| Ward determined to prove his worth in English game
BY PHIL CAMPION
FORMER Irish under-21 and current Tamworth midfielder
Graham Ward is determined to make it with a Championship club.
Having turned down the opportunity to play in the Eircom League Ward
believes he can still prove his worth in the English game.
The former Wolves apprentice was disappointed to be released by
Cheltenham Town at the end of last season but still refused offers from
Eircom League sides Longford Town, Bray Wanderers and St. Patrick’s
Athletic.
Instead Dubliner Ward decided to pick up the pieces of his career by
playing Conference football with Tamworth in the hope of soon returning
to the full-time ranks.
“I decided to give football in England one more go. I want to prove to
myself more than anyone, that I can make it as a footballer over here,”
said 22-year-old Ward.
Tamworth’s unexpected high profile FA Cup run which included games
against Bournemouth, Hartlepool and more recently Stoke City have put
the Staffordshire town on the football map and have undoubtedly provided
Ward with an ideal shop window for league team scouts.
He said: “It’s a competition that is known the world over and the goal I
scored against Bourne-
mouth in the first round is something I can take to my grave.”
Ward has spent the previous six seasons as a full-time professional with
three different clubs. However this season he is studying at college
full-time hoping to complete his training as a plumber. He began that
course while at Kidderminster Harriers when he played under manager and
former Liverpool and Danish star Jan Molby.
The gritty midfielder believes the standard in the Conference is very
similar to the lower leagues and he is enjoying his football.
He said: “As long as I’m happy, it doesn’t matter because I’m eager to
play.”
The Dubliner was also one of Brian Kerr’s first choices during his final
term as youth team boss.
Ward played in the United Arab Emirates two seasons ago at the World
Youth Championships and there is no doubt that he has the potential to
become a top professional in the hands of the right manager.
He said: “If I continue to do well with Tamworth this season hopefully
it could lead to something better. A lot of scouts from league clubs
come to our matches and our striker was only recently sold for Ł100,000
so maybe soon it might be my turn to get a move back to professional
football again.”
Ward’s former Irish youth colleagues Graham Gartland, Liam Kearney and
John O’Flynn all starred recently in the FAI Cup but Ward has no
immediate wishes to return to Ireland yet.
The Dubliner has his sights firmly set on emulating another former Irish
teammate Liam Miller who is currently getting his career back on track
in English league football with Championship club Leeds United.
Ward played his part in Tamworth’s heroic FA Cup third round performance
at Stoke’s City’s Brittania Ground on Saturday when his side forced a
0-0 draw. The Dubliner is confident the Potters may be Tamworth’s third
league scalp in the cup in what has been a superb season for the Lambs.
“It will be a different game at our place. The crowd of 6,000 will be on
top of the players and conditions won’ t be too good for Stoke.
“Our pitch is bobbly and the manager is arranging for us to train on it
and the Stoke boys won’t like it.” said Ward.
Away from the glamour and romance of the FA Cup Ward and his colleagues
have a game against league leaders Accrington Stanley and an FA Trophy
game on Saturday.
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