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Peter Ward
- Thread starter ditchy
- Start date
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
He got 16 league goals and 2 cup goals in 1979/80. The great unsung hero in all this is Ray Clarke, who was a great striking buddy for Ward in the top flight. Before November that season, Ward had only two league goals to his name. After Clarke arrived (getting a useful eight goals himself), Ward hit 14 goals in 30 games. After Clarke was shipped off to Newcastle, Ward in 1980/81 went back to his pre-Clarke strike-rate, of one goal in twelve Albion games. His strike-rates for Forest and then on loan with Brighton were similarly unprolific.
No striker in the top flight, not Teddy Maybank, Michael Robinson, Justin Fashanu, Garry Birtles or Ian Wallace, got the best out of Ward in quite the way that Ray Clarke did.
Absolutely right, and thanks for the stats. Peter Ward went out of his way to praise Ray Clarke when he spoke at Burwash about his career. If I remember rightly he said Clarke was his favorite player to play alongside.
Just checked his record: for us and Forest, he scored 26 goals in a 101 games in the old 1st division. No, it's not too shabby and he was clearly a good player (particularly when you take into account that we were struggling and he never settled at Forest) but I do question whether that sort of return would make him a £10m + player. Wardy was a player who needed the right partner beside him: he had that with Mellor and also with Clarke.
Regardless of what he'd be worth, he'll always be a Brighton legend in my eyes.
Seagull58
In the Algarve
I reckon about 8 to 10 million. He scored one goal that was very similar to the famous Cantona one where he chipped the keeper from the RHS into the LH corner and then turned imperiously to the camera (Cantona, that is). My recollection is that Wardie beat a couple of players in a phone box size area and then chipped the keeper who just stood there watching it sail over his head into the net. There aren't many who can score like that.
pork pie
New member
Now that football was truly exciting to watch! Much better than the current tippy tappy - and at the top level!
Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews
Remainer
Millions. His biggest failing was playing in an era where crunching tackles from behind and on field thuggery ( yeah you Jim Cannon) were permitted. Even so he was magic. With the protection he'd get today I suggest he'd be playing at the very top level. He knew where the goal was, he had explosive pace and brilliant ball control coupled with a low centre of gravity. Phenomenal player and imo, a different but more effective forward than BZ.
If CMS is worth 3.5 million, Wardy would have been worth 3 times as much, so say around 10 million?
Maybe I've got rose tinted specs on, but. hey, Wardy is my favourtie Albion player by some margin
word for word (esp the jim Cannon bit!)
pork pie
New member
Millions. His biggest failing was playing in an era where crunching tackles from behind and on field thuggery ( yeah you Jim Cannon) were permitted. Even so he was magic. With the protection he'd get today I suggest he'd be playing at the very top level. He knew where the goal was, he had explosive pace and brilliant ball control coupled with a low centre of gravity. Phenomenal player and imo, a different but more effective forward than BZ.
If CMS is worth 3.5 million, Wardy would have been worth 3 times as much, so say around 10 million?
Maybe I've got rose tinted specs on, but. hey, Wardy is my favourtie Albion player by some margin
Apart from the fact that both are/were hard working, and great blokes, you cannot even compare the two. Compared to CMS, Wardy would have been priceless!
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
Fantastic.........GOOSEBUMPS watching that
Made my day and brought back so many memories, thanks
Great football,exciting full blooded stuff.Those of us who were around at the time will never forget those days!
pork pie
New member
Indeed, even the pics of the old North Stand made me remember what an exciting experience watching football used to be in those days. Now, the whole ground is like the old West Stand.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
WHEN/IF we find a striker who can put away goals like Wardy did, the Amex will buzz even more than the Goldstone. I trust Poyet to deliver excitement on a par with the heady days of Ward....we just need to be patient. If Gus goes then I trust Bloom to find another manager who will deliver.
I'm not normally a very trusting guy, but we are in good hands imo.
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
I was too young to go in the old North stand in those times but i think most of the amex is better than you describe. Fair enough about the old West though, apart from the occasional 'come on you blues' it was dead!
Can't see it happening!
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
Which bit? The excitement, the goal scoring player of Ward calibre, Gus' ability to deliver or TB's ability to replace Gus with as good or better?
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
That video posted is wonderful. I've watched it numerous times but never seem to tire of it. The roar of the crowd when Wardy receives the ball is something else. I was struck by the similarity with Vicente in that both players somehow seem to leave their man several yards back and floundering. That ability to continually waltz around your opponent is fantastic and it's something we've not seen for many a long year at the Albion. Frank Worthington had it but he was in football terms old. I just hope for even one more year of Vicente, that would be amazing.
T.G
Well-known member
Heavy shot for a slight lad
he had such a deceptively 'heavy' shot.
Your not kidding I remember being just to the left of the North Stand goal when he smacked a seemly tame shot that hit me flush in the chops and lifted me of my feet. I was gobsmacked (literally) how powerful his shot was. It made me understand why a lot of his shots fizzed into the corners of the net. He hit them so sweetly the 'keepers didn't have a chance. Maybe £15m!!!!
he had such a deceptively 'heavy' shot.
Your not kidding I remember being just to the left of the North Stand goal when he smacked a seemly tame shot that hit me flush in the chops and lifted me of my feet. I was gobsmacked (literally) how powerful his shot was. It made me understand why a lot of his shots fizzed into the corners of the net. He hit them so sweetly the 'keepers didn't have a chance. Maybe £15m!!!!
Vicente comes closest so far, but Wardy was so good for so long for us. Will take some beating in terms of skill, speed with the ball and accurate shooting. The only Albion player I've seen scoring direct from a corner.( i know others have)He is also a hero since leaving with his great support for the REMF. Is this man-love?
Well,I can't see us finding someone quite as exciting as Wardy and I don't think Gus will provide excitemement on a par with our 'Glory Days'.As for the buzz of the Amex surpassing that of the Goldstone,that would be wonderful,but without the previous two factors it would be hard to achieve.
I am quite sure that were it necessary,the club could find someone just as good or better than Gus.
It is a strange old game tho' and the thrills of reaching the old first division were often far greater than when we arrived!
