Lucy Ward (footballer)

Last updated

Lucy Ward
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-04-15) 15 April 1974 (age 49)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–2002 Leeds United (150)
2002–2003 Doncaster Rovers Belles ? (14 [1] )
2003–2009 Leeds United ? (104)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lucy Ward (born 15 April 1974 [2] ) is a former English footballer who since 2007 has been a co-commentator for broadcasters such as BT Sport, BBC, Talksport, Channel 4 and Sky Sports working on women's and men's football. She has worked on World Cups and Olympic Games, and recently worked for Prime Video and BT Sport on Premier League games. As a footballer she played as a forward.

Contents

Ward represented England at Under-21 level and spent most of her senior career with Leeds United. Lucy was also head of education and welfare at the Leeds United boys' academy from 1998 to 2015 until being sacked by the club; she subsequently won a sex discrimination and unfair dismissal case in 2016. [2] [3]

Club career

Ward joined Leeds United Ladies when it was a community team, staying with the club as they rose to be one of the best teams in England. [2] She moved to Doncaster Rovers Belles in the 2002–03 season, returning to Leeds for the start of the following season. [4]

She played in Lucas Radebe's testimonial at Elland Road in May 2005, scoring soon after coming on as a substitute for Gary Speed and later setting up a goal for Matthew Kilgallon. [5] [6]

In May 2006 she played in the Women's FA Cup Final, playing at centre-back due to injuries in the team; she scored an own goal after just three minutes as Leeds went on to lose 5–0 to Arsenal Ladies. [7]

She became head of education and welfare at Leeds United's academy, overseeing around 250 junior players and a handful of young first-team players. [3] She left the club in 2015, amidst winning a high-profile legal battle (in June 2016) against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino over her dismissal. [8]

International career

Ward represented England at Under-21 level at just 16 years of age. [3]

Other

Ward worked as a co-commentator for the BBC at the Women's World Cup in China, [9] during the Euro 2009 qualifiers [2] and finals, and again during the London 2012 Olympic Games, [10] and Euro 2013. [11] Her partner is former Leeds United and Liverpool Ladies head coach Neil Redfearn. [8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueWFA CupPremier League CupCounty CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 1996–9741
1997–9824
1998–9920
1999–200025
2000–0121
2001–02 [12] 18
2002–03 [1] 17
Doncaster Rovers Belles 2002–03 [1] 1114
Leeds United 2003–04 [13] 1220
2004–05 [14] 916
2005–06 816
2006–07 1019
2007–08 inj
2008–09 33

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Smith</span> English footballer (born 1978)

Kelly Jayne Smith is an English former football forward who spent three spells with FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies. After moving to the United States, Smith broke records with Seton Hall University then played professionally with Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) franchise Philadelphia Charge. After returning to Arsenal for a period which included a 2007 UEFA Women's Cup win, Smith was tempted back to America with another professional contract, this time with Boston Breakers in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She accumulated 117 caps for the England national team after making her debut in 1995. Despite being hit by serious injury during her career, Smith is England's second-highest goalscorer with 46 goals. She played for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Carney</span> English footballer and sports journalist

Karen Julia Carney is an English sports journalist and former professional footballer who played as a winger and midfielder. Carney has been a regular broadcaster for live football on Sky Sports, ITV and Amazon Prime, including Women's Super League and men's Premier League matches since 2019. She is also a sports columnist for BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Television, and The Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Yankey</span> English international association football player (born 1979)

Rachel Aba Yankey, OBE is an English former footballer who played for the England national team. She played as a left winger or forward. She left Arsenal after 13 years in December 2016 at the end of her contract. She is ranked among the Arsenal Ladies Legends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lianne Sanderson</span> English footballer

Lianne Joan Sanderson is a current broadcaster and former English professional footballer who played as a forward. She won 50 caps for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Scott (footballer, born 1984)</span> English footballer and sports commentator (born 1984)

Alexandra Virina Scott is an English sports presenter, pundit, and former professional footballer who mostly played as a right-back for Arsenal in the FA WSL. She made 140 appearances for the England national team and represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Chapman</span> English footballer (born 1982)

Katie Sarah Chapman is an English former professional footballer who notably played for FA WSL clubs Arsenal Ladies and Chelsea Ladies and was a member of the England women's national team. She primarily played as a central midfielder, although she was also deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman was described as "a physical player who handles a brunt of the dirty work in the middle of the pitch." Her playing ability, profile and influence have drawn comparisons to former England captain David Beckham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Brown-Finnis</span> English international association football goalkeeper

Rachel Brown is an English former football goalkeeper who played for Liverpool from 1995 to 1998, spent five years from 1998 playing varsity soccer for Alabama Crimson Tide and Pittsburgh Panthers in the US college system, and played for Everton from 2003 until 2014. She also spent the 2003 season on loan in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild, playing for ÍBV. Since making her debut for the England women's national football team in 1997, Brown won over 80 caps. She understudied Pauline Cope in her first years with the national team, then served as England's first choice goalkeeper at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2009. Due to injuries, Brown was displaced in the team by Karen Bardsley for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was also selected in the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics. Brown was the goalkeeper on Channel Five's Superstars and is employed by Everton FC's Community Project. She married professional golf caddie Ian Finnis in 2013 and has since been known as Rachel Brown-Finnis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eniola Aluko</span> British-Nigerian footballer (born 1987)

Eniola Aluko is a British-Nigerian football executive, football broadcaster and former professional player who played as a winger and striker. Aluko has been a regular broadcaster for live football on ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and Fox Sports in the USA, including men's Premier League matches and Women's Super League since 2014. She was the first Sporting Director for Angel City FC of the American National women's soccer league and formerly held the position of Sporting Director at Aston Villa W.F.C. from January 2020 to June 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Stoney</span> English professional football manager (born 1982)

Casey Jean Stoney is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of San Diego Wave. A versatile defender, she was capped more than 100 times for the England women's national football team since making her debut in 2000. After being a non-playing squad member at UEFA Women's Euro 2005, she was an integral part of the England teams which reached the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 final and the quarter finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007 and 2011. In 2012, Stoney succeeded Faye White as the England captain and also became captain of the newly formed Team GB squad for the 2012 London Olympics. She ended her playing career at Liverpool Ladies. She was the first head coach of the newly-formed Manchester United Women from June 2018 to May 2021.In the inaugural season, United won the FA Women's Championship title and promotion to the FA WSL. On 14 July 2021, Stoney was announced as the head coach of San Diego Wave FC, which began play in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fara Williams</span> English footballer

Fara Tanya Franki Merrett MBE, known professionally as Fara Williams, is a former English footballer who played as a central midfielder for multiple clubs, as well as the England national team. A consistent goalscorer and set-piece specialist, Williams was considered one of England's leading players. From her senior debut in 2001 until her retirement in 2019, Williams earned 177 caps for the England women's team, making her their highest capped player. She played at the 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 European Championships, as well as the World Cups in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Williams also featured for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Bassett</span> English footballer

Laura Bassett is an English former football defender who represented England internationally. She played for FA WSL club Notts County, Birmingham City, Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie, Chelsea, and Australian W-League club Canberra United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Clarke (footballer)</span> English footballer

Jessica Anne Clarke is an English footballer who plays as a winger or forward for FA Women's Championship club Durham and the England national team. After beginning her career with hometown team Leeds United, Clarke joined Lincoln Ladies in 2010 and remained with the club when it re-branded as Notts County four years later. After six seasons at Notts County, Clarke signed for league rivals Liverpool in April 2017. Since making her senior England debut in 2009, Clarke has won over 50 caps. She has represented her country at two editions of the UEFA Women's Championship and at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Ward (footballer)</span> Wales international footballer

Helen Jane Ward is an international football striker who is currently playing club football for Watford. Ward previously spent three seasons with Chelsea Ladies, whom she joined from Arsenal in 2010. Born in the London Borough of Brent, Ward began her career with 14 years at Watford Ladies where she was a prolific goal scorer and team captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy Ward</span> English footballer

Katy Ward is an English footballer who plays as left-back. She currently plays for Coventry City.

Nicole Emmanuel is an English former football right-back. She played for Blackburn Rovers Ladies, having previously played in the FA Women's Premier League for Leeds Carnegie. She hails from Milton Keynes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen White (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1989)

Ellen Toni Convery, commonly known as Ellen White, is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. White is the record goalscorer for the England women's national team. With England, she has competed at three FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: in the 2011, 2015 and 2019, reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019 and finishing third in 2015. White earned the Bronze Boot award at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. She represented Great Britain team at the 2012 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steph Houghton</span> English footballer

Stephanie Jayne Darby is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Women's Super League club Manchester City, which she captains, and has appeared for the England national team. At club level, Houghton started at Sunderland in her native North East England before moving on to Leeds United in 2007 then Arsenal Ladies in 2010. She broke into the Sunderland team as a striker before moving back into midfield and later into defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Bradley-Auckland</span> English footballer

Sophie Elizabeth Bradley-Auckland is an English former international football defender who played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Lincoln Ladies, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool, and, Sheffield United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Moore</span> English footballer

Jade Ellis Moore is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Birmingham City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 FA Women's Cup final</span> Football match

The 2006 FA Women's Cup Final was the 36th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. It was the 13th final to be held under the direct control of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United on 1 May 2006 at The Den in New Cross, London. Leeds United made its first final appearance. Arsenal entered a seventh final having won the trophy on all six previous occasions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Karbusch, Lars; Shannon, David (6 March 2005). "England (Women) 2002/03". RSSSF . Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Meet the players". Leeds United Ladies. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Irvine, Christopher (25 April 2005). "Agony Aunt's dual role strikes chord with Leeds youngsters". The Times. London. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  4. "Leeds unite several returning players and new faces". Fair Game. 16 July 2003. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  5. "The Lucas Radebe Testimonial". Soccer AM World. 2 May 2005. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  6. Fozard, Tom. "Everybody's hero!". BBC Leeds. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  7. Terry, Denise (2 May 2006). "Arsenal 5 Leeds 0: Yankey leads march in Arsenal cup coup". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Leeds United employee Lucy Ward wins sex discrimination case". BBC News. 13 April 2016.
  9. Roach, Stuart (26 September 2007). "Germany v Norway as it happened". BBC Spot. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  10. Rudd, Alyson (11 September 2009). "BBC answers call with thrilling tea-time teaser". The Times. London. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  11. "TVCatchup UEFA Women's Euro 2013" . Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  12. Shannon, David (9 September 2002). "England (Women) 2001/02". RSSSF . Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  13. Shannon, David (20 August 2003). "England (Women) 2003/04". RSSSF . Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  14. Shannon, David (17 June 2006). "England (Women) 2004/05". RSSSF . Retrieved 29 October 2009.