Lucy Ward
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-04-15) 15 April 1974 (age 50)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2002 Leeds United (150)
2002–2003 Doncaster Rovers Belles ? (14[1])
2003–2009 Leeds United ? (104)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lucy Ward (born 15 April 1974[2]) is a former English footballer who since 2007 has been a co-commentator for broadcasters such as BT Sport, BBC, Talksport, Channel 4 and Sky Sports working on women's and men's football. She has worked on World Cups and Olympic Games, and recently worked for Prime Video and BT Sport on Premier League games. As a footballer she played as a forward.

Ward represented England at Under-21 level and spent most of her senior career with Leeds United. Lucy was also head of education and welfare at the Leeds United boys' academy from 1998 to 2015 until being sacked by the club; she subsequently won a sex discrimination and unfair dismissal case in 2016.[2][3]

Club career

Ward joined Leeds United Ladies when it was a community team, staying with the club as they rose to be one of the best teams in England.[2] She moved to Doncaster Rovers Belles in the 2002–03 season, returning to Leeds for the start of the following season.[4]

She played in Lucas Radebe's testimonial at Elland Road in May 2005, scoring soon after coming on as a substitute for Gary Speed and later setting up a goal for Matthew Kilgallon.[5][6]

In May 2006 she played in the Women's FA Cup Final, playing at centre-back due to injuries in the team; she scored an own goal after just three minutes as Leeds went on to lose 5–0 to Arsenal Ladies.[7]

She became head of education and welfare at Leeds United's academy, overseeing around 250 junior players and a handful of young first-team players.[3] She left the club in 2015, amidst winning a high-profile legal battle (in June 2016) against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino over her dismissal.[8]

International career

Ward represented England at Under-21 level at just 16 years of age.[3]

Other

Ward worked as a co-commentator for the BBC at the Women's World Cup in China,[9] during the Euro 2009 qualifiers [2] and finals, and again during the London 2012 Olympic Games,[10] and Euro 2013.[11] Her partner is former Leeds United and Liverpool Ladies head coach Neil Redfearn.[8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League WFA Cup Premier League Cup County Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 1996–97 41
1997–98 24
1998–99 20
1999–2000 25
2000–01 21
2001–02[12] 18
2002–03[1] 17
Doncaster Rovers Belles 2002–03[1] 11 14
Leeds United 2003–04[13] 12 20
2004–05[14] 9 16
2005–06 8 16
2006–07 10 19
2007–08 inj
2008–09 3 3

References

  1. ^ a b c Karbusch, Lars; Shannon, David (6 March 2005). "England (Women) 2002/03". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Meet the players". Leeds United Ladies. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Irvine, Christopher (25 April 2005). "Agony Aunt's dual role strikes chord with Leeds youngsters". The Times. London. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Leeds unite several returning players and new faces". Fair Game. 16 July 2003. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  5. ^ "The Lucas Radebe Testimonial". Soccer AM World. 2 May 2005. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  6. ^ Fozard, Tom. "Everybody's hero!". BBC Leeds. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  7. ^ Terry, Denise (2 May 2006). "Arsenal 5 Leeds 0: Yankey leads march in Arsenal cup coup". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Leeds United employee Lucy Ward wins sex discrimination case". BBC News. 13 April 2016.
  9. ^ Roach, Stuart (26 September 2007). "Germany v Norway as it happened". BBC Spot. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  10. ^ Rudd, Alyson (11 September 2009). "BBC answers call with thrilling tea-time teaser". The Times. London. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  11. ^ "TVCatchup UEFA Women's Euro 2013". Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  12. ^ Shannon, David (9 September 2002). "England (Women) 2001/02". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  13. ^ Shannon, David (20 August 2003). "England (Women) 2003/04". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  14. ^ Shannon, David (17 June 2006). "England (Women) 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
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