Tony Ward (referee)
Encyclopedia
Tony Ward is a former football referee in the English Football League and English Premier League. He resided in New Southgate, London.
Career
Ward started his career in 1962, serving the south ease counties, Spartan League, Athenian League and Isthmian League Leagues, before becoming a Football League League Linesman in 1974. His first match was a second division game between Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest. In 1980 he was promoted to the Referees List of the Football League of football referees#England, his first match was between Lincoln City and Wigan Athletic.
He became one of the original referees on the newly formed English Premier League Premier League.
Ward reached the retirement age of 48 in 1990, but along with George Courtney, Roger Milford, John Martin and George Tyson he was retained for a further three seasons, based on merit and fitness. His final match was Liverpool v Coventry City in April 1993.
When Arsenal moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, he was appointed Arsenal’s Hon Referees Liaison Officer.
Appointments
Ward refereed the FA trophy Final at Wembley between Altrincham and Runcorn other plum matches, FA Vase Final 1979, Football League Cup Semifinal 1993, West Card ham –v- Brazil (Linesman) 1981 reserve referee football league cup final 1989, linesman European cup winners cup final 1989 Barcelona –v- Sampdoria (reference George Courtnay Courtney)
Testimonial Matches
Ward refereed many testimonial matches for the following players
•Glenn Hoddle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Hoddle|Glenn_Hoddle
•Ossie Ardiles Ardiles
•Pat Jennings Jennings
•Ray Clemence Clemence
•Chris Hughton Hughton
•Ron Chopper Harris "Chopper" Harris
•Tony Gale Gale
•Ray Kennedy Kennedy
•Graham Rix Rix
•Tony Adams Adams
•Ron Hillyard Hillyard
•Robin Wainwright
•Terry Gibson Gibson
•Barry Fry Fry
•Boyer Michael Watson
•Jimmy Cannon
•Danny Blanchflower Blanchflower
•Eddie Baily Baily
•David O’Leary
Deliberate Handball
Ward became the first referee to dismiss a player for deliberate handball when he sent off Laurie Sanchez of Reading -v- Oxford in august 1982. Ten days later he dismissed Colin Todd of Nottingham Forrest –v- Manchester United, Todd becoming the first Division One player to be sent off of handball.
Numbers Board
As fourth official for England v Ireland in 1986 Ward was the first official to use the numbers board for substitutions, the referee was Clive Thomas of Wales.
Private Life Married to wife Sheila in August 1963, with two children Sarah and Tina. He has four grandchildren Amy, Ayoan, Matthew and Seth. He worked for 35 years for Mirror Group Newspapers. He is a keen follower of cricket and baseball.
References
Football League Handbooks 1974–1992
Rothmans Year Books 1980 - 1992
Career
Ward started his career in 1962, serving the south ease counties, Spartan League, Athenian League and Isthmian League Leagues, before becoming a Football League League Linesman in 1974. His first match was a second division game between Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest. In 1980 he was promoted to the Referees List of the Football League of football referees#England, his first match was between Lincoln City and Wigan Athletic.
He became one of the original referees on the newly formed English Premier League Premier League.
Ward reached the retirement age of 48 in 1990, but along with George Courtney, Roger Milford, John Martin and George Tyson he was retained for a further three seasons, based on merit and fitness. His final match was Liverpool v Coventry City in April 1993.
When Arsenal moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, he was appointed Arsenal’s Hon Referees Liaison Officer.
Appointments
Ward refereed the FA trophy Final at Wembley between Altrincham and Runcorn other plum matches, FA Vase Final 1979, Football League Cup Semifinal 1993, West Card ham –v- Brazil (Linesman) 1981 reserve referee football league cup final 1989, linesman European cup winners cup final 1989 Barcelona –v- Sampdoria (reference George Courtnay Courtney)
Testimonial Matches
Ward refereed many testimonial matches for the following players
•Glenn Hoddle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Hoddle|Glenn_Hoddle
•Ossie Ardiles Ardiles
•Pat Jennings Jennings
•Ray Clemence Clemence
•Chris Hughton Hughton
•Ron Chopper Harris "Chopper" Harris
•Tony Gale Gale
•Ray Kennedy Kennedy
•Graham Rix Rix
•Tony Adams Adams
•Ron Hillyard Hillyard
•Robin Wainwright
•Terry Gibson Gibson
•Barry Fry Fry
•Boyer Michael Watson
•Jimmy Cannon
•Danny Blanchflower Blanchflower
•Eddie Baily Baily
•David O’Leary
Deliberate Handball
Ward became the first referee to dismiss a player for deliberate handball when he sent off Laurie Sanchez of Reading -v- Oxford in august 1982. Ten days later he dismissed Colin Todd of Nottingham Forrest –v- Manchester United, Todd becoming the first Division One player to be sent off of handball.
Numbers Board
As fourth official for England v Ireland in 1986 Ward was the first official to use the numbers board for substitutions, the referee was Clive Thomas of Wales.
Private Life Married to wife Sheila in August 1963, with two children Sarah and Tina. He has four grandchildren Amy, Ayoan, Matthew and Seth. He worked for 35 years for Mirror Group Newspapers. He is a keen follower of cricket and baseball.
References
Football League Handbooks 1974–1992
Rothmans Year Books 1980 - 1992