WARD’S PRIDE AT FITTING TRIBUTE
JOHN WARD has been given a fitting send-off as his 19 years as a member of the Football Association’s Council came to an end.
Hugely-respected throughout football, the former Hampshire FA chairman has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and will step down ahead of this summer’s congress meeting.
Ward has dedicated his life to football – starting out by organising friendlies against local village sides as a schoolboy, creating a work side before moving into administration when he was 19 to become the Basingstoke Sunday League’s secretary.
In 1972, he was nominated to be elected onto the Hampshire FA’s council, went onto become vice chairman and chairman, before becoming the county’s FA representative in 1998.
Since then he’s served on committees including the FA Vase and the Leagues and has held roles as a director of the FA’s Main Board and National Game Board.
He also played major roles in the construction of Wembley and St George’s Park. At a special retirement dinner last week he was presented with a picture of the stadium he’s proud to have played a major part in.
“I had a wonderful gift from the Leagues committee,” said Ward, who is Life Vice President at the Hampshire FA and will remain active in football locally. “It was a picture of the old stadium and the new stadium. That knocked my socks off.
“Most of it has been great fun! I always swore I wouldn’t lose sleep over football, but when we started building Wembley I had a few cups of tea at 3am. I was at Wembley on Tuesday morning and I looked across to the stadium and thought, ‘Wow. I was part of that’. It is a special feeling. It may sound a bit of an ego trip but you can take pride in it and I know my colleagues do as well.
“I’ve met my 1966 World Cup heroes through football and I’ve got some wonderful memories.”
Head of League and Club services Laurence Jones said: “John has dedicated his life to football and, as a consequence, is hugely respected across the game. I’m sure he’ll reflect on his 19 years service with great pride.”