Ward Calls Time on Gulls` Career

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The Ryman Football League

Ryman League Premier Division club Canvey Island bid a fond farewell to veteran defender Steve Ward with a 5-0....

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Published 30th April 2012

Steve Ward

.....thumping of Margate at a wet and windy Park Lane on Saturday.

The victory was the perfect way for Ward to sign off his twelve-year career as a Canvey player.

Ward leaves the club on a high, having also seen The Gulls lift the Essex Senior Cup earlier this month.

To mark his final game for the club, Ward planned a novel way to leave the island, and travelled back to his native Kent via boat from the jetty at Chapman Sands Sailing Club.

Ward said: "I took the decision to leave the club having not playing sufficient games over the last two years due to the hernia operation which curtailed my 2010/11 season.

“This year the problems with my hamstrings have also limited my appearances, so I thought it only right that the club have a chance to look for a more youthful and value for money centre half.

"It has been an extremely happy two years since my return to the club and I've loved every second of it.

“The lads have been fantastic on and off the pitch and that's made it quite a sad last few weeks for me knowing that I'll be leaving that behind. Also, the army of helpers behind the scenes that have kept this club going after resigning from the Conference have been amazing. The win to secure the Senior Cup was for them and as I picked a few of them out in the crowd it made me quite emotional of how important this little club is to many people. Just how important this club has been to me in my life is impossible to put into words so it is with a heavy heart that I will leave these `shores`.

"The reason why I will be leaving via boat is that I've often wondered how quick it would be to get over from Kent to Canvey rather than the twelve years of paying the toll and constantly being stuck in traffic on the A2, M25 and A13!

"When most people leave a club they get in their car and drive away - very unmemorable -so I thought I'd try something a little different so that people will remember my time here in a different way!

"Fortunately an ex-teacher from my school, Richard Thackeray, is heavily involved in the Gravesend Sea Cadets, and after participating in a boating course with some of my students it dawned on me that this could be my unusual route out of Canvey on the last day.

“The tide dictated that I can get picked up from Canvey but not taken to the game. The rumours of the awaiting submarine ready to torpedo the little boat scared me because my swimming is not the best!"