Gavin John Ward (born 30 June 1970) is an English former professional footballer and coach, who is currently interim goalkeeping coach at Championship side Cardiff City.
He played in the position of goalkeeper from 1987 until 2011. He notably played Premier League football for Leicester City as well as playing for Aston Villa, Shrewsbury Town, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Stoke City, Walsall, Coventry City, Barnsley, Preston North End, Tranmere Rovers, Chester City, Wrexham, Hednesford Town and Gainsborough Trinity.
Playing career Ward was born in Sutton Coldfield and began his career with Aston Villa before moving on to Shrewsbury Town. He failed to make an appearance for either club and left for West Bromwich Albion where he made his professional debut in a League Cup match against Bradford City. He then moved to Cardiff City where he finally found regular football becoming a regular in the 1991–92 season and helped the "Bluebirds" win the Division Three title in 1992–93.
He made over 60 league and cup appearances for Cardiff in four seasons before moving to Leicester City for a transfer fee of £175,000 in 1993 where he help them to win promotion to the Premier League in 1994. After leaving Leicester he had a short spell at Bradford City before Bolton Wanderers paid £300,000 for his services in 1996, allowing Ward to again taste top-flight action. He spent three seasons at the Reebok Stadium acting as back-up to Keith Branagan. He spent the first half of the 1998–99 season on loan at Burnley before joining Stoke City on a permanent basis in March 1998. He instantly established himself as first choice at the Britannia Stadium and he played in all 60 of the club's fixtures during a hectic 1999–2000 season which saw Stoke win the Football League Trophy and reach the play-offs as Stoke lost controversially to Gillingham. He was second choice at Stoke in 2000–01 and 2001–02 and joined Walsall in the summer of 2002.
After spells at Walsall, Coventry City, Barnsley and Preston North End he joined Tranmere Rovers in June 2006. Ward made a bright start to the 2006–07, even managing to score a goal, which came from a free kick just outside his box in the 9th minute against Leyton Orient on 2 September 2006.
He was released by Tranmere in May 2007 and made the short journey to Chester, where he was backup and coach to John Danby. Ward's only competitive appearance for Chester was as a half-time substitute for the injured Danby against Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Trophy on 4 September 2007, with Chester going on to win a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw. On 8 January 2008, Ward moved to arch-rivals Wrexham on a free transfer. He played in over 50 matches for the club before being released at the end of the 2008–09 season. Ward went on to play for Hednesford Town during the 2008–09 season.
Coaching career
Following the appointment of Brian Little as manager of Gainsborough Trinity, Ward was appointed Assistant Manager, as well as signing on as the club's reserve goalkeeper.
Ward retired from playing at the end of the 2010–11 season. On 18 July 2011, he left his post at Gainsborough to become Goalkeeping Coach at Shrewsbury Town. He was registered as a player after second-choice goalkeeper Joe Anyon picked up an injury in October 2012, with Ward taking his place on the bench.
On 4 July 2013, Ward agreed to be Goalkeeping Coach at Nottingham Forest.
On 27 September 2024, Ward agreed to be interim Goalkeeping Coach at Cardiff City following an eight-year stint at Queens Park Rangers.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa1987–88Second Division0000000000Shrewsbury Town1988–89Second Division0000000000West Bromwich Albion1989–90Second Division0000100010Cardiff City1989–90Third Division20000020401990–91Fourth Division10000000101991–92Fourth Division2400000202601992–93Third Division320100030350Total590100070670Leicester City1993–94First Division3200030403901994–95Premier League6010000070Total380103040450Bradford City1995–96Second Division360306010460Bolton Wanderers1995–96Premier League50000000501996–97First Division1103010001501997–98Premier League6010100080Total220402000280Burnley (loan)1998–99Second Division170000000170Stoke City 1998–99Second Division60000000601999–2000Second Division4601040906002000–01Second Division1700030202202001–02Second Division100100010120Total79020701201000Walsall2002–03First Division7000000070Coventry City2003–04First Division120300000150Barnsley (loan)2003–04Second Division1000000010Preston North End 2004–05Championship70001000802005–06Championship0000000000Tranmere Rovers2006–07League One381101000411Chester City2007–08League One0000001010Wrexham2007–08League Two2200000002202008–09Conference Premier32000—30350Total540000030570Career Total37011502102804341
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Football League play-offs and Football League Trophy.
Honours Cardiff City Football League Third Division: 1992–93 Welsh Cup: 1992–93
Bolton Wanderers Football League First Division: 1996–97
Leicester City Football League First Division play-offs: 1994
Stoke City Football League Trophy: 1999–2000
References
External links