The story of former Derby and England winger Tim Ward is an odd footnote in Exeter City’s history. Named manager on 5 March 1953, it transpired he was still a Barnsley player and that the Yorkshire club was also keen to appoint him to the same position. Recalled to Oakwell, it is doubtful if he ever officially took up the reins at St James’ Park. He was to work as a manager with four different clubs over the next fifteen years.    

Starting with Cheltenham Town, his hometown club, he became a professional with Derby County in 1937 where he made 238 league appearances either side of the war and played twice for England. He moved to Barnsley in 1951 and had made around thirty league appearances when he agreed to be Norman Kirkman’s replacement at Exeter City in March 1953. With his appointment announced on a Thursday, he travelled with the team to Ipswich on the Saturday before it was reported that he hadn’t been released by Barnsley and that the Yorkshire club still regarded him as their player. 

Recalled by Barnsley on 12 March, he became the club’s manager a fortnight later and served until 1960 before stints with Grimsby Town, Derby County (where he gave way to Brian Clough) and Carlisle United took him through to 1968. The Grecians, for their part, turned instead to Norman Dodgin who was to be manager of City for the next four years.     

Tim Ward died aged seventy-five in 1993.