Elliott Ward

Elliott Leslie Ward (born 19 January 1985) is an English professoonal footballer who plays as a defender for Chelmsford City. He has previously played in the Premier League for West Ham United and Norwich City.

For the Dorchester Town midfielder, see Elliot Ward.

Elliott Ward
Ward with Nottingham Forest in April 2013
Personal information
Full name Elliott Leslie Ward[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-19) 19 January 1985
Place of birth Harrow, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Chelmsford City
Youth career
2001–2003 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 West Ham United 15 (0)
2004 → Peterborough United (loan) 0 (0)
2004–2005 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 3 (0)
2005–2006 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 16 (1)
2006–2010 Coventry City 116 (14)
2010 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 6 (1)
2010 → Preston North End (loan) 4 (0)
2010–2013 Norwich City 51 (1)
2012–2013 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 12 (0)
2013 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 19 (3)
2013–2016 Bournemouth 25 (0)
2015 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 5 (0)
2016–2018 Blackburn Rovers 23 (1)
2018 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 15 (0)
2018–2019 Notts County 17 (1)
2019–2020 Cambridge United 13 (0)
2020– Chelmsford City 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:11, 16 March 2020 (UTC)

Playing career

West Ham United

Ward was born in Harrow, Greater London, and came through the youth system of West Ham United, making his debut for the Under-17 side before joining the first team in August 2003. In 2004, Ward went out for two loan spells, at Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers in July and December 2004 respectively.

Ward made an impact on the West Ham first team during the second half of the 2004–05 season, while the club were in the Football League Championship. Primarily due to injuries to more established defenders such as Christian Dailly and Malky Mackay, he found himself with the opportunity of partnering Anton Ferdinand in the centre of defence.

When Ward was brought into the first team, for the 1–3 loss against Reading on 12 March 2005,[3] the club were lying outside the playoff places and looked unlikely to make it back to the Premiership. The pairing of Ward and Ferdinand enabled the team to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season. This unbeaten run included the three playoff games, thus ensuring their return to the Premiership for the following season.[4]

At the beginning of the 2005–06 season, to prepare for the upcoming Premiership campaign, West Ham signed a number of players, including central defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins from Cardiff City. Gabbidon became the preferred choice to partner Ferdinand, and this resulted in chances being few and far between for Ward. He played two League Cup games, but made only one substitute Premiership appearance (against Bolton on 27 August 2005)[5] before being loaned out to Plymouth Argyle in November. The month-by-month loan deal lasted three months, and after playing 16 games and scoring once against Wolves,[6] Ward returned to The Hammers in February 2006 playing three further games towards the end of the 2005–06 season.

Coventry City

Ward left West Ham in the summer of 2006, joining Coventry City for £1m.[7] Manager Micky Adams said of him: "In Elliott we have a young, talented and confident defender who I'm sure will bring a real presence to our back line. He is just the sort of player we are looking for to help the club progress."[8]

Ward made his debut for Coventry on 6 August 2006 in a 2–1 home win against Sunderland with his first goal coming on 12 September 2006 in a 2–1 away defeat to Ipswich Town.[9][10] The next three seasons saw him play 39, 37 and 32 league games for Coventry scoring 14 league goals but by season 2009–10 he was reduced to only eight games for the season.[11] Having fallen down the pecking order at Coventry, in February 2010 he joined Doncaster Rovers on a one-month emergency loan after Rovers suffered injuries to several first team defenders.[12] He made an instant impact at Doncaster, scoring an overhead kick goal on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.[13] He played only six league games for Doncaster before being signed by Preston North End manager Darren Ferguson, on loan until the end of the season, in March 2010.[14] He made only four league appearances for Preston before returning to Coventry City.

Norwich City

On 26 May 2010, Ward signed a two-year deal with Norwich City on a free transfer.[7] His Norwich debut came on 6 August in the opening game of the 2010–11 season, a 2–3 home defeat to Watford.[15] Ward picked up an injury in the 2–1 away win over Coventry City on 18 December, sidelining him until the end of January. He made his return to the team in the 2–1 win over Millwall on 1 February 2011, scoring his first goal for the club to equalise.[16]

Ward played 39 of a possible 46 league games in Norwich City's side which won promotion to the Premier League in 2010–11 season but in July 2011, during a pre-season tour of Germany, Ward picked up a knee injury which kept him out of action until January 2012.[17][18]

In October 2012 Ward joined Nottingham Forest on loan until 29 December 2012, with a view to a permanent transfer.[19] Ward returned to Norwich at the end of his loan spell and was named as a substitute for their FA Cup game away at Peterborough United. However, in January 2013, after just over a week with Norwich, he returned on loan with Nottingham Forest.[20] His first Forest goal came in his first game of his second loan spell, on 12 January 2013. His headed goal in the 83rd minute from a Radosław Majewski cross saw Forest 2–1 winners against Peterborough United giving manager Alex McLeish his first win as Forest manager.[21]

Bournemouth
Ward defending against Philadelphia Union midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin in a 2015 international friendly

On 18 June 2013 Ward signed an initial one-year deal with Bournemouth following their promotion to the Championship.[22] He made two league appearances during Bournemouth's 2014–15 season after which they were promoted to the Premier League.[23] His contract with Bournemouth was cancelled in January 2016 by mutual consent.[24]

Huddersfield Town (loan)

On 9 September 2015, Ward signed on loan for Championship club Huddersfield Town for an initial period of a month.[25] He made his Town début in the 2–0 loss against Cardiff City on 12 September. He played five games, before returning to Bournemouth, due to a knee injury. Following recovery from the injury, Ward rejoined the Terriers on 7 December for a second loan spell until 28 December. However, he returned to the South Coast on the conclusion of this loan without being included in a match-day squad in his second spell.[26]

Blackburn Rovers

On 20 January 2016, Ward signed with Blackburn Rovers on a two and a half year deal.[27] Ward appeared seven times for Blackburn in his first season, scoring once.

At the very end of the 2018 January transfer window, Ward was loaned out to Milton Keynes Dons,[28] before being released by Blackburn at the end of the 2017–18 season.[29]

Notts County

On 3 September 2018, Ward joined Notts County. The length of contract was not disclosed.[30]

He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2018–19 season.[31]

Cambridge United

In September 2019, Ward joined Cambridge United on a contract lasting until January 2020.[32]

Chelmsford City

On 17 February 2020, Ward signed for Chelmsford City, making his debut on the same evening in a 3–1 win against Tonbridge Angels.[33]

Personal life

He is the brother of Scott Ward and Hemel Hempstead Town defender Darren Ward, who turned down the opportunity of joining West Ham and the Premiership, at the start of the 2005–06 season, instead opting for Championship side Crystal Palace, claiming he did not want to keep his brother out of the team.[34]

Career statistics
As of match played 22 April 2019[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2004–05[36] Championship 11000103[lower-alpha 1]0150
2005–06[37] Premier League 4000200060
Total 150003030210
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2004–05[36] League Two 3000000030
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2005–06[37] Championship 161000000161
Coventry City 2006–07[38] Championship 393001000401
2007–08[39] Championship 366312000417
2008–09[40] Championship 335311000376
2009–10[41] Championship 8000000080
Total 1161462400012616
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2009–10[41] Championship 7100000071
Preston North End (loan) 2009–10[41] Championship 4000000040
Norwich City 2010–11[42] Championship 391002000411
2011–12[43] Premier League 120100000130
2012–13[44] Premier League 0000100010
Total 511103000552
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2012–13[44] Championship 313000000313
Bournemouth 2013–14[45] Championship 230101000250
2014–15[46] Championship 2000100030
Total 250102000280
Huddersfield Town (loan) 2015–16[47] Championship 5000000050
Blackburn Rovers 2015–16[47] Championship 7120000091
2016–17[48] Championship 6000000060
2017–18[49] League One 100202010150
Total 231402010301
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2017–18[49] League One 150———150
Notts County 2018–19 League Two 171100010191
Career total 328221321405036024
  1. Appearances in the Championship play-offs

Honours

Club

West Ham United

  • Football League Championship play-offs: 2005[50]

Blackburn Rovers

gollark: Instead of joining the army, you should simply not do so.
gollark: People say lots of things like that without very substantiated reasoning and it's very things.
gollark: There are considerations.
gollark: I haven't decided. Either Imperial ICL College London, Bristol or Edinburgh probably.
gollark: Why does that matter?

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. Elliott Ward at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. "Reading 3 West Ham 1". Sportinglife.com. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  4. "Preston 0 West Ham 1". Sportinglife.com. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  5. "West Ham 1 Bolton 2". Sportinglife.com. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  6. "Wolves 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  7. "Coventry defender Elliott Ward agrees Norwich City deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  8. "Coventry recruit West Ham's Ward". BBC Sport. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  9. "Ipswich Town v Coventry City, 12 September 2006". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  10. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  11. "Elliott Ward". www.sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  12. "Doncaster Rovers land Elliot Ward on loan". BBC Sport. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  13. "Sheff Wed 0–2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  14. "Coventry defender Elliott Ward joins Preston on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  15. Chowdhury, Saj (6 August 2010). "BBC Sport – Football – Norwich 2–3 Watford". BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  16. "Norwich 2 – 1 Millwall". BBC Sport. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  17. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  18. "Norwich City's Elliott Ward and James Vaughan to make return in Premier Reserve League fixture against Chelsea". www.edp24.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  19. "Elliott Ward joins Nottingham Forest from Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  20. "Elliott Ward happy to be back among familiar faces at Nottingham Forest". www.thisisnottingham.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  21. "Notts Forest 2–1 Peterborough Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  22. "AFC Bournemouth sign ex-Norwich defender Elliott Ward". BBC Sport. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  23. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  24. "Defender Elliott Ward departs AFC Bournemouth". AFC Bournemouth. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  25. Limb, Callum. "Elliott Ward joins Town on Loan".
  26. Thomson, Doug (29 December 2015). "Elliott Ward back at AFC Bournemouth after Huddersfield Town loan ends". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  27. "Blackburn Rovers: Club sign Danny Graham and Elliott Ward". 20 January 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  29. "Blackburn Rovers: Danny Graham and Craig Conway in contract talks". BBC Sport. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  30. "Elliott Ward: Former Coventry, Norwich and Blackburn defender joins Notts County". BBC Sport. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  31. "Notts County: Jon Stead and David Vaughan among 12 released". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  32. "Elliott Ward: Cambridge United sign ex-Coventry, Norwich and Blackburn defender". 13 September 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  33. "Ward Signs". Chelmsford City F.C. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  34. "Quotes of the week". BBC Sport. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2011. There is a reason I didn't go to West Ham, as I'm sure everyone can work out – I didn't want to leave my brother on the bench! Darren Ward explains why he turned down a move to the Premiership and opted for Crystal Palace ....
  35. "Elliott Ward". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  36. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  37. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  38. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  39. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  40. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  41. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  42. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  43. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  44. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  45. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  46. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  47. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  48. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  49. "Games played by Elliott Ward in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  50. "West Ham 1–0 Preston". BBC Sport. 30 May 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  51. Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
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