Tommy Ward (footballer, born 1913)

Tommy Ward
Personal information
Full name Thomas Edward George Ward[1]
Date of birth (1913-04-18)18 April 1913[1]
Place of birth Chatham, Kent, England[1]
Date of death 1997 (aged 83–84)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-half / Forward
Youth career
1932–1933 Chatham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1933–1934 Crystal Palace 7 (0)
1934–1936 Grimsby Town
1936–1938 Port Vale 38 (18)
1938–1939 Stoke City 5 (4)
1939 Port Vale 12 (4)
1939 Mansfield Town 0 (0)
Total 62+ (26+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thomas Edward George Ward (18 April 1913 – 1997) was an English footballer. A right-half and later a forward, he had a six-year career in the Football League from 1933 to 1939, playing for Crystal Palace, Grimsby Town, Port Vale, Stoke City, and Mansfield Town.

Career

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Ward played for Chatham before he was signed by Crystal Palace in August 1933. He made nine Third Division South appearances for the "Eagles" before he moved on to Grimsby Town in June 1934.[3] The "Mariners" finished fifth in the First Division in 1934–35 and 17th in 1935–36. Ward departed Blundell Park in June 1936 when he signed with Port Vale.[1] He converted to a centre-forward role in November 1936 and with 18 goals in 32 games in the 1936–37 season was the club's top scorer; during the campaign, he hit hat-tricks past Chester and Gateshead at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] He bagged four goals in 14 appearances in 1937–38. He was transferred to rivals Stoke City in exchange for Harry Davies and a small fee in February 1938.[1] He continued his scoring record from the Third Division North into the First Division, hitting four goals in five league games for the "Potters", including two in a 3–2 win over Manchester City at the Victoria Ground (Stanley Matthews scoring the third).[1] Despite this, he was returned to the "Valiants" in February 1939.[1] He hit four goals in 12 Third Division South games in 1938–39, but was dropped from the first-team in April 1939 and transferred to league rivals Mansfield Town two months later.[1] His career was then ended due to the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent suspension of the Football League.

Career statistics

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Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crystal Palace 1933–34 Third Division South 7 0 2 0 0 0 9 0
Grimsby Town 1934–35 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Port Vale 1936–37 Third Division North 27 14 1 0 4 4 32 18
1937–38 Third Division North 11 4 1 0 2 0 14 4
Total 38 18 2 0 6 4 46 22
Stoke City 1937–38 First Division 5 4 0 0 0 0 5 4
Port Vale 1938–39 Third Division South 12 4 0 0 3 3 15 7
Mansfield Town 1939–40 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 302. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "Port Vale. Famous coach". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. xvi – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Thomas Ward". holmesdale.net. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  4. ^ Tommy Ward at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)