Herbert Ward

Herbert Foster Ward (24 March 1873 – 6 June 1897) was an English sportsman who played football as a forward for two seasons with Southampton St. Mary's, and as a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Hampshire during its first three seasons in the County Championship. Outside of sport, he was an assistant schoolmaster.

Early life and football career Ward was born at Hammersmith in March 1873, but grew up in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Bruce Castle School in Tottenham, before training as a schoolteacher. His teaching career took him to Handel College in Southampton.

Ward joined Southampton St. Mary's in 1893, initially as a left winger, and played in Southampton's two FA Cup qualifying matches in November 1893, as well as friendlies and local cup matches. Southampton were founding members of the Southern League in the 1894–95 season, with Ward being asked to take over the role of centre forward during this inaugural season, Ward made 71 in Hampshire's second innings, sharing in a partnership of 134 for the fifth wicket with Francis Bacon. This was one of three half centuries he made in 1895, contributing toward his 523 runs from fifteen matches. During the 1896 season, he led the Hampshire bowling attack alongside Charles Robson (who was the secretary–manager of Southampton St Mary's). In eighteen matches in 1896, he took 19 wickets at a bowling average of 24.47, with best figures of 4 for 17. He also had a successful season with the bat, scoring 765 runs and making two centuries, During the 1896 season, he played for Charles de Trafford's eleven against the touring Australians. His cause of death was initially thought to be sunstroke, but it was subsequently diagnosed as a combination of typhoid fever and meningitis.

His brother, Charles, played first-class cricket for Hampshire, while his cousin Leonard Ward, and uncle Charles Ward, also played first-class cricket.