Joel Ward (footballer)

Joel Ward

Personal information
Full name	Joel Edward Philip Ward[1]
Date of birth	29 October 1989
Place of birth	Emsworth, England[2]
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [3]
Playing position	Defender / Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team	Crystal Palace
Number	2
Youth career
2006–2008	Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2008–2012	Portsmouth	90	(6)
2008–2009	→ Bournemouth (loan)	21	(1)
2012–	Crystal Palace	126	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:18, 30 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Joel Edward Philip Ward (born 29 October 1989 in Emsworth, England) is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Crystal Palace. He is naturally a centre back, but has mostly played at right full back for Crystal Palace.^[4]

Club career

Portsmouth

Playing for Portsmouth

Ward started his footballing career with East Lodge F.C.^[5][6][7] and signed a professional contract with Portsmouth in July 2008 after spending two years in the Academy and Reserves.

Bournemouth (loan)

The following month, he signed a one-year loan deal with Bournemouth to gain first team experience.^[8][9] Ward soon made his debut in a League Cup match against Cardiff City on 12 August, playing the full 90 minutes as Cardiff ran out 2–1 winners.^[10] His League Two debut came later that week on 16 August in an away draw with Aldershot Town.^[11] As the season progressed, Ward continued to appear in defence for the Cherries and he gained the first yellow and red cards of his career on 18 October in a 4–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town, eventually being sent off for two bookable offences.^[12] However, his form meant that he returned to the side soon afterwards, making his Football League Trophy and FA Cup débuts: a home defeat by Colchester United and a home win against Bristol Rovers on 4 and 8 November respectively.^[13][14] He scored his first and only Bournemouth goal in a 4–0 win over Morecambe on 2 May 2009.^[15]

Return to Portsmouth

Ward made his Portsmouth debut on 26 August 2009 against Hereford United in the League Cup as a central defender, before making his Premier League debut on 14 April 2010 against Wigan Athletic, playing from start to finish at left-back as the game finished goalless. Ward played in most of Pompey's remaining league matches that season and remained at Fratton Park in the summer even after they were relegated to the Football League Championship. He began the new season as first-choice right back, but later lost his starting berth to Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Greg Halford. Ward scored his first Portsmouth goal in a 3–2 defeat to Doncaster Rovers on 13 November 2010.^[16] Starting with their 2–0 victory over Doncaster Rovers in February, Ward played as an attacking midfielder in Portsmouth's new 4–2–3–1 formation. On 18 December 2011, Ward scored the equaliser in the South Coast derby against Southampton.^[17][18]

Crystal Palace

On 28 May 2012, Ward completed his move to Crystal Palace for £400,000 with a four-year contract.^[19] He made his debut on 14 August 2012, in a 2–1 win against Exeter City in the League Cup.^[20] He made his league debut four days later in a home game against Watford.^[21] He won promotion with Crystal Palace after clearing a shot off the line during the last minute of injury time against the same opponents in the 2013 Football League Championship play-off Final.^[22] Ward finally scored his first goal for Crystal Palace in a 3–1 win at home vs. Queens Park Rangers on 14 March 2015.^[23] On 15 April, Joel Ward signed a new contract until summer 2018 ^[24]

Career statistics

As of 24 April 2016.^[25]

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[26]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portsmouth	2008–09	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bournemouth (loan)	2008–09	21	1	2	0	1	0	1	0	25	1
Total		21	1	2	0	1	0	1	0	25	1
Portsmouth	2009–10	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	2010–11	42	3	1	0	3	0	0	0	46	3
	2011–12	44	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	46	3
Total		89	6	2	0	5	0	0	0	96	6
Crystal Palace	2012–13	25	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	30	0
	2013–14	36	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	36	0
	2014–15	37	1	3	0	0	0	-	-	40	1
	2015–16	27	2	5	1	2	0	-	-	34	3
Total		125	3	8	1	4	0	3	0	140	4
Career total		235	10	12	1	10	0	4	0	261	11

Personal life

Ward is currently involved with helping and supporting local charity Faith and Football,^[27] which was set up by former Pompey defender Linvoy Primus. He attended the Bourne Community College in Southbourne and Bishop Luffa School in Chichester. He is also a Christian. On the 20th of April 2014, Ward returned to his home church for an interview about how he brings his Christian faith to his job as a footballer. ^[28] Ward currently lives in London.

Position versatility

Mainly a central defender in the start of his professional career,^[29] Ward proved his versatility in 2010–11 season with Steve Cotterill, playing, in the start of the season, as a right back,^[30] but also playing some matches as a central midfielder,^[31] right midfielder^[32] and as an attacking midfielder.^[33]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 515. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. "Crystal Palace F.C. Profile Joel Ward". Crystal Palace F.C. 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
4. "Ward's stellar work deserving of England call". ESPN. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
6. "Academy Influx Excites Woan". Portsmouth F.C. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
7. "Hart Swoops for Rushden Pair". Portsmouth F.C. 4 July 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
8. "Ward Completes Cherries Loan Move". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
9. "Bournemouth First-Team Squad". A.F.C. Bournemouth. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
10. "Bournemouth 1–2 Cardiff Match Report". BBC Sport. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
11. "Aldershot 1–1 Bournemouth Match Report". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
12. "Shrewsbury 4–1 Bournemouth Match Report". BBC Sport. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
13. "Bournemouth 0–1 Colchester Match Report". BBC Sport. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
14. "Bournemouth 1–0 Bristol Rovers Match Report". BBC Sport. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
15. "Morecambe 0–4 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
16. "Portsmouth 2 – 3 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
17. Portsmouth Football Club – Cotterill's Donny Delight: "Joel Ward has got great energy and did well in that role in the centre in midfield in behind the striker."
18. Football-Lineups.com (Portsmouth Championship lineups from 19 February to 8 March 2011)
19. Ward joins Crystal Palace; Portsmouth F.C., 28 May 2012
20. "Exeter 1–2 Crystal Palace" BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
21. "Crystal Palace 2–3 Watford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
22. "Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford (aet)" BBC Sport. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
23. "Crystal Palace 3–1 QPR" BBC Sport. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
24. New Contract
25. Joel Ward career statistics at Soccerbase
26. Including Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and UEFA Cup
27. Faith and Football
29. Football Lineups – Portsmouth vs Hereford United
30. Football Lineups – Stevenage vs Portsmouth
31. Football Lineups – Watford vs Portsmouth
32. Football Lineups – Leeds United vs Portsmouth
33. Football Lineups – Portsmouth vs Norwich City

External links

• Joel Ward profile at AFCB.co.uk
• Joel Ward career statistics at Soccerbase