Ward’s Words

Helen Ward’s column mixes personal highs with a professional low. The Watford and Wales forward describes her excitement on signing for Watford, feeling the homecoming could be the perfect place to see out the last years of her playing career, and her deep disappointment that the club would not apply for either tier one or tier two of the restructured pyramid, news the players learned only about 40 minutes before it was made public. She respects the club’s reasons while not agreeing with them, and says her international ambitions mean she must weigh the level she plays at, for football and family reasons alike, though she will give everything to climb the WSL 2 table. Ward reports Wales unbeaten and top of their World Cup qualifying group without conceding, and argues the next England manager’s gender should not matter, only their skill set.