The tall striker turned professional with Manchester City and went on to enjoy a professional career spanning a number of clubs up and down the English football pyramid, including City.

He started off at Cheadle Town and caught the eye of the City scouts, where he was named as a hot prospect before injuries forced him to wait for his chance of regular first-team action. City sent him out on-loan to Wrexham for that first-team experience and he duly scored twice on his debut for the Welsh club, but it was only a temporary switch.

A move to Filbert Street followed on a permanent basis as manager Brian Little shelled out £80,000 for his services. However, Ward struggled to make an impact with the Foxes and was again sent out on-loan to get more action, this time with Blackpool, where he again scored on his debut.

The Foxes recouped the money they'd paid for Ward when Crewe Alexandra signed the marksman in December 1992 and his improved form there saw Norwich City take him up the football pyramid for a fee of £500,000. Again, his first game, in the Premiership, saw him score twice for the Canaries against Chelsea.

Ward's career saw him as a player who clubs battling relegation turned to, a lower top-flight striker. He suffered relegation following moves to Barnsley, Blackburn and Bradford City, as well as with Norwich. He finished his career with Sheffield United.