Ashleigh Ward

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Ashleigh Ward

|image = Ashleigh-Ward.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Ward with Actonians in 2022.

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|8|18|df=y}}

|birth_place = New Zealand

|height = 1.57 m

|position = Left-back

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|collegeyears1 = 2013

|college1 = Boston College Eagles

|collegecaps1 = 3

|collegegoals1 = 0

|years1 =

|clubs1 = Coastal Spirit

|caps1 =

|years2 = ?–2016

|clubs2 = Canterbury United Pride

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 2019–2022

|clubs3 = Actonians

|caps3 =

|goals3 =

|years4 = 2022–2023

|clubs4 = Southampton

|caps4 = 4

|goals4 = 0

|nationalyears1 = {{circa}} 2010

|nationalteam1 = New Zealand U17

|nationalcaps1 =

|nationalgoals1 =

|nationalyears2 = 2012–2014

|nationalteam2 = New Zealand U20

|nationalcaps2 = 6

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|nationalyears3 = 2021–

|nationalteam3 = New Zealand

|nationalcaps3 = 4

|nationalgoals3 = 0

|pcupdate = 09:06, 6 December 2022 (UTC)

|ntupdate = 20 September 2023 (UTC)

}}

Ashleigh Ward (born 18 August 1994) is a New Zealand association footballer, who has represented the national team. At club level, she played for Southampton in the English FA Women's Championship. She has previously played for Canterbury United Pride in New Zealand, Boston College Eagles in the United States, and Actonians in England.

Early life

Ward studied in Auckland, before moving to Christchurch, where she attended Cashmere High School. She started as a left winger, before changing to a left full back.{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7697508/Wards-future-brightens-after-positional-switch| title=Ward's future brightens after positional switch| work=Stuff| date=19 September 2012| accessdate=18 January 2022}} In 2012, she was part of the Cashmere High School girls' team that won the Canterbury Girls' Premier League, and the 2009 and 2010 editions of the Gary Sowden Cup. She studied at Lincoln University, where she also played rugby union. She later moved to London to work as a physical education teacher.{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127798287/ashleigh-wards-flame-rekindled-by-football-ferns-debut-she-wasnt-expecting| title=Ashleigh Ward's flame rekindled by Football Ferns debut she wasn't expecting| publisher=Stuff| date=19 February 2022| accessdate=23 May 2022}}

Club career

In New Zealand, Ward played football for Canterbury United Pride, and was part of the Pride team that won the 2014 and 2016 New Zealand Women's National Leagues.{{cite web| url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/109864?newsfeedId=1223861| title=Football Ferns squad named for Korea Republic series|publisher=New Zealand Football| date=19 November 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}} She also played college soccer for Boston College Eagles in the United States.{{cite web| url=https://bceagles.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/ashleigh-ward/5633| title=Ashleigh Ward| publisher=Boston College Eagles| accessdate=18 January 2022}} She made one appearance for Boston College Eagles in December 2013. After moving to London, Ward started playing for Actonians in England, and was the team's captain.{{cite magazine| url=https://online.flipbuilder.com/fofn/pdql/index.html#p=14| title=An Interview with.... Ashleigh Ward|pages=14–15| magazine=Women's Soccer Scene|date=9 September 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}} In June 2021, she was part of the Actonians team that lost the final of the Capital Women's Senior Cup to Queen's Park Rangers.{{cite web| url=https://www.middlesexfa.com/news/2021/jun/02/qpr-women-win-capital-womens-senior-cup| title=QPR Women Win Capital Women's Senior Cup| publisher=Middlesex County Football Association|date=2 June 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}} Later in the year, she scored as Actonians beat Harlow Town 8–1. In 2022, she had a trial with an English FA Women's Championship club, and in August 2022, she signed for Women's Championship side Southampton.{{cite web| url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/08/01/ferns-defender-ashleigh-ward-joins-english-club-southampton/| title=Ferns defender Ashleigh Ward joins English club Southampton

| publisher=Friends of Football NZ| date=1 August 2022| accessdate=13 August 2022}}

International career

Ward played for New Zealand under-17s in the buildup to the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, but was dropped before the tournament. She played all three of New Zealand under-20s matches at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and was in their squad for the 2014 tournament.{{cite web | url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3051&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=10&cHash=feb193d376 | title=Junior Football Ferns named for World Cup | accessdate=27 July 2014 | publisher=New Zealand Football | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811232421/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3051&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=10&cHash=feb193d376 | archive-date=11 August 2014 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}

In November 2021, Ward was called up to the senior team. She was the only uncapped player in the squad.{{cite news| url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/11/football-football-ferns-call-in-new-faces-for-two-game-tilt-against-south-korea| title=Football:Football Ferns call in new faces for two game tilt against South Korea| work=Newshub| date=19 November 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} She made her debut on 30 November against South Korea. She replaced New Zealand captain Ali Riley, who was injured.{{cite news| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-ferns-break-drought-with-courageous-win-over-south-korea/GVYMEPPUXWP56ZJZMFW7JX46CE/| title=Football Ferns break drought with courageous win over South Korea| work=The New Zealand Herald| date=30 November 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}}{{cite news| url=https://www.fijitimes.com/football-ferns-end-2021-on-a-high/| title=Football Ferns end 2021 on a high| work=Radio New Zealand| via=Fiji Times| date=2 December 2021| accessdate=18 January 2022}} In February 2022, she was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2022 SheBelieves Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/111871?newsfeedId=1253682|title= Stott returns to Ford Football Ferns as SheBelieves Cup squad announced|publisher=New Zealand Football|date=8 February 2022}} She was ruled out of a 2022 match against Norway due to an injury.{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129023505/star-striker-ada-hegerberg-scores-for-norway-in-20-win-over-football-ferns| title=Star striker Ada Hegerberg scores for Norway in 2-0 win over Football Ferns| work=Stuff| date=26 June 2022| accessdate=4 July 2022}}

Honours

;Individual

Mainland Football Women's Youth Player of the Year: 2009{{Cite web|url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=a2c2a1f4-aa0b-40c1-8c42-07921cd0a035 |title=ANNUAL REPORT 2009 |access-date=13 March 2025}}
Mainland Football Womens Defender of the Year: 2011{{Cite web|url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=61aafdc5-062d-4360-9833-2a05b932d704 |title=ANNUAL REPORT 2011 |access-date=13 March 2025}}
Mainland Football Womens Player of the Year: 2011