Mari Ward
 Ward playing for Bristol City in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mari Bee Ward[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position(s) | Wing-back, midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bristol City | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2022 | Bristol City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Plymouth Argyle | 10 | (3) |
| 2022– | Bristol City | 36 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | England U17 | 9 | (1) |
| 2023– | England U19 | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2024 [3] ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 October 2024 [2] | |||
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
[edit]Ward joined the Bristol City academy from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2022.[4] She scored three goals in ten matches for Plymouth at senior level in the National League,[1] followed by five goals in twelve appearances for Bristol City Reserves, prior to joining the first team in 2023.[5]
Club career
[edit]On 15 January 2023, Ward made her full debut for Bristol City against Coventry City in a 3–2 victory.[6]
On 3 January 2024, after more than 25 appearances,[7] she signed her first professional contract with Bristol City on her 18th birthday.[8]
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.[9] She scored her second goal a week later to take the lead against Newcastle United in a 2–0 victory,[10] and was described as the player of the match by SportsByte.[11]
International career
[edit]Ward has represented England about under-17 and under-19 youth level.[2]
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,[12][13] having received a red card six days previously for denying a goal scoring opportunity in the opening match against Poland.[14][15] Ward also played in the semi-finals of the tournament, where the under-17s lost 3–1 to Spain.[16]
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.[17][18]
Honours
[edit]Bristol City
Individual
- Bristol City Women Academy Player of the Year: 2023[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Plymouth Argyle | The FA Women's National League". The FA. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b Mari Ward at Flashscore.com
- ^ a b Mari Ward at Soccerway
- ^ a b "All the winners from the City awards dinner". Bristol City FC. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Bristol City Women Reserves | Professional Game Academy League". The FA. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Report: Bristol City 3-2 Coventry United". Bristol City FC. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (3 January 2024). "Bristol City Women's Mari Ward signs her first pro contract". She Kicks. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Dougherty, Noah (3 January 2024). "Ward pens professional contract". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Twydale, Jack (3 November 2024). "Sunderland edge seven-goal thriller against Bristol City". WSL Full-Time. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Taking flight to watch Newcastle United Women's team but the Robins swoop to take the points". The Mag. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Whalen, Molly (12 November 2024). "Match Report: Bristol City Women 2-0 Newcastle United Women". SportsByte. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (20 May 2023). "England draw with France at UEFA Women's U-17 Championship". She Kicks. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "France-England | Women's Under-17 2023". UEFA.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Jamet, Sylvain (15 May 2023). "Arsenal youngster scores 2 as England beat Poland in u17 Euro opener". Daily Canon. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (14 May 2023). "Ten-player England Women U-17s start EURO Finals with win". She Kicks. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Women's U17 European Championship: Spain score twice late on to beat England 3-1". BBC Sport. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (27 October 2023). "Report: England WU19s 6-1 Wales". England Football. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Smith, Frank (30 October 2023). "Report: England WU19s 1-0 Czechia". England Football. Retrieved 22 October 2024.