Ward believes he still has a lot to offer in the top flight
SEAN Ward believes he can challenge for major prizes in the Danske Bank Premiership next season — he’s just not sure if it will be with Crusaders.
Ward’s contract runs out at the end of the season and he hasn’t been offered a new deal by the Shore Road club.
The versatile former Glentoran and Linfield ace joined the Crues in 2017 and has helped them win the league, Irish Cup and two County Antrim Shields.
Skipper Colin Coates’ contract also runs out in the summer and both experienced players should have plenty of options, with Glenavon reportedly interested in a double swoop.
Ward, who turned 36 this month, is focused on shaking off a groin injury and hopes to return with a month.
“I’m currently injured and the club haven’t offered me a new deal,” said Ward. “I understand they are waiting to see how I progress. I’m a Crusaders player at the moment and waiting to see.
“I’m realistic, being an older player. The Crues may or may not have closed the door on me but my focus is on returning and helping the team win trophies.
“It’s good to have options and I still value myself as a player who can help a team win major trophies. I just need to be fit to do that. I want to play in the top division and I’ve no doubt I’m capable of doing that with Crusaders or somewhere else.
“Crusaders are a great club but it’s just frustrating being injured. I’m just trying to get fit again.”
Ward has won league titles and Irish Cups with three big Belfast clubs, Linfield, Glentoran and Crusaders.
With the Crues still in the title race and Irish Cup this season, the medal cabinet could be forced open again.
“Everybody can beat everybody and the top teams are close together,” he added. “Coming into February you can sometimes see one or two teams pull away but with all the teams taking points off each other it could remain exciting. Our squad had been big and competitive while we are starting to see more consistency.”
Q When you were young, you went to live in Australia; why was that?
A
We moved to Perth for just under four years and I started school there. My parents wanted to try it when they were young. My dad was a builder working on bridges in the desert. From a thin man who left this country, he came back all muscle with a beard, looking like Grizzly Adams. I was about eight when we returned and I started playing football in primary school. I’ve never been back to Australia but it would be nice to go back. My wife has family there and they like to come here thanks to Game of Thrones.
Q How did your football career get up and running?
A
At Killowen Primary and Hillsborough Boys as well as the Boys’ Brigade and the old Lisburn United. Tommy English, Keith Halliday and Gary Gillespie went into the Irish League and I think Noel Bailie and John Easton followed the same route. We played for Distillery Athletic, which is their third team, and Roy Welsh used to watch them. Roy invited me down to the Whites and that was the start of my Irish League journey. I was maturing as a striker and getting stronger. Tommy was at Crusaders and he encouraged me to come along and give it a go. I can remember being late for my first game with the first team, although it wasn’t my fault as I was getting a lift during heavy traffic. I got up to the changing room and realised I wasn’t in the team. I apologised to manager Roy Walker and he said: ‘that’s alright but you won’t do it again will you?’ It was message received and I wasn’t late again! You should never take anything for granted.
Q I think you made up for that early mis-step. How did you find the challenge of making an impact there?
A
I scored 12 to 14 in the first season from about November onwards. I could have been top scorer that season. I had a few games with Distillery so I knew what the league would be like. It was a tough introduction with the Whites as a kid but in my career I went on to score about 330 goals and win three league titles, one with Linfield, two with the Crues. I lost my only Irish Cup final when Gerard McMahon scored for Glenavon in a 2-1 win over Linfield in 1992. It was a brilliant experience, despite the defeat.
Q How was your time at Linfield?
A
I had two years there but don’t think I got the chance I should have got. I was substitute quite a lot but my goalscoring record was nearly as good as the other players despite playing half the games. There’s a lot of pressure at Linfield and Roy Walker came in for me again.
Q How surprising has your football journey been?
A
I could never have believed it. You just want to play at as high a level as you can. Aged 17, I was at Cardiff City but I got homesick and it was hard to fit in. But I don’t regret it, I played around seven European matches and enjoyed a great Irish League career. I could have been forgotten about, lost in the lower leagues in England. I believe things are planned for you and I didn’t come home disillusioned. I just kept working word and gave my best in every game. Even when I scored the winner I looked at the whole game and was critical of myself. My wife will tell you I was a disaster some Saturday nights. The team that Roy Walker assembled was special, big Irish League names from Stephen (Baxter) to Kirk Hunter, Sid Burrows and Glen Dunlop. The late Tommy English brought me to the Crues and that changed my life. They were struggling when I joined but we turned it around.
Q Would you have done anything differently in your career?
A
Scored more goals! I actually really enjoyed it. I loved the crowds, I know people slag off the Irish League but I had a great time. I supported Linfield as a kid and got to wear the shirt, and when you’re scoring goals for them, what could be better? My problem was they had Dessie Gorman and Martin McGaughey and it wasn’t my job to be them, it was my job to help them and I just felt I was a scapegoat too many times.
Q You suffered a cruciate knee injury at the age of 35. Was that hard to take?
A
It was because I could have played on until my 40s. I’m still running around like an eejit playing. I played for the Northern Ireland Masters in England and Lisburn Distillery set up an over-35s side for charity matches. I was fortunate to play in good teams with great players. Your career goes by so quickly but I’ve great memories. I can’t complain. My son Ashley, who loves Crusaders, was disappointed for me when I had to stop playing. I just loved playing football, scoring goals in Europe and winning titles, playing against Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool legends. I never thought I was good enough, so it was all brilliant, and then the injury happened. I ended up going into work with a cruciate injury but got through the shift and a specialist later said the football had to stop.
Q Did you try management?
A
I went to Crewe United and asked Roy for advice. He told me to gather together the best, hard working players but it was hard going. It was a different mentality from the Irish League and after one season I decided it wasn’t for me.
Q How good a manager was Roy Walker?
A
He was a bit like Sir Alex Ferguson. It was tough love sometimes but he treated everyone the way they needed to be treated. He knew how to get us motivated but often there were no doubts in our minds, we knew we were going to win. There were six Dublin lads and it was like a jigsaw that fitted perfectly. Martin Murray, Liam Dunne,
Dublin GAA star Mick Deegan — good solid, experienced lads.
Q Are you surprised how successful Stephen Baxter has been as a manager?
A
We never talked about his plans but sometimes things just click and he’s done an outstanding job from starting with a limited budget. I can remember seeing Seaview full for some games and it’s the players which bring them in. The new clubhouse is looking great and it’s a nice, modern stadium.
Q Who was the best player you played with?
A
I had a great understanding with Mark Holland at Distillery. With the Crues, Jimmy Gardner looked like he was doing nothing and then would score a goal. I always rated Alan Dornan as a top defender on the pitch and great guy off it, too. Alan was a good professional and approachable. Noel Bailie was also always solid and reliable. At the Crues, we had Kevin McKeown in goals and he could be unbeatable while Glen Dunlop was so solid and could run the length of the pitch and score.