Matt Ward (footballer)

Last updated
Matt Ward
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Ward [1]
Date of birth (2003-08-16) 16 August 2003 (age 22) [1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Woking
Number 11
Youth career
Wroxham
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021 Wroxham 5 (3)
2021–2024 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2023 → Derry City (loan) 3 (1)
2023–2024 → Braintree Town (loan) 13 (3)
2024– Woking 39 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:27, 21 September 2025 (UTC)

Matthew James Ward (born 16 August 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League club Woking.

Contents

Career

Ward joined the Academy at Ipswich Town from Wroxham in 2020. [2] He had scored three goals in five games for Wroxham in the Eastern Counties Football League during the abandoned 2020–21 season. [3] In March 2021, a deal was agreed "in principle" for him to sign his first professional contract with Ipswich Town the following season. [4] [5] He made his first-team debut on 27 November 2022, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Gassan Ahadme in a 4–0 win over Buxton in the FA Cup. [6]

Following a loan spell with Irish side, Derry City in early 2023, [7] Ward joined National League South side, Braintree Town in November that same year. [8] On 9 February 2024, Ward was recalled from his loan a month earlier than originally expected. [9]

On 17 August 2024, Ward signed for National League club Woking following his departure from Ipswich Town. [10] On the same day, he made his debut for the club during a 2–0 home defeat to Gateshead, replacing Charley Kendall in the 61st minute. [11] A week later, he scored his first goal for Woking in their 3–0 away victory at Ebbsfleet United, curling an effort past Mark Cousins in the 93rd minute. [12] Ward went onto impress during the duration of the season, picking up player of the month awards in September [13] and November. [14] He went onto feature 42 times, scoring 6 goals in his debut season with the club before signing a new two-year deal in May 2025. [15]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 September 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wroxham 2020–21 [16] Eastern Counties League Premier Division5300—0053
Ipswich Town 2021–22 [17] League One 0000000000
2022–23 [17] League One0010000010
2023–24 [17] Championship 000000—00
Total0010000010
Derry City (loan) 2023 [17] LOI Premier Division 3100—1 [a] 041
Braintree Town (loan) 2023–24 [17] National League South 133——1 [b] 0143
Woking 2024–25 [17] National League 34420—6 [c] 2426
2025–26 [17] National League5000—2 [d] 070
Total39420—82490
Career total601130001027313
  1. ↑ Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance in the FA Trophy
  3. ↑ Three appearances and one goal in the National League Cup, three appearances and one goal in the FA Trophy
  4. ↑ Two appearances in National League Cup

References

  1. 1 2 "Tim's ITFC Player A-Z". www.prideofanglia.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Henderson, Jacob (23 March 2021). "MATT WARD AGREES DEAL IN PRINCIPLE". www.itfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Claydon, Russell (23 March 2021). "Matt Ward set to become an Ipswich Town professional after former Wroxham player impressed in under-18s team". Suffolk News. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Heath, Mark (23 March 2021). "Town agree deal with promising young attacker". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Youngster Ward Agrees to Sign Deal - Ipswich Town News". TWTD.co.uk. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Chaplin double leads Ipswich to win over Buxton". BBC Sport. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Corcoran, Paul (13 February 2023). "Ipswich Town's Matt Ward joins Derry City on loan". Extra Time. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Braintree Town FC on X". Braintree Town F.C. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Braintree Town FC on X". Braintree Town F.C. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Matt Ward signs". www.wokingfc.co.uk. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  11. ↑ "Woking vs. Gateshead". Soccerway. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ebbsfleet United vs. Woking". Soccerway. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "September Player of the Month Matt Ward". www.wokingfc.co.uk. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "November Player of the Month Matt Ward". www.wokingfc.co.uk. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "Matt Ward signs new two-year deal". www.wokingfc.co.uk. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Matthew James Ward Player Stats". The FA. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "M. Ward". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
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