Lewis Ward

On his league debut for Swindon Town, in the 2021–22 season, Lewis Ward kept a clean sheet against Forest Green Rovers and saved a stoppage-time penalty from Josh March. Swindon won 2–0. Ward had arrived that August on a one-year contract after a trial.

The route to that afternoon was long. Ward came through the youth system at Reading, with a loan at Portsmouth in 2012–2013, and stayed at the club until 2019 without a first-team appearance. Instead he learned the trade on loan, at Whitehawk, Sutton United, Fylkir, Margate, Hungerford Town, Aldershot Town, Northampton Town and Forest Green Rovers. Exeter City signed him in June 2019, and he returned to Portsmouth on loan in January 2021.

Swindon has been the constant in his career. He left for Sutton United in September 2022, and his contract there was ended by mutual agreement in January 2023. He went back to Swindon in August 2023. A move to Charlton Athletic in January 2024 brought no first-team appearances, and he left in May.

His most recent success came at AFC Wimbledon, whom he joined on a free transfer in July 2024. He helped them reach League One through the play-offs in 2025.

Swindon brought him back for a third spell that July, on a one-year deal that was later extended. At 194 cm he is a commanding figure in the six-yard box, and he is the club's number 12 for 2025–26.