Darren Ward (goalkeeper)
Encyclopedia
Darren Ward is a former Welsh
international football goalkeeper and current Academy goalkeeping coach at Sheffield United.
, Ward began his professional career with Mansfield Town
, where he made 97 appearances, and helping them reach the play-offs. He moved to Notts County
for £150,000 in July 1995, where he would go on to make his most appearances. During a six season stay, he played over 300 games for the Meadow Lane
club.
He moved across the River Trent
in 2001 to join local rivals Nottingham Forest
. He spent three seasons in the First Division
with Forest as they strove for promotion back to the Premier League, but a play-off spot in 2003 was as near as they managed.
He finally got his opportunity to play in the top flight when he joined newly-promoted Norwich City
in a two-year deal in August 2004. However, the form of Robert Green
, meant he only managed one appearance in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute in a defeat at Charlton Athletic
. The club was relegated after a solitary season at the highest level, but Ward made no further appearances for the Canaries in the lower tier either.
He was released at the end of the 2005/06 season after not signing a new contract at the club, and on 4 August 2006, he signed a contract at Sunderland
. He had to wait until October for his debut, replacing teenager Ben Alnwick
after the appointment of Roy Keane
as manager, but made the number 1 spot his own for the rest of the season as the side went onto top the Championship
. One particularly outstanding save against which was later described as being in the style of Gordon Banks
by opposition manager George Burley
.
Ward found himself replaced by £9million new signing Craig Gordon
upon Sunderland's return to the Premier League, but did manage three appearances, keeping a clean sheet in his first, a 1–0 win over Derby
. During the January 2008 winter transfer window, he rejected a move to Scottish giants Rangers
, preferring to stay and fight to be the first-choice keeper at the Stadium of Light
.
He failed to break back into the first team at Sunderland the following season and joined of the Championship
in March 2009 on loan for the remainder of the campaign. However, injury meant he returned to his parent club early.
He was released by Sunderland on 28 May 2009 and subsequently announced his playing retirement. On 12 October 2009 it was announced that Ward was the new goalkeeping coach for Peterborough United replacing countryman Andy Dibble
who departed from the role for 'Personal Reasons'.
. Darren later became a father to Rhys Harry Ward in 2000 and Evie Mae Ward in 2003.
for the Welsh national team
before announcing his international retirement in May 2007. He made his international debut on 2 June 2000 in a 0–3 friendly defeat to Portugal
. He had to wait until 2002 for his next cap, and won further during 2003–04, all during friendly internationals.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international football goalkeeper and current Academy goalkeeping coach at Sheffield United.
Club career
Born in WorksopWorksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, Ward began his professional career with Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, where he made 97 appearances, and helping them reach the play-offs. He moved to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
for £150,000 in July 1995, where he would go on to make his most appearances. During a six season stay, he played over 300 games for the Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
club.
He moved across the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
in 2001 to join local rivals Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. He spent three seasons in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
with Forest as they strove for promotion back to the Premier League, but a play-off spot in 2003 was as near as they managed.
He finally got his opportunity to play in the top flight when he joined newly-promoted Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in a two-year deal in August 2004. However, the form of Robert Green
Robert Green
Robert Paul Green is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United and the England national football team as a goalkeeper.-Norwich City:...
, meant he only managed one appearance in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute in a defeat at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. The club was relegated after a solitary season at the highest level, but Ward made no further appearances for the Canaries in the lower tier either.
He was released at the end of the 2005/06 season after not signing a new contract at the club, and on 4 August 2006, he signed a contract at Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He had to wait until October for his debut, replacing teenager Ben Alnwick
Ben Alnwick
Benjamin Robert "Ben" Alnwick is an English footballer who plays for Leyton Orient on loan from Tottenham Hotspur as a goalkeeper. He has also been capped at under-16 and under-18 level for the England team.-Sunderland:...
after the appointment of Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
as manager, but made the number 1 spot his own for the rest of the season as the side went onto top the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. One particularly outstanding save against which was later described as being in the style of Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
by opposition manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
.
Ward found himself replaced by £9million new signing Craig Gordon
Craig Gordon
Craig Sinclair Gordon is a Scottish footballer, currently playing as a goalkeeper for both Sunderland and the Scotland national team. He was a nominee for STV's Scotland's Greatest Ever Football Team in 2010....
upon Sunderland's return to the Premier League, but did manage three appearances, keeping a clean sheet in his first, a 1–0 win over Derby
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. During the January 2008 winter transfer window, he rejected a move to Scottish giants Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, preferring to stay and fight to be the first-choice keeper at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
.
He failed to break back into the first team at Sunderland the following season and joined of the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in March 2009 on loan for the remainder of the campaign. However, injury meant he returned to his parent club early.
He was released by Sunderland on 28 May 2009 and subsequently announced his playing retirement. On 12 October 2009 it was announced that Ward was the new goalkeeping coach for Peterborough United replacing countryman Andy Dibble
Andy Dibble
Andrew Gerald "Andy" Dibble is a Welsh former professional football player who played as a goalkeeper.A journeyman who played for many different teams, Dibble won three caps for the Wales national football team....
who departed from the role for 'Personal Reasons'.
Family
Darren married Nicola in 1997 in WorksopWorksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
. Darren later became a father to Rhys Harry Ward in 2000 and Evie Mae Ward in 2003.
International career
Ward won five capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Welsh national team
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...
before announcing his international retirement in May 2007. He made his international debut on 2 June 2000 in a 0–3 friendly defeat to Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. He had to wait until 2002 for his next cap, and won further during 2003–04, all during friendly internationals.