Matt Ward (footballer)

Matt Ward
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Ward[1]
Date of birth (2003-08-16) 16 August 2003 (age 21)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Woking
Number 17
Youth career
Wroxham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (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 24 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:44, 1 January 2025 (UTC)

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

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]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wroxham 2020–21[11] Eastern Counties League Premier Division 5 3 0 0 — 0 0 5 3
Ipswich Town 2021–22[12] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23[12] League One 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2023–24[12] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Derry City (loan) 2023[12] LOI Premier Division 3 1 0 0 — 1[a] 0 4 1
Braintree Town (loan) 2023–24[12] National League South 13 3 — — 1[b] 0 14 3
Woking 2024–25[13] National League 24 3 2 0 — 4[c] 1 30 4
Career total 45 10 3 0 0 0 6 1 54 11
  1. ^ Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in National League Cup and FA Trophy

References

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ "Matthew James Ward Player Stats". The FA. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e "M. Ward". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference soccerway was invoked but never defined (see the help page).