Mark Ward - Hammered

By Howard Kendall

BY pure coincidence, I had just finished watching an episode of the TV police series The Bill when Marks publisher phoned me at home and asked if I would contribute this foreword. How timely!

I was obviously shocked when I heard that Mark had been arrested and then subsequently sentenced. I dont want to go into what he was guilty of and why he ended up in prison for the past four years but when it happens to someone you know well and have become close to over the years, its obviously very disappointing.

But once I knew how long he would have to spend inside, I had no doubts whatsoever that Mark would be able to handle it. His outstanding qualities of resilience and determination that characterised his performances for me, firstly at Manchester City and then Everton, have again stood him in good stead.

Mark first came to my attention some eight years or so before I actually signed him. He was playing for Everton in a testimonial at Halifax one night in May 1981, just after he had been given a free transfer by manager Gordon Lee, who was in fact sacked later that day. Id just been appointed as Lees successor when I was sat next to my assistant, Colin Harvey, at the game.

Despite being shown the door by the club hed supported as a kid, Mark gave a typically honest performance that caught my eye at The Shay that night. I asked Colin if he thought the club was doing the right thing by letting Wardy go and he mentioned that Lee had based his decision on Marks size and stature and doubted whether he had the strength to fully make the grade.

Although I accepted Lees verdict at the time and didnt intervene, I made a mental note of Marks ability and the decision to let him go ultimately proved an expensive one for the club I brought him back to Everton 10 years later at a cost of 1million.

After being released by Everton in the early 80s, Mark went on to show what he was all about. Instead of feeling sorry for himself and giving up on his dream, he worked hard to improve his game, kept plugging away and got his reward via a non-league spell with Northwich Victoria that took him back into pro football at Oldham Athletic and then West Ham United. For this achievement I always use him as the perfect example of a youngster who showed the hunger and determination required to bounce back from a big setback early on in his career.

For me, Marks best qualities were his consistency and the 100 per cent commitment he guaranteed with every game he played. Some players dont attain that level of consistency but he always did. Add that attitude to the lads other abilities his strength and willingness to get up and down the wing and a good crosser of the ball and here was a player you wanted on your team-sheet every week.

It was those fighting qualities that made me sign him when I returned to England after managing Athletic Bilbao to take over at Man City towards the end of 1989. The team was struggling in a relegation battle and not only did I need to bring in players of quality, but ones who would fight to dig us out of that hole to ensure survival in the top flight.

One of the first games I saw on my return from Spain was Blackburn Rovers against West Ham and I knew then that Wardy was ideally suited to help us get out of the situation we were in. I swapped him for two players, Ian Bishop and Trevor Morley plus money to form a central midfield partnership alongside another reliable Scouser called Peter Reid, and City eventually pulled clear of trouble.

I found myself in a similar predicament when I went back to Everton to manage there for the second time, in the summer of 1991 and I again turned to Mark because I knew he would do the job we needed from him. This time, he was asked to play on the left of midfield, but it didnt matter where I put him in midfield because I knew Id always get the same consistent level of performance and wholehearted endeavour.

I never really liked to play with out-and-out wingers anyway. I preferred wide players who would attack and then also get back to defend when needed and Wardy could perform both roles very well.

After he had recovered from a badly broken leg during my second spell as Everton manager, I didnt hesitate to put him straight back in the side as soon as he was fit enough to play again. He had a winning mentality, on and off the field.

I saw more evidence of this soon after hed joined City, when I took the lads on a mid-season break to Tenerife. I challenged Wardy to a game of tennis after wed all spent the previous night enjoying drinks in the hotel bar. There was a 100 side-stake on the match and I managed to beat him two sets to one.

He could never stand to be beaten, though, so he insisted on a double-or-quits re-match the next day. This time he got his revenge he must have caught me at a weak moment!

I got him back a few years later, though, on Evertons summer trip to Mauritius. Wardy had got up to something I cant remember what so I punished him by making him stand up on stage at our hotel and sing Summertime to the whole squad. It probably proved to be more a punishment for the other lads who had to listen to him perform!