, Ward married his second wife, Jacqueline. He has three daughters Rachael, Rebekah, and Louisa from his first marriage.From 2002-2005, Ward coached at soccer at Tampa Catholic High School located in Tampa, Florida
Ward is soon to be immortalized at the Amex Stadium by being the first player featured in a hall of fame.