Edward Ward (footballer)

Edward Ward (14 June 1895 – 1971), also known as Ted[1] or Ned Ward,[4] was an English footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Nelson, Darlington and Ashington.[1]

Edward Ward
Personal information
Full name Edward Ward[1]
Date of birth (1895-06-14)14 June 1895[2][3]
Place of birth Whitehaven, Cumberland, England
Date of death 1971 (aged 75)[3]
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Blyth Spartans
1920–192? Newcastle United 21 (5)
1922–1923 Crystal Palace 4 (0)
1923–1924 Nelson 2 (0)
1924–1925 Darlington 5 (0)
1925–1927 Ashington 26 (10)
– Workington
– West Stanley
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Ward was born in Whitehaven,[4][lower-alpha 1] Cumberland, the fifth child of John Ward, a coal miner, and his wife Catherine.[5] By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Cowpen, Northumberland, and the five oldest sons, the 15-year-old Edward included, were all employed at the colliery.[6]

He played football as an amateur for Blyth Spartans before joining Newcastle United at the end of the 1919–20 season.[7] He played 25 matches for Newcastle during the 1920–21 season, 21 in the First Division and 4 in the FA Cup.[8] According to the Derby Daily Telegraph, he was the smallest player in Newcastle's squad, "but his pluck and speed make him a dangerous inside right".[7] He lost his place the following year, and moved on to Crystal Palace for a £250 fee.[8] In December 1923, by which time the player had moved on again, to Nelson, Newcastle were obliged to solicit the Football League's assistance in extracting from Crystal Palace the £150 balance owing from the transfer; the League allowed the claim, and ordered the money be paid by 1 January.[9]

Ward signed for Darlington in November 1924.[10] He played five Third Division North matches,[1] including a 2–1 win against Ashington in which he was involved in both goals.[11] After Darlington secured promotion to the Second Division, Ward was not retained,[12] so he signed for Ashington.[13] He scored twice in his first match for the club, in a 3–3 draw at home to Wigan Borough,[14] and over the next two seasons contributed 10 goals from 25 matches in the Third Division North.[1] He finished his career with spells at two North-Eastern League clubs, Workington,[4] where he was appointed captain,[15] and West Stanley.[1]

The 1939 Register lists him as a single man living with his brother John and sister Catherine in Blyth, Northumberland and occupied as a general labourer (heavy worker).[2] Ward's death was registered in the Northumberland Central district, which included Blyth, Ashington, Bedlington and nearby villages, in the first quarter of 1971.[3]

Notes
  1. Joyce's 2004 Football League Players' Records gives Cowpen as Ward's birthplace, but newspaper sources, including the one cited,[4] make clear he was born in Whitehaven, and census returns show both the subject's birthplace and that the family moved from there to Cowpen when he was a child.[5][6]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "Edward Ward on the 1939 Register Image" and "Transcription". RG101/2970E/023/33. Retrieved 30 March 2016 – via Findmypast.
  3. "England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription". Edward Ward. Birth date: June 1895. Death quarter: 1. Death year: 1971. District: Northumberland Central. County: Northumberland. Volume: 1B. Page: 684. Retrieved 30 March 2016 – via Findmypast.
  4. "Ashington forward for Workington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 16 August 1927. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive. Ned Ward, a forward formerly of Blyth Spartans and Newcastle United, has been signed by Workington. For the past two seasons he has been with Ashington. Ward is a native of Whitehaven.
  5. "1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription 19, East Row Kells, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England". Piece RG13/4893 Folio 72 Page 26 – via Findmypast.
  6. "1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription 15 Double Row Cowpen Colliery Blyth, Cowpen, Northumberland, England". Reference RG14PN30833 RG78PN1761 RD559 SD5 ED15 SN99 – via Findmypast.
  7. "Gossip & gleanings. A wee one". Derby Daily Telegraph. 29 January 1921. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Player details: Edward Ward". Toon1892. Kenneth H. Scott. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  9. "Football League Meeting". Derby Daily Telegraph. 18 December 1923. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Today's football". Lincolnshire Echo. 22 November 1924. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Brown's remarkable record for Darlington". Yorkshire Post. 13 April 1925. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Darlington's retained players". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 29 April 1925. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Changes at Ashington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 27 August 1925. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Ashington v. Wigan Borough". Yorkshire Post. 31 August 1925. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Interesting items". Burnley Express. 19 October 1927. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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