John Ward (football manager)
Encyclopedia
John Patrick Ward is an English former footballer and manager
. He is currently manager of Colchester United
after being promoted from assistant manager on 31 May 2010.
where he scored more than 100 goals between 1970 and 1979. He also had spells at Watford
, Grimsby
and Workington
.
at Watford from 1982 and then followed Taylor to Aston Villa
in 1987. After Taylor became England
manager in 1990, Ward remained at Villa for a further year and a half under Jozef Venglos
and then Ron Atkinson
.
as manager) and recommended that they hire Ward, which they did. After his appointment, Ward turned York around and in the 1992-93 season
and had them challenging for automatic promotion for much of the season. He left before the season ended, and promotion via the play-offs was achieved by his successor, Alan Little.
clubs, Bristol Rovers
and Bristol City
, and was assistant to Adrian Heath
at Burnley
.
In 1998 Ward became assistant manager to Colin Lee
at Wolverhampton Wanderers
. After Lee's departure, he had a brief spell as caretaker manager
before reverting to assistant under Dave Jones. He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2003 but left the club at the end of the season.
manager in November 2003 and in 2006 guided the club to promotion into League One
.
in October 2007. Ward guided the club to a play-off position in his first season in charge, despite this however, a poor start to the 2008–09
campaign saw him under heavy pressure to resign. He was later given the backing of the Carlisle board. However, he eventually parted company with the club by mutual consent on 3 November.
Ward applied for the vacant Swindon Town
managerial role in November after Maurice Malpas
left the club by mutual consent. He held preliminary talks with Port Vale
over their managerial vacancy in May 2009, and was the favourite for the job, however lost out to Micky Adams
.
Ward was then appointed as Stockport County's assistant manager after the appointment of Gary Ablett as Stockport boss.
appointed Aidy Boothroyd
as manager he became his assistant manager. But on 20 May 2010, Aidy Boothroyd resigned as manager to join Coventry City
and 11 days later, Ward was promoted to manager.
Ward made 6 signings in his first transfer window Brian Wilson
, Andrew Bond
, Ben Coker
, Lloyd James
, Carl Pentney
and Dave Mooney
(a player he had previously attempted to sign while in charge of Carlisle United) on a 6-month loan. Ward also re-signed Sam Corcoran
after he was released by Aidy Boothroyd.
John Wards 1st 10 league games as Colchester United manager were successful, with the U's being undefeated (having drawn 7). John Ward's 1st Colchester league defeat was at home to Huddersfield, losing 3-0. Later that season, Colchester won 4 out of 5 games in the league, with their latest win being 3-2 over Hartlepool. After this result, Colchester were 3rd in the division after 17 games and 2 points of the promotion places, being considered as potential promotion and play-off contenders. After this match, John Wards Colchester then struggled to rediscover their potential promotion form, only winning 7 of their next 29 league matches, losing 13 of them (which also includes losing 4-2 away to Leyton Orient). During this form, Colchester lost 4 matches in a row in March, with the latest being against Tranmere. Following this match as well as the defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge, Colchester fans expressed their anger, believing John Ward should be sacked. U's chairman Robbie Cowling publicly backed Ward, stating he would continue as manager. Soon after, John Ward got his best win as Colchester manager to date with the U's beating Exeter 5-1 at home. Colchester did suffer in their away matches. In April, Colchester went on to lose 4-1 at Carlisle and 4-2 to Yeovil. Colchester finished the league season with a 2-1 home win over Bristol Rovers, ending the season with the fans having a split opinion over John Ward. Colchester finished 10th in the 2010/2011 league season.
During the 2011-2012 pre-season, John Ward made a few new additions as well as releasing some fringe players. Michael Rose
, Tom Eastman
and the return of club legend Karl Duguid
were among the new arrivals. In August, he also dipped into the loan market to sign Reading winger Michail Antonio
who enjoyed a successful 3 month loan spell with the Essex club. To date, the U's have suffered inconsistent form that's seen them unable to cement a place in the top half. In November, they also swooped for Swansea striker Casey Thomas
on loan until January 2012. After back to back defeats in November, which saw the U's slip to 14th, question marks were again raised over the management team but owner Robbie Cowling continues to back Ward, despite discontent among some supporters.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He is currently manager of Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
after being promoted from assistant manager on 31 May 2010.
Playing days
As a player, Ward spent the bulk of his career as a forward at Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
where he scored more than 100 goals between 1970 and 1979. He also had spells at 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...
, Grimsby
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
.
Managerial career
Following his retirement from playing, Ward was assistant manager to Graham TaylorGraham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
at Watford from 1982 and then followed Taylor to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1987. After Taylor became 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...
manager in 1990, Ward remained at Villa for a further year and a half under Jozef Venglos
Jozef Vengloš
Dr. Jozef Vengloš is a former Czechoslovak football player and coach. He has a Doctorate in Physical Education, as well as specialising in Psychology...
and then Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
.
York City
In late 1991, Ward heard that , then a struggling fourth division club, had just sacked their manager. He happened to mention to his former boss Taylor in a phone call that he felt York would be a good club to start his own managerial career at, and Taylor in turn contacted the York City board (who had been considering appointing Billy McEwanBilly McEwan (footballer born 1951)
William Johnston McGowan "Billy" McEwan is a former Scottish football player and now manager. He had a 14 year playing career in the Scottish and English professional leagues, playing for seven different clubs. McEwan then undertook a coaching career; he has managed six different English league...
as manager) and recommended that they hire Ward, which they did. After his appointment, Ward turned York around and in the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
and had them challenging for automatic promotion for much of the season. He left before the season ended, and promotion via the play-offs was achieved by his successor, Alan Little.
Bristol Rovers & City
He later managed both BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
clubs, 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....
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, and was assistant to Adrian Heath
Adrian Heath
Adrian Paul Heath is an English football manager and former player. He manages American USL Pro Orlando franchise. As a player he is remembered as part of the Everton side of the 1980s, where he won several trophies...
at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
.
In 1998 Ward became assistant manager to Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Colin Lee is an English football manager and former footballer. He is currently Chief Executive of League Two side Torquay United and President of Buckfastleigh Rangers Football & Social Club.-Playing career:...
at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. After Lee's departure, he had a brief spell as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
before reverting to assistant under Dave Jones. He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2003 but left the club at the end of the season.
Cheltenham Town
Ward was appointed Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
manager in November 2003 and in 2006 guided the club to promotion into League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
.
Carlisle United
After keeping the Robins in League One the following season, he moved to Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in October 2007. Ward guided the club to a play-off position in his first season in charge, despite this however, a poor start to the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
campaign saw him under heavy pressure to resign. He was later given the backing of the Carlisle board. However, he eventually parted company with the club by mutual consent on 3 November.
Ward applied for the vacant Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
managerial role in November after Maurice Malpas
Maurice Malpas
Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas is an ex-footballer and the assistant manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle having joined the club on 27 January 2009 along with their new manager Terry Butcher...
left the club by mutual consent. He held preliminary talks with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
over their managerial vacancy in May 2009, and was the favourite for the job, however lost out to Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
.
Ward was then appointed as Stockport County's assistant manager after the appointment of Gary Ablett as Stockport boss.
Colchester United
After Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
appointed Aidy Boothroyd
Adrian Boothroyd
Adrian Neil "Aidy" Boothroyd is an English former footballer and is currently managing Northampton Town after being sacked as manager of Coventry City on March 14, 2011. He was manager of Watford of the Championship until 3 November 2008...
as manager he became his assistant manager. But on 20 May 2010, Aidy Boothroyd resigned as manager to join Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and 11 days later, Ward was promoted to manager.
Ward made 6 signings in his first transfer window Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson (footballer)
Brian Jason Wilson is an English footballer currently playing for Colchester United.-Career:...
, Andrew Bond
Andrew Bond
Andrew Mark Bond is an English footballer currently playing for Colchester United.-Crewe Alexandra:...
, Ben Coker
Ben Coker
Benjamin Leslie "Ben" Coker is an English footballer currently playing for Colchester United who is capable of playing left wing or left back.-Career:...
, Lloyd James
Lloyd James (footballer)
Lloyd Stuart Roger James is a Wales under-21 international footballer who plays for Colchester United.-Southampton:He attended Ashton Park School in the Ashton Gate area of Bristol...
, Carl Pentney
Carl Pentney
Carl Benjamin Pentney is an English footballer who plays for Hayes & Yeading United as a goalkeeper, on loan from Colchester United .-Leicester City:...
and Dave Mooney
Dave Mooney
Dave Mooney is an Irish footballer, currently playing for Leyton Orient.-Shamrock Rovers:Born in Dublin, Mooney joined Shamrock Rovers, his first senior club, in 2000 and scored in every round when Rovers' won the U17 All Ireland title against Kingdom Boys in 2002. He made his first team debut...
(a player he had previously attempted to sign while in charge of Carlisle United) on a 6-month loan. Ward also re-signed Sam Corcoran
Sam Corcoran
Samuel Joseph "Sam" Corcoran is an English footballer who plays for Chelmsford City as a midfielder.-Career:Corcoran was first involved with the Colchester United first team after being named on the bench for a League One game against Millwall on 31 March 2009, while he was in the second year of...
after he was released by Aidy Boothroyd.
John Wards 1st 10 league games as Colchester United manager were successful, with the U's being undefeated (having drawn 7). John Ward's 1st Colchester league defeat was at home to Huddersfield, losing 3-0. Later that season, Colchester won 4 out of 5 games in the league, with their latest win being 3-2 over Hartlepool. After this result, Colchester were 3rd in the division after 17 games and 2 points of the promotion places, being considered as potential promotion and play-off contenders. After this match, John Wards Colchester then struggled to rediscover their potential promotion form, only winning 7 of their next 29 league matches, losing 13 of them (which also includes losing 4-2 away to Leyton Orient). During this form, Colchester lost 4 matches in a row in March, with the latest being against Tranmere. Following this match as well as the defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge, Colchester fans expressed their anger, believing John Ward should be sacked. U's chairman Robbie Cowling publicly backed Ward, stating he would continue as manager. Soon after, John Ward got his best win as Colchester manager to date with the U's beating Exeter 5-1 at home. Colchester did suffer in their away matches. In April, Colchester went on to lose 4-1 at Carlisle and 4-2 to Yeovil. Colchester finished the league season with a 2-1 home win over Bristol Rovers, ending the season with the fans having a split opinion over John Ward. Colchester finished 10th in the 2010/2011 league season.
During the 2011-2012 pre-season, John Ward made a few new additions as well as releasing some fringe players. Michael Rose
Michael Rose
Michael Rose is a Grammy award winning reggae singer from Jamaica. Possessing a wide-ranged voice, Rose would regularly meet in Kingston with singers, musicians, writers, and producers such as Dennis Brown, Big Youth, The Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Sly and Robbie, and others.-Career:Rose started his...
, Tom Eastman
Tom Eastman
Thomas Michael Eastman is an English professional footballer who plays for Football League One side Colchester United.-Ipswich Town:Thomas Micheal Eastman started playing football at the age of eight for his local team, Weeley, in Essex...
and the return of club legend Karl Duguid
Karl Duguid
Karl Anthony Duguid is an English footballer who plays primarily as a midfielder for Colchester United.He began his career with Colchester United and made his senior debut in 1995. He helped the club win promotion to the Second Division in 1998, via the play-offs, and the Championship in 2006, by...
were among the new arrivals. In August, he also dipped into the loan market to sign Reading winger Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio
Michail Gregory Antonio is an English footballer who plays for Reading as a winger.-Career:Antonio signed for Championship team Reading from Tooting & Mitcham United Michail Gregory Antonio (born 28 March 1990) is an English footballer who plays for Reading as a winger.-Career:Antonio signed for...
who enjoyed a successful 3 month loan spell with the Essex club. To date, the U's have suffered inconsistent form that's seen them unable to cement a place in the top half. In November, they also swooped for Swansea striker Casey Thomas
Casey Thomas
Casey Elliot Thomas is a Welsh footballer and Wales under-21 squad member, who plays as a striker for Colchester United on loan from Swansea City.-Club career:...
on loan until January 2012. After back to back defeats in November, which saw the U's slip to 14th, question marks were again raised over the management team but owner Robbie Cowling continues to back Ward, despite discontent among some supporters.
Managerial statistics
- As of 26 November 2011.
Team Nat From To Record G W L D Win % York City York City F.C.York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
1 October 1991 1 March 1993 70 22 24 24 31.42 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.... 1 August 1993 10 May 1996 155 65 48 42 41.93 Bristol City Bristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... 27 March 1997 28 October 1998 84 38 27 19 45.23 Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... 18 December 2000 3 January 2001 4 3 1 0 75.00 Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... 6 November 2003 2 October 2007 207 76 77 54 36.71 Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C.Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... 2 October 2007 3 November 2008 61 26 23 12 42.62 Colchester United Colchester United F.C.Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... 31 May 2010 present 74 25 26 23 33.78
Promotions
- 1992–931992-93 in English footballThe 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
: Division 3Football League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Playoff Winner (promotion to Division 2Football League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
) - York CityYork City F.C.York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
(*Ward was in charge of the first 30 league games of York's promotion in 1992-93) - 1997–981997-98 in English footballThe 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
: Division 2Football League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Runner Up (promotion to Division 1Football League First DivisionThe 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....
) - Bristol CityBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... - 2005–062005-06 in English footballThe 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Playoff Winner (promotion to League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...