Forest Green Rovers’ former Wealdstone, Swindon Supermarine and Hungerford Town loanee Jed Ward recalled by Bristol Rovers
Forest Green Rovers' first-choice goalkeeper Jed Ward has been recalled by his parent club Bristol Rovers.
Ward departs the New Lawn having appeared in every single league game this season on top of three FA Trophy appearances.
The 21-year-old kept nine clean sheets in his time with the National League side. Ward had previously experienced loan spells with Swindon Supermarine, Prescot Cables, Hungerford Town and Wealdstone before joining Forest Green in the summer.
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Following Alex Palmer’s sale from West Bromwich Albion to Premier League side, Ipswich Town, current Bristol Rovers goalkeeper, Josh Griffiths has also been recalled by the Baggies leaving the Gas without their starting number one.
Ward has also saved two penalties in his time with Forest Green against Boston United and Solihull Moors respectively.
There were also outstanding performances against the likes of Rochdale, Hartlepool United and York City.
It would be expected that Ward will now go in as Iñigo Calderón’s first-choice goalkeeper following the departure of Griffiths.
Despite not being called up for the squad in his time with Forest Green, Ward had previously represented England Under-20s on multiple occasions against the likes of Czechia Under-20s and Ireland Under-20s.
In March last year, Ward was rewarded with a contract lasting until 2028 by the Gas, keeping him at the club he had been with since he was eight and signed his first professional contract when he was 17.
Having been recalled by Bristol Rovers after his loan spell with Wealdstone last season, Ward made 18 League One appearances in the second-half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Unless Forest Green recruit in the short-term, they will be left with Jamie Searle and Fiachra Pagel in the goalkeeping department, who have no National League appearances to their names this season.
* Rovers travel to Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow evening in the National League (7.45pm kick-off).
