Gavin Ward
| Date of birth | 30 June 1970 |
| Place of birth | Sutton Coldfield |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 92 kg |
| Height | 1.91 m |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
Stoke City's popular 'keeper held his place in the starting line-up for most of the early part of 2000-01 before succumbing to a back injury that kept him out of action for almost six months.
He eventually returned towards the end of March and re-established himself in the side in the closing weeks of the campaign.
A goalkeeper who is an excellent shot stopper and has firm control over his box, he was sorely missed by City during his absence.
Gavin was given special dispensation to sign for Barnsley in April 2004 - after the Transfer Deadline - after Marlon Beresford suffered a back injury.
After being released by Coventry City at the end of the 2003-04 season, Gavin re-joined the Sky Blues on a monthly contract but soon joined Preston North End in a one-year deal.
This was extended to June 2006 in March 2005.
Gavin joined Tranmere Rovers in July 2006 with a one-year contract.
He joined Wrexham in January 2008 with a contract to June 2009.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 01 Jul 1987 | 26 Sep 1988 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 26 Sep 1988 | 18 Sep 1989 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 18 Sep 1989 | 05 Oct 1989 | |
| Cardiff City | 05 Oct 1989 | 16 Jul 1993 | |
| Leicester City | 16 Jul 1993 | 13 Jul 1995 | |
| Bradford City | 13 Jul 1995 | 29 Mar 1996 | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 29 Mar 1996 | 25 Feb 1999 | |
| Burnley | 14 Aug 1998 | 14 Nov 1998 | L |
| Stoke City | 25 Feb 1999 | 30 Jun 2002 | |
| Wigan Athletic | 22 Jul 2002 | 29 Jul 2002 | T |
| Walsall | 09 Aug 2002 | 30 Jun 2003 | |
| Coventry City | 01 Aug 2003 | 16 Jul 2004 | |
| Barnsley | 29 Apr 2004 | 05 May 2004 | L |
| Preston North End | 16 Jul 2004 | 30 Jun 2006 | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 01 Jul 2006 | 30 Jun 2007 | |
| Chester City | 02 Jul 2007 | 08 Jan 2008 | |
| Wrexham | 08 Jan 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 | |
| Hednesford Town | 14 Jul 2009 | 16 Dec 2009 | |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 16 Dec 2009 | 30 Jun 2011 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 18 Jul 2011 | 30 Jun 2013 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Clean sheets | Conceded | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | Leicester City | League Cup | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
| 1993-94 | Leicester City | League Division 1 | 32 | 24 | 3 | |||
| 1993-94 | Leicester City | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 3 | 2 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Leicester City | FA Cup | 1 |
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| 1994-95 | Leicester City | Premier League | 6 | 13 |
1
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| 1995-96 | Bolton Wanderers | Premier League | 5 | 7 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Bradford City | FA Cup | 1 | 3 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Bradford City | League Cup | 2 | 4 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Bolton Wanderers | League Cup | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Bolton Wanderers | FA Cup | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Bolton Wanderers | League Cup | 1 | 4 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Bolton Wanderers | Premier League | 4 | 2 |
9 | |||
| 1999-00 | Stoke City | League Cup | 4 | 1 | 4 | |||
| 2000-01 | Stoke City | League Cup | 3 | 5 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Stoke City | League Division 2 | 17 | 3 | 15 | |||
| 2000-01 | Stoke City | League Division 2 Play-Offs | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Stoke City | FA Cup | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Stoke City | LDV Vans Trophy | 1 | 3 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Stoke City | League Division 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
1
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| 2002-03 | Walsall | League Division 1 | 5 | 2 |
1 | 8 |
1
|
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| 2003-04 | Barnsley | League Division 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Coventry City | FA Cup | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
| 2003-04 | Coventry City | League Division 1 | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||
| 2004-05 | Preston North End | League Championship | 6 | 1 |
13 | |||
| 2004-05 | Preston North End | League Cup | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Tranmere Rovers | FA Cup | 2 | 4 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Tranmere Rovers | League Cup | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Tranmere Rovers | League One | 36 | 2 |
9 | 42 |
3
|
1
|
| 2007-08 | Chester City | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 1 |
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| 2007-08 | Wrexham | League Two | 22 | 4 | 27 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1999 | Macclesfield Town v Stoke City | D | 1-1 | League Cup | 1st round 1st leg |
| 25 Aug 1999 | Stoke City v Macclesfield Town | W |
3-0 Agg: 4-1 |
League Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 14 Sep 1999 | Stoke City v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 0-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 22 Sep 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke City | L |
3-1 Agg: 3-1 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Stoke City v Wycombe Wanderers | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Stoke City v Notts County | L | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Aug 2000 | Reading v Stoke City | D | 3-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 06 Sep 2000 | Stoke City v York City | D |
0-0 Agg: 5-1 |
League Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 09 Sep 2000 | Stoke City v Peterborough United | W | 3-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Sep 2000 | Stoke City v Oxford United | W | 4-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Sep 2000 | Port Vale v Stoke City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 20 Sep 2000 | Stoke City v Charlton Athletic | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Stoke City v Rotherham United | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Sep 2000 | Charlton Athletic v Stoke City | L |
4-3 Agg: 5-5 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 30 Sep 2000 | Colchester United v Stoke City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Mar 2001 | Bury v Stoke City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 31 Mar 2001 | Stoke City v Bristol Rovers | W | 4-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 03 Apr 2001 | Millwall v Stoke City | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 07 Apr 2001 | Luton Town v Stoke City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 14 Apr 2001 | Stoke City v Walsall | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Apr 2001 | AFC Bournemouth v Stoke City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 21 Apr 2001 | Stoke City v Wrexham | W | 3-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Oldham Athletic v Stoke City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 May 2001 | Stoke City v Swindon Town | W | 4-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 May 2001 | Stoke City v Walsall | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 16 May 2001 | Walsall v Stoke City | L |
4-2 Agg: 4-2 |
League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Stoke City v Northampton Town | W | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 25 Aug 2001 | Cambridge United v Stoke City | W | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Aug 2001 | Stoke City v Tranmere Rovers | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 08 Sep 2001 | Stoke City v Huddersfield Town | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 15 Sep 2001 | Stoke City v Reading | W | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Sep 2001 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Stoke City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Oct 2001 | Stoke City v Notts County | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 16 Oct 2001 | Blackpool v Stoke City | L | 3-2 | LDV Vans Trophy | 1st round - northern section |
| 18 Nov 2001 | Lewes v Stoke City | W | 0-2 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 21 Nov 2001 | Stoke City v Oldham Athletic | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Wrexham v Stoke City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.