Bob Ward - Player Profile

Robert Andrew Ward was born in West Bromwich on the 4th of August 1953.

 Bob Ward at an imposing 6ft 1 inches was quickly spotted in local league soccer by scouts from West Bromwich Albion and was signed in March 1973.

He made the breakthrough into the first XI two years later and recorded a clean sheet on his debut a 4-0 home win against Sheffield Wednesday infront of a crowd of 10,330.

Bob went on to play for West Bromwich Albion on ten occassions over the coming three seasons before joining Northampton Town on loan in February 1977.

At the end of that season he returned to his parent club and on 1st of September 1977 he headed to the North West having been snapped up by Blackpool of the second division on a two year deal.

Bob Ward played regularly for the Tangerines and was kept busy as a poor Blackpool side was to succumb to relegation.

Results did not improve for the Seasiders in Division Three and by mid-November he had lost his first team place to Zambian born youngster Iain Hesford.

In July 1979 Robert Andrew Ward made the short move to Springfield Park and Ian McNeill, the then manager, threw him straight into action in the League Cup game at Edgeley Park against Stockport County.

Latics lost that game 2-1 and Ward was consigned to the reserves as Latics stalwart John Brown took over as first choice as soon as he recovered from injury.

The following season saw Ward have an extended run in the first team and he made his league debut for the Latics in a televised game on the 20th September against Bury.

 Bury also gave a league debut to a keeper that day, a young Neville Southall.

Bob’s Latics career also came to an abrupt halt when Larry Lloyd brought Roy Tunks to the club.

Bob made 46 League appearances before being released at the end of the 1982/83 season.