Charles Ward (cricketer, born 1875)

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Charles Ward

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Charles Gordon Ward

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1875|9|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Braughing, Hertfordshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1954|6|27|1875|9|23|df=yes}}

| death_place = South Ormsby, Lincolnshire, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Unknown

| family = Herbert Ward (brother)
Leonard Ward (cousin)

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = {{nowrap|1897–1901}}

| club2 = Lincolnshire

| year2 = {{nowrap|1907–1911}}

| club3 = Hertfordshire

| year3 = {{nowrap|1912–1922}}

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 14

| runs1 = 186

| bat avg1 = 8.08

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 30

| deliveries1 = 178

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 67.50

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 1/17

| catches/stumpings1 = 3/–

| date = 18 February

| year = 2010

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/22294.html Cricinfo

}}

Charles Gordon Ward (23 September 1875 — 27 June 1954) was an English first-class cricketer and clergyman.

The son of The Reverend Philip Gordon Ward Vicar, he was born in September 1875 at Braughing, Hertfordshire. Ward played first-class cricket for Hampshire, with his debut coming against Warwickshire in 1897 County Championship. He played first-class cricket for Hampshire until 1901, making fourteen appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6908/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Charles Ward|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} In these, he scored 186 runs at an average of 8.08, with a highest score of 30.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6908/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Charles Ward|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} With the ball, he took two wickets.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6908/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Charles Ward|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} Shortly after playing for Hampshire, Ward undertook ecclesiastical training in Lincoln at the Chancellors School and was ordained in 1903.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19460517/135/0004|title=Mainly About People|work=Stamford Mercury|page=4|date=17 May 1946|access-date=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19030608/077/0007|title=Trinity ordinations|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|page=7|date=8 June 1903|access-date=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

Ward undertook his ecclesiastical duties in Heapham, Lincolnshire.{{cite book|title=Lincolnshire|date=1909|publisher=Kelly's Directory|page=296|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZClRAAAAYAAJ|language=en}} He played minor counties cricket for Lincolnshire from 1907 to 1910, making 29 appearances in the Minor Counties Championship,{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6908/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Charles Ward|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} making a century against Hertfordshire in 1909.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/87/87534.html|title=Hertfordshire v Lincolnshire, Minor Counties Championship 1909 (East Division)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} Ward later returned to Hertfordshire, where he became vicar at North Mymms.{{cite book|title=North Mymms: Parish and People|first=Dorothy|last=Colville|date=1972|isbn=0900519231|language=en}} There, he played minor counties cricket for Hertfordshire either side of the First World War, making 34 appearances in the Minor Counties Championship between 1910 and 1922. He later returned to Lincolnshire, where he was vicar at South Ormsby from 1930 until his death in June 1954.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001520/19540703/086/0003|title=Deaths|work=Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian|page=3|date=3 July 1954|access-date=13 January 2024|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228429.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1954|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=21 December 2017}} His brother was the sportsman Herbert Ward, who played both first-class cricket and football for Southampton. His cousin, Leonard Ward, was also a first-class cricketer.