Lewis Ward (footballer)

Lewis Ward

Personal information
Full name	Lewis Moore Ward[1]
Date of birth	(1997-03-05) 5 March 1997 (age 27)
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	AFC Wimbledon
Number	22
Youth career
	Reading
2012–2013	→ Portsmouth (youth loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2019	Reading	0	(0)
2014	→ Whitehawk (loan)	0	(0)
2016	→ Sutton United (loan)	0	(0)
2016	→ Fylkir (loan)	3	(0)
2016	→ Margate (loan)	13	(0)
2017	→ Margate (loan)	6	(0)
2017	→ Hungerford Town (loan)	10	(0)
2017	→ Hungerford Town (loan)	17	(0)
2017–2018	→ Aldershot Town (loan)	25	(0)
2018–2019	→ Northampton Town (loan)	0	(0)
2019	→ Forest Green Rovers (loan)	12	(0)
2019–2021	Exeter City	28	(0)
2021	→ Portsmouth (loan)	0	(0)
2021–2022	Swindon Town	9	(0)
2022–2023	Sutton United	9	(0)
2023–2024	Swindon Town	5	(0)
2024	Charlton Athletic	0	(0)
2024–	AFC Wimbledon	0	(0)
International career^‡
2013	England U16	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:10, 1 July 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:10, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Lewis Moore Ward (born 5 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.

Career

Reading

Ward began his career with Reading, and has a youth loan with Portsmouth during the 2012–13 season.^[3]

He joined Whitehawk on loan on 10 October 2014, in a deal that lasted until 7 November 2014.^[4] He made two FA Cup appearances, conceding four goals in each game.^[5]

On 5 May 2016, Ward joined Icelandic Úrvalsdeild side Fylkir on loan until 26 June 2016.^[6]

Ward signed on loan for Margate in August 2016,^[7] before having two spells with Hungerford Town, the second beginning in August 2017.^[8]

Ward moved on loan to Aldershot Town in November 2017, originally until January 2018,^[9] but this was later extended until the end of the season.^[10] Aldershot made it to the play-offs, losing out to Ebbsfleet United after a penalty shoot out. Initially Aldershot went ahead 3–1 on penalties due to two saves by Ward, however Ward himself hit the post with the deciding penalty.^[11]

On 22 June 2018, Ward signed a new contract with Reading, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2020.^[12]

Ward joined Northampton Town on a season-long loan on 27 July 2018.^[13] He made his professional debut on 14 August 2018, in the EFL Cup, and made four further appearances in the EFL Trophy.^[14] On 14 January 2019, Reading announced that Ward's loan with Northampton Town had ended early, and that he would join Forest Green Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season.^[15][16]

Exeter City

On 20 June 2019, Ward signed for Exeter City on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.^[17][18] On 5 October 2019, Ward suffered a broken arm in a League Two fixture against Crewe Alexandra. The injury came in the 86th minute, and Ward continued until the end of the match.^[19][20]

He was replaced in the starting XI by Jonny Maxted, but returned to the lineup in February 2020 when Maxted suffered an injury in the pre-match warmup away at Swindon Town, by which time Ward had recovered to match fitness.^[21]

In January 2021 he moved on loan to Portsmouth.^[3]

On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Exeter at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.^[22]

Swindon Town

On 27 July 2021, Ward signed for Swindon Town on a one-year contract following a trial.^[23] He made his league debut at Forest Green Rovers on 9 October 2021, keeping a clean sheet and saving a penalty.^[24]

Sutton United

He transferred to Sutton United on 1 September 2022 for an undisclosed fee.^[25] His contact was mutually terminated on 31 January 2023.^[26]

Return to Swindon Town

On 22 August 2023 he re-signed for Swindon Town, also becoming the club's Youth Development Phase Lead Coach.^[27] On 18 January 2024, it was announced that Ward had left the club.^[28]

Charlton Athletic

On 22 January 2024, Ward joined Charlton Athletic on a deal until the end of the season, with a club option of an additional year.^[29][30] On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that Ward would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired having not made any first-team appearances for the club.^[31]

AFC Wimbledon

On 11 July 2024, Ward joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal.^[32]

Personal life

Ward has obtained a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Staffordshire.^[33][34]

Career statistics

As of 20 August 2024

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
Reading	2014–15[35]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2015–16[36]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17[37]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2017–18[38]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2018–19[14]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Whitehawk (loan)	2014–15[5]	Conference South	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Sutton United (loan)	2015–16	National League South	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fylkir (loan)	2016[39]	Úrvalsdeild	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Margate (loan)	2016–17[39]	National League South	19	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
Hungerford Town (loan)	2016–17[39]	National League South	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
Hungerford Town (loan)	2017–18[39]	National League South	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
Aldershot Town (loan)	2017–18[38][39]	National League	25	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	26	0
Northampton Town (loan)	2018–19[14]	League Two	0	0	0	0	1	0	4[b]	0	5	0
Forest Green Rovers (loan)	2018–19[14]	League Two	12	0	0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	14	0
Exeter City	2019–20[40]	League Two	20	0	0	0	0	0	3[c]	0	23	0
	2020–21[41]	League Two	8	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	10	0
	Total		28	0	1	0	1	0	3	0	33	0
Portsmouth (loan)	2020–21[41]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Swindon Town	2021–22[42]	League Two	9	0	1	0	1	0	6[d]	0	17	0
Sutton United	2022–23[43]	League Two	9	0	1	0	1	0	1[b]	0	12	0
Swindon Town	2023–24[44]	League Two	5	0	0	0	0	0	3[b]	0	8	0
Charlton Athletic	2023–24[44]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
AFC Wimbledon	2024–25[45]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	1[b]	0	1	0
Career total			137	0	6	0	4	0	21	0	168	0

1. Appearance(s) in the National League play-offs.
2. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
3. Two appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in play-offs
4. Four appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in play-offs

Honours

Portsmouth

• EFL Trophy runner-up: 2019–20^[46]

References

1. "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
2. Seckington, Kaylee (29 March 2017). "Why a young goalkeeper's height isn't that important, by Reading and Aldershot Town 6ft 5ins ("and a bit") shot stopper". Surrey Live. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
3. "Pompey announce signing of Exeter and ex-Reading goalkeeper Lewis Ward". www.portsmouth.co.uk.
4. "One in, one out at Whitehawk". The Argus. 10 October 2014.
5. Official matchday programme, Whitehawk v Basingstoke Town, 29 April 2015
6. "Lewis on loan in Iceland". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
7. Stokes, Mark (3 August 2016). "Reading Academy goalkeeper Lewis Ward signs for Margate". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
8. Smith, Anthony (1 August 2017). "Reading FC: Lewis Ward and Rob Dickie loaned out by Royals boss Jaap Stam". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
9. "Lewis Ward: Reading goalkeeper joins Aldershot Town on loan". BBC Sport. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
10. "Lewis Ward: Aldershot extend Reading goalkeeper's loan until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
11. "Aldershot Town 1-1 Ebbsfleet United (4-5 pens)". BBC Sport.
12. "Goalkeeper Ward extends Royals deal". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
13. "Lewis Ward links up with Northampton Town on loan". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
14. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
15. "Ward Starts Fresh New Loan". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
16. "Lewis Ward: Reading keeper joins Forest Green Rovers on loan until end of the season". BBC Sport. 14 January 2019.
17. James, Stuart (21 June 2019). "'He can go on to bigger and better things' Matt Taylor's view on new Exeter City goalkeeper Lewis Ward". Devon Live. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
18. "Lewis Ward: Exeter City sign Reading goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 21 June 2019.
19. "Injury update: Lewis Ward". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
20. "Lewis Ward: Exeter City goalkeeper played on despite having broken arm". BBC Sport. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
21. "📝 Match Report: Swindon Town 2 Exeter City 1". www.exetercityfc.co.uk.
22. "📝 Retained List announced".
23. "LEWIS WARD JOINS TOWN". Swindon Town F.C. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
24. "Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport.
25. "Goalkeeper Ward moves to Sutton from Swindon". BBC Sport.
26. "Deadline day update". www.suttonunited.net.
27. "Lewis Ward rejoins Town". www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
28. "Goalkeeper Lewis Ward has the left the club". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
29. "CHARLTON SIGN GOALKEEPER LEWIS WARD". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
30. "Charlton Athletic sign goalkeeper Lewis Ward" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
31. "2023/24 END-OF-SEASON SQUAD UPDATE". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
32. "Wimbledon sign Charlton goalkeeper Ward". BBC. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
33. Adams, Luke (22 June 2018). "Lewis Ward signed a new deal with Reading FC after a strong loan spell at Aldershot". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
34. Seckington, Kaylee (26 February 2018). "Why I'm preparing for life after football, by Reading and Aldershot Town goalkeeper Lewis Ward". Get Surrey. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
35. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
36. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
37. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
38. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
39. Lewis Ward at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
40. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
41. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
42. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
43. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
44. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
45. "Games played by Lewis Ward in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
46. Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Papa John's Trophy final: Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City (aet, 2–4 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2024.