Johnny Ward (rugby league) explained

John Ward
Fullname:John Ward
Birth Place:Castleford, West Yorkshire, England
Death Place:Glasshoughton, England
Weight:13st
Club1:Castleford
Year1start:1960
Year1end:70
Appearances1:262
Tries1:42
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:3
Points1:132
Club2:Salford
Year2start:1970
Year2end:73
Appearances2:81
Teama:Yorkshire
Yearastart:1965
Yearaend:69
Appearancesa:4
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:England
Yearbstart:1969
Yearbend:70
Appearancesb:3
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
Teamc:Great Britain
Yearcstart:1963
Yearcend:70
Appearancesc:4
Triesc:1
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:3
Retired:yes
Updated:18 May 2009
Source:[1]

Johnny Ward (1940/1941 – 30 December 2019) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level Castleford (Heritage № 453) and Salford, as a or .[1] [2] [3] [4]

Career

Ward was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire and signed for Featherstone Rovers in 1959. He failed to make any appearance for Featherstone and signed for his home town team, Castleford, the following year. After spending 10 years with Castleford he moved to Salford in 1970 for whom he played until he retired at the end of the 1972/73 season.[5]

International honours

Ward won caps for England while at Castleford in 1969 against Wales and France, while at Salford in 1970 against France,[1] and won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1963 against Australia, in 1964 against France (two matches), and while at Salford in 1970 against New Zealand.[1]

County honours

Ward won caps for Yorkshire while at Castleford playing in the 15-9 victory over New Zealand at Castleford's stadium on 20 September 1965, playing in the 16-13 victory over Lancashire at Swinton's stadium on 10 November 1965, playing right- in the 10–5 victory over Lancashire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 25 September 1968, and left- in the 42–3 victory over Cumberland at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969.[5]

County League appearances

Ward played in Castleford's Yorkshire County League victory during the 1964–65 season.[5]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Ward played right-, i.e. number 10, in Castleford's 11-6 victory over Salford in the 1969 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969, in front of a crowd of 97,939.[6]

County Cup Final appearances

Ward played right-, i.e. number 10, in Castleford's 11–22 defeat by Leeds in the 1968 Yorkshire Cup Final at Belle Vue, Wakefield, on 19 October 1968, and played right- in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the 1972 Lancashire Cup Final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on 21 October 1972.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Ward played in Castleford's 4–0 victory over St. Helens in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on 14 December 1965, and played in the 8-5 victory over Leigh in the 1967 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 16 January 1968.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

Ward played left- in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the Player's No.6 Trophy Final at Fartown, Huddersfield, on 24 March 1973.

Honoured at Castleford Tigers

Ward is a Tigers Hall Of Fame inductee.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Career Statistics: Johhny Ward . rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  2. David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000) "Images of Sport - Castleford Rugby League - A Twentieth Century History". The History Press Ltd.
  3. Web site: Cas Great Johnny Ward Passes Away. castlefordtigers.com. 31 December 2019. 1 January 2020.
  4. Web site: Castleford Tigers mourning Challenge Cup-winning GB forward Johnny Ward. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 31 December 2019. 1 January 2020.
  5. Johnny Ward - Cas' maestro . Rugby League Journal . 70 . Spring 2020 . 36.
  6. Web site: Sat 17th May 1969 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 97,939 . thecastlefordtigers . 31 December 2011 . 1 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151231084544/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=2539 . 31 December 2015 .
  7. Web site: Hall of Fame at castigers.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20060506212435/http://www.castigers.com/cgi-bin/halloffame.cgi . dead . 6 May 2006 . castigers . 31 December 2008 . 1 January 2009.