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Joel Ward (footballer)

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Joel Ward (footballer)

Joel Edward Philip Ward (born 29 October 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender. He is currently a free agent. Usually deployed as a right-back, he can also play as a centre-back. A versatile defender who can play anywhere across the back-line, Ward was an academy graduate of Portsmouth. He made his senior debut in 2009 following a loan to Bournemouth, and made 96 appearances for the club. In 2012, Ward signed for Crystal Palace, and helped the side achieve promotion to the Premier League in his first season. He has since gone on to make the most top-flight appearances of any player in the club's history, as well as serving the 2023–24 season as club captain and winning the FA Cup in 2025. He departed the club following his release at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Infobox

Full name
Joel Edward Philip Ward
Date of birth
(1989-10-29) 29 October 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth
Emsworth, England
Height
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)
Right-back, centre-back
1998–2006
East Lodge
2006–2008
Portsmouth
Years
Team
2008–2012
Portsmouth
2008–2009
→ Bournemouth (loan)
2012–2025
Crystal Palace

Tables

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
FA Cup
Apps
FA Cup
Goals
League Cup
Apps
League Cup
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Club
Portsmouth
Season
2008–09
League
Premier League
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
0
Other
0
Total
0
Total
0
2009–10
2009–10
Club
2009–10
Season
Premier League
League
3
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
4
Other
0
2010–11
2010–11
Club
2010–11
Season
Championship
League
42
League
3
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
46
Other
3
2011–12
2011–12
Club
2011–12
Season
Championship
League
44
League
3
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
46
Other
3
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
89
League
6
League
2
League
0
FA Cup
5
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
96
Other
6
AFC Bournemouth (loan)
AFC Bournemouth (loan)
Club
AFC Bournemouth (loan)
Season
2008–09
League
League Two
League
21
League
1
FA Cup
2
FA Cup
0
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Other
1
Other
0
Total
25
Total
1
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace
Club
Crystal Palace
Season
2012–13
League
Championship
League
25
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
2
League Cup
0
Other
3
Other
0
Total
30
Total
0
2013–14
2013–14
Club
2013–14
Season
Premier League
League
36
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
36
Other
0
2014–15
2014–15
Club
2014–15
Season
Premier League
League
37
League
1
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
40
Other
1
2015–16
2015–16
Club
2015–16
Season
Premier League
League
30
League
2
League
6
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
38
Other
3
2016–17
2016–17
Club
2016–17
Season
Premier League
League
38
League
0
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
42
Other
0
2017–18
2017–18
Club
2017–18
Season
Premier League
League
19
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
20
Other
0
2018–19
2018–19
Club
2018–19
Season
Premier League
League
7
League
1
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
12
Other
1
2019–20
2019–20
Club
2019–20
Season
Premier League
League
29
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
29
Other
0
2020–21
2020–21
Club
2020–21
Season
Premier League
League
26
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
26
Other
0
2021–22
2021–22
Club
2021–22
Season
Premier League
League
28
League
0
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
32
Other
0
2022–23
2022–23
Club
2022–23
Season
Premier League
League
28
League
1
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
30
Other
1
2023–24
2023–24
Club
2023–24
Season
Premier League
League
25
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
25
Other
0
2024–25
2024–25
Club
2024–25
Season
Premier League
League
2
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
3
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
330
League
5
League
19
League
1
FA Cup
11
FA Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
0
Other
363
Other
6
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
441
League
12
League
23
League
1
FA Cup
17
FA Cup
0
League Cup
4
League Cup
0
Other
485
Other
13
Club
Season
League
FA Cup
League Cup
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Portsmouth
2008–09
Premier League
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2009–10
Premier League
3
0
0
0
1
0
—
4
0
2010–11
Championship
42
3
1
0
3
0
—
46
3
2011–12
Championship
44
3
1
0
1
0
—
46
3
Total
89
6
2
0
5
0
0
0
96
6
AFC Bournemouth (loan)
2008–09
League Two
21
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
25
1
Crystal Palace
2012–13
Championship
25
0
0
0
2
0
3
0
30
0
2013–14
Premier League
36
0
0
0
0
0
—
36
0
2014–15
Premier League
37
1
3
0
0
0
—
40
1
2015–16
Premier League
30
2
6
1
2
0
—
38
3
2016–17
Premier League
38
0
3
0
1
0
—
42
0
2017–18
Premier League
19
0
0
0
1
0
—
20
0
2018–19
Premier League
7
1
3
0
2
0
—
12
1
2019–20
Premier League
29
0
0
0
0
0
—
29
0
2020–21
Premier League
26
0
0
0
0
0
—
26
0
2021–22
Premier League
28
0
3
0
1
0
—
32
0
2022–23
Premier League
28
1
1
0
1
0
—
30
1
2023–24
Premier League
25
0
0
0
0
0
—
25
0
2024–25
Premier League
2
0
0
0
1
0
—
3
0
Total
330
5
19
1
11
0
3
0
363
6
Career total
441
12
23
1
17
0
4
0
485
13

References

  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  3. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed"
    https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828
  4. Barry Hugman's Footballers
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240608000000/http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/25887
  5. Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013
  6. "Joel Ward"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180210232914/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/joel-ward/
  7. The News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160826135053/http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/pompey/ten-facts-about-fa-cup-finallist-joel-ward-1-7394170
  8. "Academy Influx Excites Woan"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090831001435/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=2&fm_type=all&fm_string=joel%20ward&fm_article_page_num=&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1315
  9. "Hart Swoops for Rushden Pair"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090831004447/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=2&fm_type=all&fm_string=joel%20ward&fm_article_page_num=3&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=73
  10. "Ward Completes Cherries Loan Move"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7548081.stm
  11. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/2410872.kevin-makes-jalal-an-offer/
  12. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/2421592.ward-wants-starting-place/
  13. "Bournemouth 1–2 Cardiff"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7541866.stm
  14. "Aldershot 1–1 Bournemouth"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/7551228.stm
  15. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/2446261.horror-show-is-painful-for-quinn/
  16. Bournewmouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/3796132.joels-eight-days-to-forget/
  17. "Shrewsbury 4–1 Bournemouth"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7665169.stm
  18. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/3787081.quinn-wants-four-from-nine/
  19. "Bournemouth 0–1 Colchester"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7700473.stm
  20. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/4109746.brett-boosts-cherries-chances/
  21. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/4112571.ward-sidelined-for-up-to-eight-weeks/
  22. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/4281968.ward-on-road-to-recovery/
  23. "Morecambe 0–4 Bournemouth"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8015064.stm
  24. Bournemouth Echo
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4467299.cherries-bradders-is-more-than-all-right/
  25. "Portsmouth 2–3 Doncaster"
    https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9176237.stm
  26. "Cotterill's Donny Delight"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110214165023/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Cotterill-s-Donny-Delight-1896.aspx
  27. Football-Lineups.com (Portsmouth Championship lineups from 19 February to 8 March 2011)
    http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Portsmouth/The_Championship_2010-2011/Campaign/?p=6
  28. "Portsmouth 1–1 Southampton"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/16129448
  29. "Ward joins Crystal Palace"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120530214021/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Ward-Joins-Crystal-Palace-3444.aspx
  30. "Exeter 1–2 Crystal Palace" BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19159729
  31. "Crystal Palace 2–3 Watford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19221446
  32. "Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831
  33. "Crystal Palace 3–1 QPR" BBC Sport. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31776420
  34. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/15/crystal-palace-defender-joel-ward-contract-2018
  35. "Ward Delighted With Palace Century"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2016/april/ward-delighted-with-palace-century/
  36. cpfc.co.uk
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2018/july/ward-signs-new-palace-deal/
  37. Crystal Palace F.C
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/joel-ward-extends-palace-contract/2021-07-15/
  38. "Joel Ward agrees contract extension – News"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/joel-ward-agrees-contract-extension/
  39. "Hughes, Schlupp and Ward sign new contracts – BBC Sport"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czvjq04w9nko
  40. "Joel Ward to depart Crystal Palace after 13 years"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/joel-ward-to-depart-crystal-palace-after-13-years/
  41. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6352796/2025/05/13/crystal-palace-joel-ward-leaves/
  42. NY Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/crystal-palace-manchester-city-live-updates-fa-cup-final-score-result/gwL3fCyvH1fR/c94XL6YVKFCw/
  43. Sky Sports
    https://www.skysports.com/football/crystal-palace-vs-wolverhampton-wanderers/506172
  44. "My Story – Joel Ward"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160820012748/http://faithandfootball.org.uk/stats-joel-ward/my-story-joel-ward.html
  45. "China Challenge"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121111110502/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2005/05/20/china_challenge_feature.shtml
  46. Irish Mirror
    http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/crystal-palace-defender-joel-ward-7814033
  47. "Easter Sunday Interview with Joel Ward"
    http://www.newlifechurch.me/Groups/109196/News_and_Events.aspx
  48. Football-Lineups
    http://www.football-lineups.com/match/57313/
  49. Football-Lineups
    http://www.football-lineups.com/match/77578/
  50. Football-Lineups
    http://www.football-lineups.com/match/81594/
  51. Football-Lineups
    http://www.football-lineups.com/match/81576/
  52. CPFC
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/joel-ward/
  53. Crystal Palace F.C
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/first-team/ward-on-glasners-changes-bournemouth-and-his-future/
  54. Joel Ward at Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=49518
  55. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm23zrkn7ryt#Line-ups
  56. "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36292265
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