Lewis Ward (footballer) explained

Lewis Ward
Fullname:Lewis Moore Ward[1]
Birth Date:5 March 1997
Height:[2]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:AFC Wimbledon
Clubnumber:22
Youthclubs1:Reading
Youthyears2:2012–2013
Youthclubs2:Portsmouth (youth loan)
Years1:2014–2019
Clubs1:Reading
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Whitehawk (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Sutton United (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Fylkir (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2016
Clubs5:Margate (loan)
Caps5:13
Goals5:0
Years6:2017
Clubs6:Margate (loan)
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2017
Clubs7:Hungerford Town (loan)
Caps7:10
Goals7:0
Years8:2017
Clubs8:Hungerford Town (loan)
Caps8:17
Goals8:0
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Aldershot Town (loan)
Caps9:25
Goals9:0
Years10:2018–2019
Clubs10:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Years11:2019
Clubs11:Forest Green Rovers (loan)
Caps11:12
Goals11:0
Years12:2019–2021
Clubs12:Exeter City
Caps12:28
Goals12:0
Years13:2021
Clubs13:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps13:0
Goals13:0
Years14:2021–2022
Clubs14:Swindon Town
Caps14:9
Goals14:0
Years15:2022–2023
Clubs15:Sutton United
Caps15:9
Goals15:0
Years16:2023–2024
Clubs16:Swindon Town
Caps16:5
Goals16:0
Years17:2024
Clubs17:Charlton Athletic
Caps17:0
Goals17:0
Years18:2024–
Clubs18:AFC Wimbledon
Caps18:0
Goals18:0
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:England U16
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:07:10, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:07:10, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Lewis Moore Ward (born 5 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AFC Wimbledon.

Career

Reading

Ward began his career with Reading, and has a youth loan with Portsmouth during the 2012–13 season.

He joined Whitehawk on loan on 10 October 2014, in a deal that lasted until 7 November 2014.[3] He made two FA Cup appearances, conceding four goals in each game.[4]

On 5 May 2016, Ward joined Icelandic Úrvalsdeild side Fylkir on loan until 26 June 2016.[5]

Ward signed on loan for Margate in August 2016,[6] before having two spells with Hungerford Town, the second beginning in August 2017.[7]

Ward moved on loan to Aldershot Town in November 2017, originally until January 2018,[8] but this was later extended until the end of the season.[9] Aldershot made it to the play-offs, losing out to Ebbsfleet United after a penalty shoot out. Initially Aldershot went ahead 3–1 on penalties due to two saves by Ward, however Ward himself hit the post with the deciding penalty.[10]

On 22 June 2018, Ward signed a new contract with Reading, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2020.[11]

Ward joined Northampton Town on a season-long loan on 27 July 2018.[12] He made his professional debut on 14 August 2018, in the EFL Cup, and made four further appearances in the EFL Trophy. On 14 January 2019, Reading announced that Ward's loan with Northampton Town had ended early, and that he would join Forest Green Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season.[13] [14]

Exeter City

On 20 June 2019, Ward signed for Exeter City on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[15] [16] On 5 October 2019, Ward suffered a broken arm in a League Two fixture against Crewe Alexandra. The injury came in the 86th minute, and Ward continued until the end of the match.[17] [18]

He was replaced in the starting XI by Jonny Maxted, but returned to the lineup in February 2020 when Maxted suffered an injury in the pre-match warmup away at Swindon Town, by which time Ward had recovered to match fitness.[19]

In January 2021 he moved on loan to Portsmouth.[20]

On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Exeter at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[21]

Swindon Town

On 27 July 2021, Ward signed for Swindon Town on a one-year contract following a trial.[22] He made his league debut at Forest Green Rovers on 9 October 2021, keeping a clean sheet and saving a penalty.[23]

Sutton United

He transferred to Sutton United on 1 September 2022 for an undisclosed fee.[24] His contact was mutually terminated on 31 January 2023.[25]

Return to Swindon Town

On 22 August 2023 he re-signed for Swindon Town, also becoming the club's Youth Development Phase Lead Coach.[26] On 18 January 2024, it was announced that Ward had left the club.[27]

Charlton Athletic

On 22 January 2024, Ward joined Charlton Athletic on a deal until the end of the season, with a club option of an additional year.[28] [29] On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that Ward would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired having not made any first-team appearances for the club.[30]

AFC Wimbledon

On 11 July 2024, Ward joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal.[31]

Personal life

Ward has obtained a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Staffordshire.[32] [33]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading2014–15Championship0000000000
2015–16Championship0000000000
2016–17Championship0000000000
2017–18Championship0000000000
2018–19Championship0000000000
Total0000000000
Whitehawk (loan)2014–15Conference South0020000020
Sutton United (loan)2015–16National League South0000000000
Fylkir (loan)2016Úrvalsdeild3000000030
Margate (loan)2016–17National League South190100000200
Hungerford Town (loan)2016–17National League South100000000100
Hungerford Town (loan)2017–18National League South170000000170
Aldershot Town (loan)2017–18National League250000010260
Northampton Town (loan)2018–19League Two0000104050
Forest Green Rovers (loan)2018–19League Two120000020140
Exeter City2019–20League Two200000030230
2020–21League Two80101000100
Total280101030330
Portsmouth (loan)2020–21League One0000000000
Swindon Town2021–22League Two90101060170
Sutton United2022–23League Two90101010120
Swindon Town2023–24League Two5000003080
Charlton Athletic2023–24League One0000000000
AFC Wimbledon2024–25League Two0000001010
Career total137060402101680

Honours

Portsmouth

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17 . English Football League . 17 December 2018.
  2. Web site: Why a young goalkeeper's height isn't that important, by Reading and Aldershot Town 6ft 5ins ("and a bit") shot stopper. live. Kaylee. Seckington. 29 March 2017. Surrey Live. 21 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621144052/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/young-goalkeepers-height-isnt-important-14471955. 21 June 2019.
  3. News: One in, one out at Whitehawk . The Argus . 10 October 2014.
  4. Official matchday programme, Whitehawk v Basingstoke Town, 29 April 2015
  5. Web site: Lewis on loan in Iceland. readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C.. 8 May 2016. 5 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Reading Academy goalkeeper Lewis Ward signs for Margate. 3 August 2016. 29 August 2018. Mark. Stokes. Kent Online.
  7. Web site: Reading FC: Lewis Ward and Rob Dickie loaned out by Royals boss Jaap Stam. 1 August 2017. 29 August 2018. Anthony . Smith. Reading Chronicle.
  8. Web site: Lewis Ward: Reading goalkeeper joins Aldershot Town on loan. 10 November 2017. 29 August 2018. BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Lewis Ward: Aldershot extend Reading goalkeeper's loan until the end of the season. 10 November 2017. 29 August 2018. BBC Sport.
  10. News: Aldershot Town 1-1 Ebbsfleet United (4-5 pens). BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: Goalkeeper Ward extends Royals deal . readingfc.co.uk . Reading F.C. . 22 June 2018 . 22 June 2018.
  12. Web site: Lewis Ward links up with Northampton Town on loan . readingfc.co.uk . Reading F.C. . 28 July 2018 . 27 July 2018.
  13. Web site: Ward Starts Fresh New Loan . readingfc.co.uk . Reading F.C. . 14 January 2019 . 14 January 2019.
  14. Web site: Lewis Ward: Reading keeper joins Forest Green Rovers on loan until end of the season. 14 January 2019. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: 'He can go on to bigger and better things' Matt Taylor's view on new Exeter City goalkeeper Lewis Ward. Stuart. James. 21 June 2019. Devon Live. 21 June 2019.
  16. Web site: Lewis Ward: Exeter City sign Reading goalkeeper. 21 June 2019. BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Injury update: Lewis Ward. www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 7 October 2019. 6 December 2019.
  18. Web site: Lewis Ward: Exeter City goalkeeper played on despite having broken arm. 10 October 2019. BBC Sport. 6 December 2019.
  19. Web site: Match Report: Swindon Town 2 Exeter City 1. www.exetercityfc.co.uk.
  20. Web site: Pompey announce signing of Exeter and ex-Reading goalkeeper Lewis Ward. www.portsmouth.co.uk.
  21. Web site: Retained List announced.
  22. Web site: LEWIS WARD JOINS TOWN. Swindon Town F.C.. 27 July 2021.
  23. News: Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Swindon Town. BBC Sport.
  24. News: Goalkeeper Ward moves to Sutton from Swindon. BBC Sport .
  25. Web site: Deadline day update. www.suttonunited.net.
  26. Web site: Lewis Ward rejoins Town. www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
  27. Web site: Goalkeeper Lewis Ward has the left the club. www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 18 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  28. News: CHARLTON SIGN GOALKEEPER LEWIS WARD. Charlton Athletic Official Site . 22 January 2024 . 22 January 2024.
  29. Web site: Charlton Athletic sign goalkeeper Lewis Ward. www.bbc.co.uk.
  30. News: 2023/24 END-OF-SEASON SQUAD UPDATE . Charlton Athletic Official Site . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024.
  31. Web site: Wimbledon sign Charlton goalkeeper Ward. BBC. 11 July 2024. 11 July 2024.
  32. Web site: Lewis Ward signed a new deal with Reading FC after a strong loan spell at Aldershot. 22 June 2018. 29 August 2018. Luke . Adams. Reading Chronicle.
  33. Web site: Why I'm preparing for life after football, by Reading and Aldershot Town goalkeeper Lewis Ward. 26 February 2018. 29 August 2018. Kaylee. Seckington. Get Surrey.
  34. News: Papa John's Trophy final: Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City (aet, 2–4 on pens) . Williams . Adam . BBC Sport . 13 March 2021 . 15 March 2024.