Bluebirds Goalkeeping Coach, Gavin Ward, represented both City and Preston North End during a 26-year professional playing career that began at Aston Villa in 1987.
Learning his trade in the senior ranks, Sutton Coldfield-born Gavin would act as a deputy to Nigel Spink at Villa Park before moving on to Shrewsbury Town and West Bromwich Albion.
But it was at Ninian Park that his career really took off, when he signed for Len Ashurst’s Bluebirds in October 1989; Wardy made 67 League and Cup appearances for City and was part of Eddie May’s cherished 1992/93 squad that recorded a League and Welsh Cup double.
Gavin’s performances in Division Three (now League Two) earned him a high-profile and relatively big money moved to Leicester City in Division One. He’d make 38 appearances for the Foxes over the next two seasons, helping the East Midlands side secure promotion to the Premier League in May 1994.
His nomadic career continued apace thereafter; in 1995 he signed for Bradford City, leaving shortly after for a return to the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers, with whom he stayed until 1999 (notwithstanding a loan spell at Burnley in 1998).
In February 1999, Wardy signed with Stoke City and made 79 appearances: his greatest accumulation of appearances at one club over the course of his entire career.
From Stoke to Walsall (2002); Walsall to Coventry City (2003); Coventry to Barnsley (loan, 2004) and we eventually get to Wardy’s short spell on loan at our midweek opponents Preston North End.
Now in the latter stages of his career and predominantly as back-up ‘keeper, Gavin made just eight appearances for the Lilywhites between during the 2004/05 season before getting his bags packed again for spells at Tranmere Rovers (for whom he scored!), Chester City, Wrexham, Hednesford Town and Gainsborough Trinity (where he would also act as Assistant Manager to his former Leicester boss, Brian Little). He returned to Shrewsbury Town as goalkeeping coach in 2012.
During his 26 years as a player, Gavin represented a total of 19 clubs.
Prior to returning to City as interim goalkeeping coach in October 2024, Wardy enjoyed spells coaching at Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers, with whom he spent eight years.
Now aged 54, he’s back at the Club with whom he made his first impact in British football: Cardiff City.