Mari Ward
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mari Ward
| image = Mari Ward 2023.jpg
| caption = Ward playing for Bristol City in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|1|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = England
| height =
| position = Wing-back, midfielder
| currentclub = Bristol City
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2022
| youthclubs1 = Bristol City
| years1 = 2021–2022
| clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2022–
| clubs2 = Bristol City
| caps2 = 36
| goals2 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2023
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 9
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = England U19
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 24 November 2024 {{Soccerway|mari-ward/813934}}
| nationalteam-update = 28 October 2024 {{Flashscore|ward-mari/jHNjQq74}}
}}
Mari Bee Ward (born 3 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a wing-back and midfielder for Women's Championship club Bristol City and the England under-19 national team.
Early career
Ward joined the Bristol City academy from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=All the winners from the City awards dinner |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/all-the-winners-from-the-city-awards-dinner/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506171521/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/all-the-winners-from-the-city-awards-dinner/ |url-status=live }} She scored three goals in ten matches for Plymouth at senior level in the National League,{{Cite web |title=Plymouth Argyle {{!}} The FA Women's National League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=713162225&teamID=74689020#tab-2 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The FA |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323115007/https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=713162225&teamID=74689020#tab-2 |url-status=live }} followed by five goals in twelve appearances for Bristol City Reserves, prior to joining the first team in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Bristol City Women Reserves {{!}} Professional Game Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=828702513&teamID=709927029#tab-2 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The FA}}
Club career
On 15 January 2023, Ward made her full debut for Bristol City against Coventry City in a 3–2 victory.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-15 |title=Report: Bristol City 3-2 Coventry United |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-bristol-city-3-2-coventry-united/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115214948/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-bristol-city-3-2-coventry-united/ |url-status=live }}
On 3 January 2024, after more than 25 appearances,{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2024-01-03 |title=Bristol City Women's Mari Ward signs her first pro contract |url=https://shekicks.net/bristol-city-womens-mari-ward-signs-her-first-pro-contract/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=She Kicks |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716004058/https://shekicks.net/bristol-city-womens-mari-ward-signs-her-first-pro-contract/ |url-status=live }} she signed her first professional contract with Bristol City on her 18th birthday.{{Cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Noah |date=2024-01-03 |title=Ward pens professional contract |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/ward-pens-professional-contract/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}}
On 3 November 2024, Ward scored her debut Women's Championship goal against Sunderland, taking the lead for Bristol City in a 4–3 win.{{Cite web |last=Twydale |first=Jack |date=2024-11-03 |title=Sunderland edge seven-goal thriller against Bristol City |url=https://fawslfulltime.co.uk/2024/11/03/sunderland-edge-seven-goal-thriller-against-bristol-city/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=WSL Full-Time |language=en-GB |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204035207/https://fawslfulltime.co.uk/2024/11/03/sunderland-edge-seven-goal-thriller-against-bristol-city/ |url-status=live }} She scored her second goal a week later to take the lead against Newcastle United in a 2–0 victory,{{Cite web |date=2024-11-12 |title=Taking flight to watch Newcastle United Women's team but the Robins swoop to take the points |url=https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/11/taking-flight-to-watch-newcastle-united-womens-team-but-the-robins-swoop-to-take-the-points/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=The Mag |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202001957/https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/11/taking-flight-to-watch-newcastle-united-womens-team-but-the-robins-swoop-to-take-the-points/ |url-status=live }} and was described as the player of the match by SportsByte.{{Cite web |last=Whalen |first=Molly |date=2024-11-12 |title=Match Report: Bristol City Women 2-0 Newcastle United Women |url=https://sportsbyte.sunderland.ac.uk/2024/11/12/match-report-bristol-city-women-2-0-newcastle-united-women/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=SportsByte |language=en-GB}}
International career
Ward has represented England about under-17 and under-19 youth level.
On May 20 2023, she scored her debut youth international goal against France in the 2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship in a 1–1 draw,{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2023-05-20 |title=England draw with France at UEFA Women's U-17 Championship |url=https://shekicks.net/england-draw-with-france-at-uefa-womens-u-17-championship/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=She Kicks |language=en-GB |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522081854/https://shekicks.net/england-draw-with-france-at-uefa-womens-u-17-championship/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-05-23 |title=France-England |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037871--france-vs-england/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=15 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815050318/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037871--france-vs-england/ |url-status=live }} having received a red card six days previously for denying a goal scoring opportunity in the opening match against Poland.{{Cite web |last=Jamet |first=Sylvain |date=2023-05-15 |title=Arsenal youngster scores 2 as England beat Poland in u17 Euro opener |url=https://dailycannon.com/2023/05/england-u-17-poland/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Daily Canon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2023-05-14 |title=Ten-player England Women U-17s start EURO Finals with win |url=https://shekicks.net/ten-player-england-women-u-17s-start-euro-finals-with-win/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=She Kicks |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708215202/https://shekicks.net/ten-player-england-women-u-17s-start-euro-finals-with-win/ |url-status=live }} Ward also played in the semi-finals of the tournament, where the under-17s lost 3–1 to Spain.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-23 |title=Women's U17 European Championship: Spain score twice late on to beat England 3-1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65690232 |access-date=2024-10-22 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801103838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65690232 |url-status=live }}
In October 2023 for 2024 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification, Ward featured as part of the starting eleven for round one wins against Wales and Czech Republic.{{Cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nicholas |date=2023-10-27 |title=Report: England WU19s 6-1 Wales |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Oct/27/england-womens-under-19s-wales-match-report-20232710 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216163127/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Oct/27/england-womens-under-19s-wales-match-report-20232710 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Frank |date=2023-10-30 |title=Report: England WU19s 1-0 Czechia |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Oct/30/england-womens-under-19s-czechia-report-20231030 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720101944/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Oct/30/england-womens-under-19s-czechia-report-20231030 |url-status=live }}
Honours
Bristol City
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bcfc.co.uk/player/mari-ward Mari Ward] at Bristol City F.C.
- {{Soccerway|mari-ward/813934}}
- {{Flashscore|ward-mari/jHNjQq74}}
{{Bristol City W.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Mari}}
Category:Bristol City W.F.C. players
Category:English women's footballers
Category:England women's youth international footballers
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:Women's Super League players