Latest news with #DannyWard
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Waikato Man Represents New Zealand At Eight-Ball Pool World Championship
For one Waikato local, a lifetime of eight-ball pool at clubs, bars and chippy shops has culminated in representing New Zealand on the world stage – at 63 years old. Danny Ward will be representing New Zealand at the IEPF World Championship in the over 60s division, held from 26 August in Ireland. Ward said it was an amazing opportunity to represent New Zealand at the highest level of cue sports. 'I'm very excited to be representing New Zealand at the championships. I think it proves it's never too late to compete and do what you love.' A competitive eight-ball pool player for more than four decades, Ward said he first fell in love with playing pool in an unusual place – his local chippy in Forest Lake. 'My journey with cue sports began in the early 70s when I first picked up a cue at the local fish and chip shop across from Fraser High School. 'That led to me getting a tabletop eight-ball pool table when I was just 13 years old, and that really created a lifelong passion for me.' Ward first competed in 1985 in the Waikato C Grade Eight-Ball Championship, sweeping the competition and securing his first silverware. From there, Danny said he never looked back. 'It's been over 40 years of playing for me and I still want to compete and win.' The electric feeling of competition gave way to more opportunities to represent Waikato and New Zealand. When Ward isn't sinking pockets, he's branding them, at his day job as a sales representative at branding and custom merch creators The Brand Makers, who are also sponsoring him on his bid to bring home the silverware. Ward said he was pleased the company's attitude towards supporting community sports and success made taking the time off such a breeze. 'My bosses have been very accommodating and were pleased to support me as I head to Ireland. They love any local success and always want to contribute to community sports.' He said he's ready to compete and do the business, region and country proud. 'I've been practising hard for this, and I've never been more ready.'
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Southampton late show spoils Wrexham's dream return
Soccer Football - Championship - Southampton v Wrexham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - August 9, 2025 Wrexham's Danny Ward looks dejected after Southampton's Jack Stephens scores their second goal Action Images/John Sibley SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) -Southampton spoiled a fairytale return by Wrexham to England's second tier as two late goals snatched a 2-1 home win on Saturday and ruined what looked like a Hollywood script written by the Welsh club's celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Josh Windass put Wrexham ahead with a 22nd-minute penalty, and they looked like enjoying a dream comeback to the Championship after 43 years until Ryan Manning levelled in the 90th minute and Jack Stephens got the winner deep in added time. Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, are one of the favourites for promotion, but they were almost stunned by a Wrexham side back at this level for the first time since 1982 after an unprecedented three consecutive promotions. Wrexham may have been brought back down to earth by the loss after their meteoric rise since Reynolds and McElhenney took over in 2021, but they showed they may have what it takes to cause plenty of problems to the big clubs this season. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Ed Osmond)
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The former Rangers, Celtic and other SPFL stars hoping to help Championship side Wrexham get to the Premier League
THERE is a lot of hype around Wrexham as they begin their first English Championship season in over 40 years. Supporters of the Welsh club are dreaming of a fourth successive promotion, backed by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. 7 Wrexham won the League One Championship last season Credit: Getty 7 Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney own the club Credit: Getty On Saturday, they kick off their quest for the English Premier League promised land, with a trip to Southampton who were relegated from the top tier last season. And there will be five former SPFL players who will be looking to bring them more success. 7 Danny Ward enjoyed his time at Aberdeen Credit: Reuters GK - Danny Ward, Aberdeen International Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward is back where it all began for him after returning to the Racecourse this summer. The experienced shot-stopper has 44 caps for his country and has played at Euro 2016, 2020 and the World Cup in 2022. The 32-year-old caught the attention of Liverpool when he was a teenager and signed for them in 2012. During that time he had a loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen in 2015. Ward enjoyed his six-month spell at Pittodrie, helping them to eight successive league wins and picked up 12 cleansheets in 29 appearances for Derek McInnes' side. But his stint was cut short after Jurgen Klopp recalled him from his loan due to a goalkeeping crisis at Anfield. He has always had a soft spot for the Dons since then and signed off with a message to the fans saying "Once a Don, always a Don". 7 O'Coinnell played for Celtic in the Champions League Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow CB - Eoghan O'Connell, Celtic The 29-year-old has played a pivotal part in Wrexham's rise to the Championship having been involved in all three consecutive promotions. Before the Hollywood fairytale began for O'Connell though he learned his trade at the Hoops. Celebrity Wrexham owner spotted in retro Celtic strip as he asks 'are they Catholics or Protestants' There were high hopes for the Irish defender who was awarded the Celtic youth academy Player of the Year. He made his debut in the 1-1 draw against Ross County in 2014. O'Connell experienced the Champions League with Celtic, coming on in the Nou Camp in the 7-0 defeat against Barcelona in 2016. O'Connell struggled for game time with Celtic and made just 13 appearances. He was loaned out to Cork City and Walsall before leaving for Bury in 2017. He later signed for Rochdale and Charlton before making the switch to Wrexham in 2023. 7 Josh Windass in action for Rangers Credit: Willie Vass - The Sun Glasgow AMC/ST - Josh Windass, Rangers Another summer signing arriving from Sheffield Wednesday after an impressive spell with the Owls. He became their top goalscorer this century after scoring 53 goals including a goal against Derby from inside his own half. A player who could always produce moments of brilliance but was never far away from controversy like his time at Rangers showed. Windass spent two seasons in Scotland and later admitted he regretted the way he departed Ibrox after joining English Championship side Wigan in 2018. 7 19/08/17 Rangers v Hearts. Pix by Keith Campbell. RYAN HARDIE Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow ST - Ryan Hardie, Rangers Signed this summer from League One Plymouth and hoping to help fire Wrexham to the Premier League. Scored 74 goals in 248 games for Plymouth after signing in January 2020. He came through the ranks at Rangers and made his debut in 2014. Also had loan spells at Raith Rovers, St Mirren and Livingston whilst at Ibrox. Never managed to fully cement his place in the Rangers first team and left permanently to sign for Blackpool in 2019. Famously scored a penalty for Plymouth to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup last season and has reached double figures for goals in each of his last four campaigns. 7 Jay Rodriguez had a loan spell at Stirling Albion in 2008 Credit: Michael Schofield - The Sun Glasgow ST - Jay Rodriguez, Stirling Albion Played at the highest levels of the professional game with more than 250 Premier League appearances and an England cap. But his career started out in the more modest surroundings at Forthbank when it he was loaned out by Burnley when Owen Coyle was boss. Stirling Albion were in the old First Division in 2008 and Rodriguez was just 18 at the time. He made his first appearance for the Binos against Celtic in the Scottish Cup. He scored three times during his loan spell before his high-flying career took off with a multi-million pound move to Southampton a few years later. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Who could start for Wrexham on opening day at Southampton?
There were other positions Parkinson needed more bodies in his quest to make the Reds 'competitive' in this season's Championship but Danny Ward was an excellent addition as he became Wrexham's second signing of the season following the arrival of Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie. England international Conor Coady comes in with bags of experience while midfielders Lewis O'Brien, George Thomason and Josh Windass have also arrived since the Reds returned from the Down Under tour where the signing of New Zealand international Libby Cacace was revealed. Parkinson, who bought in Welsh international Kieffer Moore from Sheffield United this week, has more than reinforced his ranks - just as he did at this stage last season when the likes of key midfielder Ollie Rathbone signed just 24 hours before the first game of the League One season. There were doubts if Wrexham would compete at the higher level but the Reds more than rode that wave. The same questions will be asked this season but Parkinson has more than provided the answers in the past three seasons as Wrexham have celebrated a footballing first - back-to-back-to-back promotions. The big poser heading into Saturday's first game of the season at Southampton will be one every football fan that will be: Who's going to be in from the start? GOALKEEPERS: Arthur Okonkwo; Danny Ward; Callum Burton. CENTRE BACKS: Max Cleworth; Eoghan O'Connell; Lewis Brunt; Tom O'Connor; Conor Coady; Dan Scarr; Aaron James. RIGHT BACKS: Ryan Longman; Ryan Barnett. LEFT BACKS: Libby Cacace; James McClean; Jacob Mendy; Seb Revan. CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS: Matty James; George Dobson; Lewis O'Brien; Ollie Rathbone; George Thomason; George Evans; Andy Cannon. ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS: Elliot Lee; Josh Windass; Harry Ashfield. FORWARDS: Sam Smith; Ryan Hardie; Jay Rodriguez; Jack Marriott; Ollie Palmer; Kieffer Moore. Parkinson has big decisions to make in every department as he has a whole host of options to explore. One thing is for certain and that Wrexham will line up with a formation that has done Parkinson proud over his years at The Racecourse. Despite the arrival of the more experienced Ward, Arthur Okonkwo is Wrexham's number one as the former Arsenal goalkeeper more than added to his growing reputation by keeping 20 clean sheets last time out. Okonkwo has been first choice stopper over the last two seasons, Wales international Ward is eager to get out on the pitch and show what he can do for his hometown club while Parkinson also has Callum Burton who impressed when he came into the side for a short spell last season. Now for the defence and let's kick off with the three centre backs. Eoghan O'Connell and Max Cleworth's names are surely going to be penned/placed on Parkinson's team-sheet. Something of a rarity at The Racecourse, Cleworth has progressed through the Reds ranks and it's no wonder the likes of Liverpool have been watching the defender, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday at Southampton, with interest. O'Connell was colossal in the promotion run-in last season. Dominant in the air, O'Connell has composure on the ball - an asset not most central defenders possess. Tom O'Connor falls into the defender who can distribute the ball category but Lewis Brunt, who got better as the season went on last time out, may just get the nod. And then in comes Coady who is bound to get the nod and may even be captain material if James McClean doesn't make the starting line-up. Parkinson boasts six superb wing backs with the two Ryans - Barnett and Longman - battling it out for the right-side role. Barnett was brilliant last season making more goals than any other Wrexham player with his whipped in crosses. But it was January signing Longman who ended the season in the starting line-up and he scored his first Reds goal in the final day win at Lincoln City. Influential captain McClean made the left wing-back role his own and Parkinson could stay loyal to the former Republic of Ireland international despite spending a big fee on Cacace. Two holding midfielders would give Wrexham a solid foundation and veteran Matty James, who has hardly missed a minute since Parkinson picked him up as a freebie, is bound to take one of those places. With Olly Rathbone missing the start of the season with an ankle injury, Mr Reliable George Dobson would be an ideal fit with new signing O'Brien also getting the call to make his debut in the Reds engine room. Despite having two bouts of calf surgery in the summer, Sam Smith is in line to take the front man role but who plays with him? Jay Rodriguez will miss the start of the season but in comes target man Moore, who will be eager to start at St Mary's. Elliot Lee and new recruit Windass, whose goal against Groningen may give him the nod, will also be knocking at Parky's door.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wrexham fans dream big ahead of Championship debut
Fans are daring to dream of a fourth consecutive promotion as Wrexham AFC make their Championship debut. The club is facing Southampton away on Saturday following a record-breaking back-to-back-to-back promotion. But manager Phil Parkinson said the club "won't get carried away" with fans' expectations. It is the first time Wrexham are playing in the second tier of English football since 1982. How 'Wrexham effect' is transforming non-league football Wrexham - fantasy football or playing with fire? Wrexham looking into 'a number of deals' They were relegated at the end of that season but, 43 years on, they are finally back to those giddy heights once more. The summer saw a flurry of new signings, including Wales internationals Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore creating excitement among fans. But Parkinson said the task was winning matches and keeping distractions to a minimum. He said: "Other people on the outside may talk about that [the promotions] but we're just focused on what we've got to do, remaining grounded as a group and knowing there's a lot of hard work ahead of us." But that will not stop fans from speculating, as Rich Fay and Nathan Salt have been doing on their RobRyanRed podcast for four years. Nathan said celebrity owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds had a bullish attitude: "North American owners have this insatiable appetite to win, they don't understand finishing 10th. "Rob came on our podcast and said 'I wouldn't take finishing seventh in the Premiership because why are there six teams ahead of us?'." Rich added: "They've only wanted to win every single time since they've been in charge of the club and that's not going to change." But he is also urging fans to enjoy the achievements so far. "Sometimes you've got to look back where you've come from to really appreciate how amazing it's been already." Whatever happens, the Wrexham playbook has already inspired other would-be Ryans and Robs to get involved in non-league football. Elliot Stroud, who runs Network FC for people looking to invest in football clubs, said: "I get buyers and investors coming to me saying 'I want to do a Wrexham, we want to try and emulate what Rob and Ryan have done'." And they do not need to be Hollywood stars to do it. "We're getting enquiries from some very interesting people, some heavyweights of the industry but also people who've saved up to do something in football," he said. The club has been represented at the National Eisteddfod on the edge of the city all week with a Wrexham FC stall selling the latest shirts. Their first Championship match will be screened on the Maes with live Welsh language commentary from Niclas Parry, the new president of the Eisteddfod court. But it's anyone's guess how their story will end this time. Wrexham footballer receives top honour at Eisteddfod Wrexham 'on march to history' after promotion How an Australian bar was saved by Wrexham's rise Related internet links Wrexham AFC
