Ward, Lewis

Birth Date

5th March 1997

Birthplace

West Surrey

Occupation

Goalkeeper

Biographical Text

Lewis Ward was signed as Exeter City’s first choice goalkeeper but suffered misfortune during an injury-hit two-year spell with the club between 2019 and 2021. He later signed for Swindon. 

Lewis came through the academy at Reading under the direction of former Exeter manager Eamonn Dolan. He never played for Reading’s first-team but did have loan spells at  Whitehawk, Sutton United, Fylkir (Iceland), Margate, Hungerford Town and  Aldershot Town before having sufficient experience to be farmed out to Northampton and Forest Green Rovers. After five cup appearances at Northampton Town during autumn 2018, Lewis made his Football League debut for Forest Green Rovers against Mansfield on 29 January 2019. This was the first of fourteen appearances for the Gloucestershire club which included a losing play-off semi-final.    

Back at Reading Lewis was released in May 2019. During his final years at the club, Lewis had studied sports journalism through the University of Staffordshire. He had also played for England under-16s whilst registered with Reading.

Lewis, now twenty-two, was to sign for Exeter City in June 2019. He made his debut in the opening game of the 2019/20 season against Macclesfield and was first-choice until he suffered a broken arm against Crewe Alexandra on 5 October 2019. He was out until January when he played-out the rest of the COVID-19 curtailed season before featuring in the first of City’s three play-off matches in June 2020. By the end of the season Lewis had made 20 league appearances (plus one play-off match) with Jonny Maxted playing in his absence and Dino Visser as emergency cover.     

Lewis played eight league games during September and October 2020 but with Jökull Andrésson now at the club, ironically for Lewis a loanee from Reading, he moved to Portsmouth on loan in January 2021. Released by Exeter in May 2021. Lewis spent the 2021/22 season at Swindon Town as back-up goalkeeper playing in just nine league games although he did appear in both of the club’s play-off matches. Lewis then moved to Sutton United immediately before the transfer window closed on 1 September 2022. He was released by Sutton in January 2023 and re-appeared for Swindon during the first half of 2023/24 prior to leaving the County Ground for a second time in January 2024 to sign for Charlton Athletic. 

Having made eight appearances for Swindon during 2023/24, and none for Charlton, Lewis signed a one-year deal with AFC Wimbledon in July 2024.

Appearances

Exeter City

League 28 (plus 1 play-off); Cups 4 (33)

Creator

PF

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