Since signing for Palace, Joel Ward has worked hard, improved and made huge strides towards cementing his place in the starting line-up. An important influence on the back four and a football minded player, his passion for Palace ensures him a place as a fan favourite. This is surely just the beginning of the rise and dominance of JW2.
Joel Ward began his days in the youth and reserve ranks at Portsmouth and showed desire to make first team appearances and establish his name in the first team. A loan at Bournemouth during his time at Pompey really gave him a chance to show what he can do on the main stage and what type of player he really is. Returning to Portsmouth, there was clear evidence he had developed as a player during the loan period and he was able to make his Premier League debut against Wigan in 2010. He had been at Portsmouth as a centre half but, for the debut, played the full 90 as a left back in which the game stayed goalless. (Clean sheet not too bad for the debutant.)
With the imminent departure of Nathaniel Clyne, Dougie Freedman knew that the void would have to be filled by a youngster with ambition and flair. Having reviewed Joel Ward a few times during his Portsmouth term, the young gun was snatched up for a mere £400,000, (as a Joel Ward enthusiast there would have to be a couple more 0’s on the end of that figure for me to be happy for him to leave Palace now.) He made his Palace debut in a home cup game against Exeter and gave us a glimpse of who exactly would be replacing Nathaniel; another player considered as a Palace great. His ability to go past midfielders and yet track back and control the tempo of the defence reminded the fans of Clyne on the way up and it was an exciting prospect for the crowd to witness.
Joel Ward will go down as a club hero for his endeavour in the play-off final. No Palace fan will ever forget his salmon-like leap on the goal line to deny Watford an equaliser, which in essence fired us into to the Premier League. His emotional reaction to the win showed everyone what desire and love he has for the club and that has only ever increased the more he plays for us. He applauds the fans every time he enters or exits the pitch, he shows determination in training and is always striving to improve and is a sheer delight to watch.
Pardew has thrown around the term “Maverick” a lot during his time at the club and I don’t think this is any more appropriate than when referring to Wardy. Watching him during the FA cup clash at Southampton it was hard to pick a fault in Ward’s game and every time the Saints were on the attack Ward quashed the pressure. The love Crystal Palace have for Nathaniel Clyne is still clear but seeing him in the same game as Joel Ward, there couldn’t be a Palace fan in St Mary’s that would choose the former Eagles right back over the current incumbent.
Ward finally got his deserved goal for the boys in red and blue in a recent game against QPR back in March. Miraculously finding himself on the edge of the box carving open the defence, the defender delicately curled a fine shot into the bottom left past Rob Green, (with his weaker foot I might add). The resulting CR7 celebration must have made Joel feel on cloud 9 and I don’t think I have seen the Holmesdale bounce as much this year as when that particular goal found the net.
Joel Ward loves Crystal Palace Football Club, and Crystal Palace loves Wardy. We didn’t break the bank to bring him in, we have watched him grow and develop and in truth watch him build a strong relationship with the club and vice versa. He will surely go down as a club legend and the 100 caps he has already for us will continue to grow.
Signing a new contract until 2018 is one of the great Palace stories of the season and I think all Palace fans will stand up and agree. I’d love to see him stay with us at the top as he was instrumental in taking us there. Joel Ward is a delight to watch and a great character to have at the club. I’m sure everyone reading this will join me in saying…singing…. “Joel Ward for England clap clap clap clap clap…. Joel Ward for England…”
