Mari Ward
English footballer (born 2006)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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-23 national team.
|
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) | |||
| 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 | 53 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | England U17 | 9 | (1) |
| 2023–2025 | England U19 | 17 | (1) |
| 2025– | England U23 | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 January 2026 [2] ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 December 2025 [3] | |||
Early career
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
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
Ward has represented England about under-17 and under-19 youth level.[3]
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]