Peter Ward (born 27 July 1955) is a retired footballer, whose most successful times were with Brighton & Hove Albion. He mostly played as a forward. He now lives in the United States, but can still be seen at Brighton games and events when he visits the UK.
[H="Early career and Brighton"]Early career and Brighton[/H]
Ward was an apprentice engine fitter at the Rolls-Royce plant in Derby. While there he played for non-league side Burton Albion. He was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. in 1975 for a fee of £4000. The move also saw Burton manager Ken Guttridge move to the Albion as Assistant Manager. Initially, Ward played in the Brighton Reserves. His first game with the first team came on 27 March 1976 against Hereford United F.C.. He scored in the first minute in a game that ended 1-1. During the 1976-77 season he scored 36 goals, beating the club record and winning him the golden boot. He is still revered by Brighton fans who sing a song dreaming of a team in which every player is Peter Ward, 'We all live in a Wardy Wonderland'. The following season Brighton were promoted to the old Football League First Division. Ward put in a transfer request; however, differences were resolved and he still wore the Brighton shirt for the first game in the top flight which saw Brighton lose 4-0 to Arsenal. In November of that year Brighton accepted a £400,000 offer from Nottingham Forest, but Forest manager Brian Clough changed his mind and withdrew it.
[H="Nottingham Forest"]Nottingham Forest[/H]
Ward finally did move to Nottingham Forest in October 1980 in a three way deal which saw Gary Birtles leave Forest for Manchester United and Andy Ritchie come south from United to Brighton. He made 28 league appearances for Nottingham Forest and scored 7 goals, [FOOTNOTE][2][/FOOTNOTE] but things didn't really work out. Ward was sent on loan to American side Seattle Sounders where he scored 18 goals in the 1981-82 season putting him 3rd in the list of top NASL goalscorers that season.
[H="Back at Brighton"]Back at Brighton[/H]
Ward returned to Brighton on loan in October 1982. The loan lasted 4 months during which time he scored 3 goals, including the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Manchester United. Nottingham Forest refused to extend the loan deal further.
[H="United States"]United States[/H]
In September 1983, Ward signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League.[2] He played the 1983-1984 NASL indoor and 1984 outdoor season in Vancouver. On October 17, 1984, the Whitecaps sold Ward's contract to the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Force. On June 26, 1987, the Force sent Ward to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Glen Lurie and the Stars' 1988 and 1989 first-round and 1990 third-round draft picks.[3] Ward became a free agent at the end of the 1988-1989 season and the Stars did not offer him a contract. He used the summer outdoor season to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League.[4] On September 6, 1989, he signed with the Wichita Wings of the MISL.[5] On January 22, 1990, the Wings sent Ward and Mike Stankovic to the Baltimore Blast for David Byrne and Keder.[6] In 1991, he again played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, now playing in the American Professional Soccer League.[7]
[H="International Career"]International career[/H]
In 1977, Ward had been selected for an England under-21 game against Norway. He scored a hat trick in a 6-0 win for England. He was selected for the full England squad against Luxembourg a month later but didn't make it onto the pitch.
His only full cap came on 31 May 1980, in a 2-1 win over Australia. Peter Ward came on in the 85th minute, making his international career the shortest ever for an England player.
[H="Personal Life"]Personal life[/H]
In 2002, Ward married his second wife, Jacqueline. He has three daughters Rachael, Rebekah, and Louisa from his first marriage.
From 2002-2005, Ward coached at soccer at Tampa Catholic High School located in Tampa, Florida
Ward is soon to be immortalised at the Amex Stadium by being the first player featured in a hall of fame.
[CATEGORY]Players[/CATEGORY]
[H="Early career and Brighton"]Early career and Brighton[/H]
Ward was an apprentice engine fitter at the Rolls-Royce plant in Derby. While there he played for non-league side Burton Albion. He was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. in 1975 for a fee of £4000. The move also saw Burton manager Ken Guttridge move to the Albion as Assistant Manager. Initially, Ward played in the Brighton Reserves. His first game with the first team came on 27 March 1976 against Hereford United F.C.. He scored in the first minute in a game that ended 1-1. During the 1976-77 season he scored 36 goals, beating the club record and winning him the golden boot. He is still revered by Brighton fans who sing a song dreaming of a team in which every player is Peter Ward, 'We all live in a Wardy Wonderland'. The following season Brighton were promoted to the old Football League First Division. Ward put in a transfer request; however, differences were resolved and he still wore the Brighton shirt for the first game in the top flight which saw Brighton lose 4-0 to Arsenal. In November of that year Brighton accepted a £400,000 offer from Nottingham Forest, but Forest manager Brian Clough changed his mind and withdrew it.
[H="Nottingham Forest"]Nottingham Forest[/H]
Ward finally did move to Nottingham Forest in October 1980 in a three way deal which saw Gary Birtles leave Forest for Manchester United and Andy Ritchie come south from United to Brighton. He made 28 league appearances for Nottingham Forest and scored 7 goals, [FOOTNOTE][2][/FOOTNOTE] but things didn't really work out. Ward was sent on loan to American side Seattle Sounders where he scored 18 goals in the 1981-82 season putting him 3rd in the list of top NASL goalscorers that season.
[H="Back at Brighton"]Back at Brighton[/H]
Ward returned to Brighton on loan in October 1982. The loan lasted 4 months during which time he scored 3 goals, including the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Manchester United. Nottingham Forest refused to extend the loan deal further.
[H="United States"]United States[/H]
In September 1983, Ward signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League.[2] He played the 1983-1984 NASL indoor and 1984 outdoor season in Vancouver. On October 17, 1984, the Whitecaps sold Ward's contract to the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Force. On June 26, 1987, the Force sent Ward to the Tacoma Stars in exchange for Glen Lurie and the Stars' 1988 and 1989 first-round and 1990 third-round draft picks.[3] Ward became a free agent at the end of the 1988-1989 season and the Stars did not offer him a contract. He used the summer outdoor season to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League.[4] On September 6, 1989, he signed with the Wichita Wings of the MISL.[5] On January 22, 1990, the Wings sent Ward and Mike Stankovic to the Baltimore Blast for David Byrne and Keder.[6] In 1991, he again played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, now playing in the American Professional Soccer League.[7]
[H="International Career"]International career[/H]
In 1977, Ward had been selected for an England under-21 game against Norway. He scored a hat trick in a 6-0 win for England. He was selected for the full England squad against Luxembourg a month later but didn't make it onto the pitch.
His only full cap came on 31 May 1980, in a 2-1 win over Australia. Peter Ward came on in the 85th minute, making his international career the shortest ever for an England player.
[H="Personal Life"]Personal life[/H]
In 2002, Ward married his second wife, Jacqueline. He has three daughters Rachael, Rebekah, and Louisa from his first marriage.
From 2002-2005, Ward coached at soccer at Tampa Catholic High School located in Tampa, Florida
Ward is soon to be immortalised at the Amex Stadium by being the first player featured in a hall of fame.
[CATEGORY]Players[/CATEGORY]
