Dai Ward
Encyclopedia
David "Dai" Ward was a Welsh
former professional footballer and Wales
international. During his career in The Football League
, he averaged a goal every other game, scoring 160 goals in 316 matches between 1954 and 1965.
and his prolific goalscoring exploits led a number of teams to take an interest in him. He eventually signed for Bristol Rovers
but it was a number of years before he managed to hold down a regular place in the side due to the presence of one of the clubs all-time greats in Geoff Bradford
. Eventually handed a chance in the side he responded by scoring nine times in his first eight games. His most prolific season for the club was in 1958–59 when he finished the season with 27 goals in 38 matches and it was this form that resulted in him earning his first cap for Wales
in a 2–2 draw with England
on 26 November 1958 in the 1959 British Home Championship
.
Ward's spell at the club turned sour when he fell out with manager Bert Tann
and began a bitter battle to leave the club, even at one time threating to quit football entirely unless he was allowed to leave. He left the club in February 1961 to return to his home country to sign for Cardiff City
. In his first full season at the club he finished as the top scorer with 17 goals and was handed his second Wales cap in a 1–1 draw with England on 14 October 1961. However his efforts could not stop the club being relegated from Division One and the following season he fell out of favour and was allowed to join Watford
, where he spent one year before finishing his professional career at Brentford
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former professional footballer and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international. During his career in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, he averaged a goal every other game, scoring 160 goals in 316 matches between 1954 and 1965.
Career
Ward began his career at his hometown side Barry TownBarry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
and his prolific goalscoring exploits led a number of teams to take an interest in him. He eventually signed for Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
but it was a number of years before he managed to hold down a regular place in the side due to the presence of one of the clubs all-time greats in Geoff Bradford
Geoff Bradford
Geoffrey Reginald William Bradford was an English professional footballer who spent his entire career at Bristol Rovers and won one international cap for England....
. Eventually handed a chance in the side he responded by scoring nine times in his first eight games. His most prolific season for the club was in 1958–59 when he finished the season with 27 goals in 38 matches and it was this form that resulted in him earning his first cap for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a 2–2 draw with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 26 November 1958 in the 1959 British Home Championship
1959 British Home Championship
The 1959 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations. It came the year after the notable failure of England and Scotland to impress at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, for which all four nations qualified for the only time...
.
Ward's spell at the club turned sour when he fell out with manager Bert Tann
Bert Tann
Bert Tann was a football manager and player, who managed Bristol Rovers for 18 years, from 1950 to 1968. He was the longest-serving post-war manager of Rovers, and the second longest overall behind Alfred Homer.-Playing career:...
and began a bitter battle to leave the club, even at one time threating to quit football entirely unless he was allowed to leave. He left the club in February 1961 to return to his home country to sign for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. In his first full season at the club he finished as the top scorer with 17 goals and was handed his second Wales cap in a 1–1 draw with England on 14 October 1961. However his efforts could not stop the club being relegated from Division One and the following season he fell out of favour and was allowed to join Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, where he spent one year before finishing his professional career at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.