Jamie Ward

Jamie Ward

Ward with Northern Ireland in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Jamie John Ward[1]
Date of birth	12 May 1986[1]
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Playing position	Striker, Winger
Club information
Current team	Nottingham Forest
Number	19
Youth career
0000–2005	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2006	Aston Villa	1	(0)
2006	→ Stockport County (loan)	9	(1)
2006–2007	Torquay United	25	(9)
2007–2009	Chesterfield	67	(29)
2009–2011	Sheffield United	63	(9)
2011	→ Derby County (loan)	13	(5)
2011–2015	Derby County	125	(29)
2015–	Nottingham Forest	31	(2)
National team^‡
	Northern Ireland U18	2	(0)
2006–2008	Northern Ireland U21	7	(2)
2011–	Northern Ireland	20	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 April 2016. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 April 2016

Jamie John Ward (born 12 May 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker or a winger for Championship club Nottingham Forest. Born in Birmingham he began his career with his home-town club Aston Villa but failed to break into the first team and following a spell on loan at Stockport County he joined Torquay United. From there Ward had signed first for Chesterfield and then Sheffield United before joining Derby County in 2011. Qualifying through his grandfather, he plays for the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career

Aston Villa

Ward began his career as a trainee with Aston Villa and played in their 2004 FA Youth Cup Final defeat against Middlesbrough.^[2] He turned professional in July 2005 after recovering from injuries received in a car crash in 2004.^[3]

Although Ward captained Aston Villa's reserve team, he did not make a first team appearance and in March 2006 he joined Stockport County on loan until the end of the season,^[4] making his league debut in a 1–0 victory away to Bury on 7 March. He made nine appearances, scoring once in a 3–1 home victory against Shrewsbury Town.^[5]

Torquay United

At the end of the 2005–06 season, Ward was released by Aston Villa and on 6 July 2006 he signed a three-year contract with Ian Atkins' Torquay United, despite interest from Stockport County and Wrexham.^[6] However, with a change of ownership and manager at Torquay, Ward asked for a transfer in December 2006.

Chesterfield

He joined Chesterfield, managed by former Torquay manager Roy McFarland, on 31 January 2007 on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.^[7]

Ward started the 2007–08 season brightly, but in only his second game, against Sheffield United, he again pulled his hamstring. He fought back to match fitness and scored twelve goals for the Spireites that season.^[8]

He began the 2008–09 season as a first choice, with his form attracting attention from higher level clubs such as Derby County and Sheffield United.^[9] He rejected the offer of a new contract with Chesterfield in December 2008, with his existing contract set to expire at the end of the season.^[10] In January 2009, Championship side Barnsley made a bid for Ward for £400,000 which had been accepted.^[10] However, the move was called off after he failed to agree personal terms with the club.^[11]

Sheffield United

Having rejected Barnsley, Ward finally agreed a three and a half-year deal with Sheffield United in January 2009 with the clubs agreeing a fee of around £330,000.^[12][13]

Ward scored his first goal for the Blades in only his second appearance, a 2–1 win at Southampton in February of the same year. The Blades had conceded an injury time equaliser before Ward regained the lead in the 93rd minute.^[14] He then played regularly for the remainder of the season, scoring a further goal in the process. His season finished on a low note however as he was sent off for two handballs in the 2009 play-off final against Burnley at Wembley.^[15]

Having been suspended for the first two games of the following season Ward returned in fine form, scoring four goals in seven games, including the opener in the Bramall Lane leg of that season's Steel City derby against the Owls. Unfortunately he was stretchered off the field later in that game following a suspected hamstring tear.^[16] On returning to the team in November Ward played regularly without ever really regaining his early form before again succumbing to an injury in April which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Returning to fitness Ward started the 2010–2011 campaign as a regular first team player once more but an early suspension following a red card in the local derby against Leeds United^[17] coupled with further injury problems and a loss of form meant that he could not hold down a regular spot in the first team.

Derby County

2010–11 season

As the Blades struggled, and with new manager Micky Adams seeking to re-build the team, Ward was loaned to fellow relegation-threatened Championship team Derby County in mid-February for three months, with a view to a permanent deal.^[18] Ward made his debut on 19 February, starting in a 0–0 draw with Scunthorpe United. He also started the next game, a 1–0 defeat to Hull City, but missed the third, a 1–0 win at his parent club Sheffield United, as he was ineligible under the terms of his loan.^[19] He started all of the next 10 games, helping the relegation-threatened side to two wins and four draws. His first goal for the club was a penalty in a 2–1 defeat against Middlesbrough on 8 March.^[20] He scored again on 19 March, a stunning 35-yard strike in a 2–2 draw against Crystal Palace.^[21] For his efforts, he was named in the Championship's "Team of the Week".^[22] He then won 2 penalties in 2 games, the first for a late consolation in a 4–1 defeat to Cardiff City on 2 April,^[23] and the second for Derby's equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Coventry City on 9 April.^[24]

He scored again in the following game, a 2–1 win against fierce rivals Leeds United on 12 April.^[25] His fourth goal for the club was a 20-yard strike in the 30th minute against Burnley on 23 April to put The Rams 2–1 up. In the 61st minute, he conceded a penalty and was shown a straight red card for fouling former Derby defender Tyrone Mears in the 18-yard box. Burnley went on to win the match 4–2.^[26] Ward was suspended for the next 2 games and returned for the final match of the season, against Reading on 7 May. He equalised with a stunning 25-yard goal but Derby went on to lose the match 2–1.^[27] Derby successfully avoided relegation to League One, something his parent club failed to manage. With his loan spell adjudged a success, two days after the end of Derby's season, Ward signed a permanent 2-year contract with the option of a year extension, for an undisclosed fee.^[28]

2011–12 season

On 17 September 2011, Ward scored his first goal as a full Derby player with the equaliser against rivals Nottingham Forest, as Derby recorded a 2–1 win.^[29] The goal won the club's Goal of the Season award.^[30] Ward started all of Derby's (32 games, four goals) league games (bar the League Cup game against Shrewsbury Town when he was on international duty). Ward's run of starts ended after the game against Leicester City when Ward picked up a thigh injury whilst on international duty on 29 February.^[31] Ward was out of action for five weeks, before making his first team return in a goalless draw against Ipswich Town on 7 April 2012.^[32] In the game against Cardiff City on 17 April 2012, Ward was substituted early in the second half after picking up a dead leg.^[33] Ward was fit enough to start the following game at Portsmouth.^[34]

Despite his contract still having a year to run, Derby coach John Metgod stated that the club were in contract talks with Ward during April 2012.^[35] Ward signed a new two-year contract on 19 April 2012, with an option for a further year which will extend his stay at Derby until at least the summer of 2014.^[36] Derby manager Nigel Clough stated in a July 2012 interview that Ward could feature more as a striker in the 2012–13 season.^[37]

2012–13 season

Ward went on to start the first four league games of the season as a striker, providing an assist in the 2–2 home draw against Sheffield Wednesday^[38] and providing two assists and scoring Derby's fifth goal in the 5–1 home win against Watford.^[39]

Ward scored his first brace for the club in a 3–2 win against Charlton Athletic, a 25-yard volley and a penalty.^[40] and scored again four days later opening the scoring in a 2–1 loss against Burnley.^[41] In October 2012, Ward picked up a Grade One tear of his hamstring during the East Midlands derby game at Nottingham Forest.^[42] Two months later, on 6 December, Clough stated he was unsure when Ward would return to the squad and stated his frustration at the injury.^[43] However, a day before Derby's game at Charlton Athletic on 29 December, Clough said that Ward was set to return to the matchday squad as a substitute after a three-month absence.^[44] Ward featured as a 68th-minute substitute and scored the equalising penalty in the 72nd minute in the 1–1 draw against Charlton. However he picked up an injury in the match and was replaced in the 83rd minute.^[45] Ward missed the following game due to the injury.^[46]

Ward scored six times in January and February 2013, which took his tally to eleven goals, overtaking previous top scorer Theo Robinson on nine. However, Ward picked up a new hamstring injury on 1 March, during Derby's 1–0 loss to Crystal Palace. He was absent from the team until 16 March, when he played 63 minutes in Derby's 2–1 win at home to Leicester City. On 29 March he scored his 12th goal of the season in Derby's 3–0 over Bristol City. Ward also missed a penalty after 3 minutes of the match.^[47] He missed the next game, a 2–1 win against Leeds United, but played the final five games of the season, missing another penalty against Ipswich Town.^[48] Ward finished third in the voting for Derby County's player of the season despite missing significant portions of the season through injury and was also named the 87th best player in the 2012–13 Football League Championship by the Actim Index.^[49]

2013–14 season

Ward playing for Derby County in 2015.

Ward played in all of Derby's first 16 league games, starting 14 of them. He scored his first goal of the season on 1 October in a 4–4 draw against Ipswich Town at Pride Park.^[50] He scored a brace against Watford in a 3–2 away win on 19 October^[51] and another in the following game, a 1–1 draw with Birmingham City on 26 October.^[52]

He scored the only goal of the game on 23 November as Derby beat Bournemouth 1–0, powering home a Craig Forsyth cross past former Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp.^[53] He was substituted in the 79th minute after injuring his knee^[54] and after precautionary scans, he was ruled out for a fortnight.^[55] However, he only missed one match and returned ahead of schedule, in the club's 2–1 win against Middlesbrough on 4 December.^[56] He scored his sixth goal of the season, a 25-yard free kick, in a 2–0 win at Charlton Athletic on 14 December.^[57]

Nottingham Forest

On 2 July 2015 Ward signed for Derby's arch-rivals Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal, after his contract with Derby had expired at the end of the season. This was a somewhat unexpected transfer, given that Ward had often played a controversial and provocative role in recent games between the two sides. Ward acknowledged this in an interview with BBC East Midlands Today, but stressed that his focus was now on Forest:

"I think quite a few people will be surprised but I am delighted to be here and Nottingham Forest is the only thing that counts now... [the controversy] was to spice up the local rivalry and it got me a bit more stick than I wanted. I enjoyed it at the time but hopefully the fans can see past that and get behind me."^[58]

Ward scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers on 9 January 2016.^[59] This was followed up a week later by his first league goal, and two assists, in a Man of Match performance against Bolton Wanderers. His scoring form continued, after scoring to secure Nottingham Forest an away victory against Middlesbrough, who were at the top of the table prior to this fixture.^[60]

International career

Born in Birmingham in the West Midlands,^[1] Ward qualifies for Northern Ireland through his grandfather. He made two appearances for the Northern Ireland under-18 team^[3] and a further seven for the under-21 team. After a promising start to his career at Sheffield United, Ward was called into the senior team in March 2009 ahead of two World Cup Qualifiers against Poland and Slovenia. Ward was an unused substitute for the two games in which Northern Ireland won back-to-back games and possibly enhanced their chance of reaching the World Cup in South Africa.^[61]

Ward won his first full cap for Northern Ireland in a Euro 2012 qualifier against the Faroe Islands on 10 August 2011,^[62] with his first start coming in a 2–0 defeat away to Russia in their first 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.^[63] On 6 September 2013, Ward scored his first goal in a 2–4 home defeat against Portugal.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition	Ref
1	6 September 2013	Windsor Park, Northern Ireland	Portugal	2–4	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification	[64]
2	14 October 2014	Karaiskakis Stadium, Greece	Greece	2–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualification	[65]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 April 2016

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aston Villa	2005–06[66]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stockport County (loan)	2005–06[66]	League Two	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
	Total		9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
Torquay United	2006–07[67]	League Two	25	9	2	2	1	0	1	0	29	11
	Total		25	9	2	2	1	0	1	0	29	11
Chesterfield	2006–07[67]	League One	9	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	3
	2007–08[68]	League Two	35	12	0	0	1	0	0	0	36	12
	2008–09[69]	League Two	23	14	4	2	1	0	1	0	38	16
	Total		67	29	4	2	2	0	1	0	74	31
Sheffield United	2008–09[69]	Championship	16	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	18	2
	2009–10[70]	Championship	28	7	3	1	0	0	—		31	8
	2010–11[71]	Championship	19	0	1	1	1	0	—		21	1
	Total		63	9	4	2	1	0	2	0	70	11
Derby County (loan)	2010–11[71]	Championship	13	5	0	0	0	0	—		13	5
Derby County	2011–12[72]	Championship	37	4	2	0	0	0	—		39	4
	2012–13[73]	Championship	25	12	1	0	0	0	—		26	12
	2013–14[74]	Championship	38	7	1	0	0	0	3	0	42	7
	2014–15[75]	Championship	25	6	3	0	1	0	—		29	6
	Total		138	34	7	0	1	0	3	0	149	34
Nottingham Forest	2015–16[76]	Championship	31	2	2	1	1	0	—		34	3
	Total		31	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	34	3
Career totals			333	84	19	7	6	0	7	0	365	91

International

As of 19 October 2015

^[77][78][79]

Northern Ireland national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2011	1	0
2012	3	0
2013	5	1
2014	4	1
2015	4	0
Total	17	2

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 428. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
2. "It just wasn't meant to be for me at Villa, says Jamie". GiveMeFootball.com. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
3. "Profile on Jamie Ward". Chesterfield F.C. 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
4. "Stockport to sign Villa youngster". BBC Sport. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
5. "Stockport 3–1 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
6. "Gulls win race to sign midfielder". BBC Sport. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
7. "Spireites swoop for deadline pair". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
8. "Spireites striker wants 20 goals". BBC Sport. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
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26. "Derby 2 - 4 Burnley". BBC Sport. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
27. "Reading 2 - 1 Derby". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
28. "Derby County swoop for Fielding, Ward & Robinson". BBC. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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30. "Bryson Named Club Player of the Year". Derby County F.C. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
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34. "Portsmouth 1–2 Derby County". Derby County F.C. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
35. "Paul Green and Jamie Ward set to be offered new contracts with Derby County". Derby Telegraph. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
36. "Derby County give forward Jamie Ward new two-year contract". BBC Sport. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
37. "Clough Hints at Ward Positional Switch". Derby County F.C. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
38. "Derby 2 Sheff Wed 2: Johnson to the rescue and preserve Jones' record". Daily Mail. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
39. "Derby 5 Watford 1: Sammon strikes as rampant Rams run riot". Daily Mail. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
40. "Derby 3 – 2 Charlton". BBC Sport. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
41. "Derby 1 – 2 Burnley". BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
42. "Derby County striker Jamie Ward ruled out through injury". Sky Sports. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
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44. "Jamie Ward joy at return to Derby County squad for Charlton". Derby Telegraph. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
45. "Charlton 1–1 Derby". BBC Sport. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
46. "Michael Jacobs impresses Derby County boss Nigel Clough". BBC Sport. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
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48. "Rams look for new penalty taker after fourth successive miss from spot". Derby Telegraph. 8 April 2013.
49. "Rams Six of the Best". Derby County F.C. 16 May 2013.
50. "Derby 4–4 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 2 October 2013.
51. "Watford 2–3 Derby". BBC Sport. 19 October 2013.
52. "Derby 1–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 26 October 2013.
53. "Bournemouth 0–1 Derby". BBC Sport. 23 November 2013.
54. "Derby County striker Jamie Ward in injury scare but could be fit for trip to Wigan Athletic". Derby Telegraph. 28 November 2013.
55. "Injured Derby County striker Jamie Ward out for two weeks". Burton Mail. 30 November 2013.
56. "Team news: Jamie Ward returns for Derby County to face Middlesbrough". Derby Telegraph. 4 December 2013.
57. "Charlton 0–2 Derby". BBC Sport. 14 December 2013.
58. "Jamie Ward: Nottingham Forest sign ex-Derby County striker". BBC Sport. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
59. "Nottm Forest 1-0 QPR". BBC. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
60. "Middlesbrough 0-1 Nottingham Forest". BBC. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
61. "Sheffield United striker gets call up". The Sheffield Star. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
62. "N Ireland 4–0 Faroe Islands". BBC Sport. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
63. "Russia 2–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
64. "Northern Ireland 2–4 Portugal". BBC Sport. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
65. Petrie, Richard (14 October 2014). "Greece 0–2 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
66. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
67. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
68. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
69. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2008/2009". Soccerbasee. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
70. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
71. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
72. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
73. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
74. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
75. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
76. "Games played by Jamie Ward in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
77. "Jamie Ward". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
78. "Ward, Jamie". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
79. "Profile of Jamie Ward". The Irish Football Association. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.

External links

• Jamie Ward career statistics at Soccerbase
• Jamie Ward profile at Derby County F.C.
• NIFG profile
• Northern Ireland stats at Irish FA