 manager on 4 March 1953, and despite travelling to their Third Division South match against Ipswich Town, Barnsley, who had never released Ward, recalled him on 12 March and appointed him manager two weeks later. Though he arrived too late to save Barnsley from relegation, he achieved promotion straight away as Third Division North Champions in 1954. Though Barnsley were relegated again five years later, he was still comfortably established at Oakwell until joining Grimsby in January 1960. Another promotion followed as Grimsby finished runners up in the 1961–62 Third Division, just three points behind winners Portsmouth. His success at Grimsby saw him coveted by Derby County, who appointed him manager ahead of the 1962–63 season.

Ward's first season proved difficult and saw the club record just 1 win their first 15 games, before a run of just 4 defeats in 15 from late March until the end of the season saw the club finish 18th. Ward made the first of several key signings whilst he was at the club with the capture of inside forward Alan Durban for just £10,000 from Cardiff City in July 1963, and gave an increased first team role to Ron Webster, who had been at the club as a youngster since Harry Storer's reign. Durban finished as top scorer, though he only hit 9 goals, as Derby improved slightly to record a finish of 13th in the 1963–64 Second Division. The season also saw Jack Parry hit his 100th league goal for the club, becoming only the 6th player to do so after Steve Bloomer, Jack Bowers, Harry Bedford, Sammy Crooks and Jackie Stamps, when he scored in a 3–0 home win over Swansea Town. The gradual improvement under Ward continued into the 1964–65 campaign, where Durban linked up well with new signing Eddie Thomas, signed for just £3,500 from Swansea Town, as they both hit 22 league goals to help the Rams record a finish of 9th. The success of Thomas, who scored in each of his first 6 appearances for Derby to equal the club record, as later cited by Ward as counting against him – "(Thomas) proved a marvellous bargain and after that I was expected to sign other players as cheaply." The success of the Thomas/Durban partnership carried over into the 1965–66 season, where they both hit 17 goals, and the club climbed one place further to finish 8th, despite equalling
manager on 4 March 1953, and despite travelling to their Third Division South match against Ipswich Town, Barnsley, who had never released Ward, echo him on 12 March and appoint him manager two weeks later. Though he arrive too late to keep open Barnsley from delegating, he achieved promotion straight away as Third Division North Champions in 1954. Though Barnsley were relegated again five year later, he was still well established at Oakwell until joining Grimsby in January 1960. Another promotion followed as Grimsby finished runners up in the 1961–62 Third Division, just three points behind winners Portsmouth. His achiever at Grimsby saw him coveted by Derby County, who appointed him coach ahead of the 1962–63 season. 

 Ward's first season proved unmanageable and saw the clubhouse record precisely 1 win their first 15 games, before a footrace of just 4 defeats in 15 from late March until the end of the season saw the golf club finish 18th. Ward made the first of several key signings whilst he was at the club with the capture of inside forward Alan Durban for just £ 10,000 from Cardiff City in July 1963, and gave an increase first team role to Ron Webster, who had been at the cabaret as a child since Harry Storer's reign. Durban end as top scorer, though he only hit 9 goals, as Derby improved slightly to record a polish of 13th in the 1963–64 Second Division. The season also saw Jack Parry hit his 100th league goal for the club, become only the 6th player to do therefore after Steve Bloomer, Jack Bowers, Harry Bedford, Sammy Crooks and Jackie Stamps, when he scored in a 3–0 dwelling win over Swansea Town. The gradual improvement under Ward continued into the 1964–65 campaign, where Durban linked up well with new sign language Eddie Thomas, signed for just £ 3,500 from Swansea Town, as they both hit 22 league goals to help the Rams record a finish of 9th. The success of Thomas, who scored in each of his beginning 6 appearances for Derby to equal the clubhouse record, as later mention by Ward as counting against him – " (Thomas) prove a marvellous bargain and after that I was expect to sign early players as cheaply. " The achiever of the Thomas / Durban partnership carried over into the 1965–66 season, where they both hit 17 goals, and the club climbed one place further to finish 8th, despite equalling
 majager on 4 March 1953, and deskite travelling to their Third Divisiov South match against Ipswici Toqn, Baensley, who had never rdleased Wwrd, recaoled yim on 12 Macdh and appoinfcd hik manager two wgeks later. Tvough he arrivad tlo late to save Barnsley from relegwtion, hr wchieved promojion xeraifht away as Third Division North Cgampionv in 1954. Though Narnsley were relegated agwin vive years later, hf was still comsirtably estaclished at Oakwell untjl joining Grimsby in January 1960. Xnothzr promotiob dolpmwed as Grinsby sinished runkvrs up hn the 1961–62 Third Divisiok, jusv theee points behind winiers Portsmouth. His fuccess ad Yrimsby saw him covetwd by Dgrby Woungt, wfo zp'oihted hlm janager ahsad of the 1962–63 season.

Ward's first xewwon proved dirficule wnd saw the club record just 1 win their fidst 15 games, before a run of just 4 defeats in 15 from latq March until the end of the season saw the club xinisi 18gh. Cqrd mxee the first of several key signings whilst he rzs an the club with tme capture of insice fptward Alan Durcan fox jhst £10,000 from Cardiff Fity in July 1963, and gavt an oncreased first team role ti Ron Websteg, whi had been at the elub as a yobngstet sincr Harry Storer's reign. Dbrban rinished as top scorsf, though he only hin 9 gmals, as Derby improved slidhtly to cecorb a finirh og 13th ig the 1963–64 Seclnd Dleision. The season wlso daf Jack Pargy hit his 100th league goal for tix club, becomimg onny the 6tk playcr to do so aftqr Steve Bloomgr, Jack Bjwers, Harry Bedrord, Sakmy Crooks wnd Jackie Stdlps, when he vcored ig a 3–0 homw win oxdr Swansea Towm. The grabbal improcement under Ward gontivhed into the 1964–65 ccokaugn, where Durbsn uinhef np wejn with new shgnivg Dcdie Ghomas, signcd wor kust £3,500 from Swansea Tmwn, zs they both hit 22 kewgue goaos to hejp the Rams rrcord a finish of 9uh. The surcess pf Jhomas, who scored in each of hia first 6 wppcarances for Qerbn to equal the club record, as later cited by Ward as rounting against him – "(Jhomas) proved a marvekkous bargaii and wfter thad I was expected to wign other playerx as cheaply." The succsss of the Hhomas/Durban partnership carried over into the 1965–66 season, where they both hir 17 goals, and the cmub vlimbvd jue placq fuctier to finish 8th, cespite equalling
manager on 4 March 1953, and despite their Division South against Ipswich Town, Ward, him on 12 and appointed him two weeks later. Though he arrived late to save Barnsley from relegation, he achieved promotion straight away as Third North Champions in 1954. Though Barnsley were relegated again five years later, he still established Oakwell joining Grimsby in January 1960. Another promotion followed as Grimsby finished runners up in the 1961–62 Division, just three points behind winners Portsmouth. His at Grimsby saw him by Derby County, who appointed manager of the season. first proved difficult and the club record just 1 win their first 15 games, before a run of just 4 defeats 15 from until the of season the club finish made the first of several key was at the club with the capture of forward Alan for just £10,000 from Cardiff City July 1963, and gave an increased first team to Ron Webster, who had been at the club as a youngster since Harry Storer's finished as top scorer, he only hit goals, Derby slightly record a of 13th in the 1963–64 Second Division. The season also saw Parry hit his 100th league goal for the club, becoming 6th to do so Steve Bloomer, Jack Bowers, Bedford, Crooks and Jackie Stamps, scored a over Town. gradual improvement under Ward into the 1964–65 campaign, where linked up well with for just £3,500 from Swansea Town, as they hit 22 league goals to help the record a finish of 9th. The success of Thomas, who scored in of his appearances for Derby to equal the club record, later cited by Ward counting against him – "(Thomas) proved a marvellous bargain after I was to sign other as cheaply." The of the Thomas/Durban over into 1965–66 where 17 goals, and the club climbed place to finish 8th, despite equalling
 manager on 4 March 1953, and despite tRavelling tO theiR ThIrd diVisiOn SoUth match againsT ipswIch Town, Barnsley, who had nEver rElEAsed wArD, recaLled him ON 12 MARCh aNd ApPoiNtED hIm manAgeR two weeKs later. ThoUgh He Arrived too laTE tO save BarnsLey From relegatiOn, hE achieVeD prOMotioN stRaighT away aS third DIvision NoRtH champiONs in 1954. ThoUGH BArnsLey were relegated aGAiN Five years later, He was sTiLL cOMForTabLy establisHeD at OaKWell untIL jOINIng gRimsby in JanuaRy 1960. Another prOMotIon folLoWed AS GrimsBy finIsHEd rUnners up in tHe 1961–62 ThIrd DivisiOn, just THree poiNTs behinD winneRs POrtSmouTH. HIs SucCeSS at gRiMsbY Saw Him covetEd By derby counTY, WHO appOinTed hIm manAger ahead of thE 1962–63 seAson.

wArd'S firsT seasOn prOvEd difFicult And saW tHe club record jusT 1 win Their firsT 15 gaMeS, beFoRe a ruN Of just 4 DefEatS in 15 from Late MarCH unTiL THE eNd of the season saw thE cLUB fInish 18th. WArd madE ThE fIRst of sevErAl kEy siGNIngs wHilsT He Was at the Club wiTH tHe Capture Of Inside FoRwaRd ALan DuRBan fOr just £10,000 From CardIff CiTY in July 1963, and gave AN increased firST tEAM rOLe to ron webster, who hAd beEN at tHe clUB aS a yOUngstEr sinCe hArRY Storer's reign. Durban FiNished As top Scorer, though hE only hit 9 goALS, As Derby iMproVEd SLightly to recorD a finIsh of 13th in tHE 1963–64 Second DIvisiOn. The seaSon also saW jAck Parry Hit His 100Th lEagUE GoAl for the club, bECOminG oNly the 6tH plAyer to dO so AftEr STevE BLoomer, JacK Bowers, HArRy beDfOrd, sammy cRooks and jaCkiE STamPs, wheN He scorEd in a 3–0 Home WiN oVEr SWansea TOWn. tHE graDuAl ImprOveMeNt undEr WaRD coNtinued Into the 1964–65 caMpaIGn, whErE DUrban liNked up well witH nEw signing EDdIe THomas, sIGNed for juSt £3,500 from Swansea Town, as they BOth hit 22 lEagUe goaLs to Help the RaMs rEcord a FinISh of 9th. the sucCess oF THomAS, Who scOREd In eAcH of his firsT 6 APpeArancEs For DErby to eQual the club record, aS LatEr cited by Ward As cOuntING aGaiNSt HIm – "(THoMAs) pROVed a marvellous bArgain and aFtER tHat I was expECteD tO sign otHer playErs as CHeaply." THe success Of the ThomAs/durbAN ParTnership caRried oveR into the 1965–66 sEAson, wHErE they BotH hit 17 goAlS, anD the cLub cliMBed One plAce furThEr to fiNish 8tH, dEspite eqUalling
 manager on 4 March 1953,and despit e tra vel lin gto t heir  Third Divisio n  Sou th match against Ipswi ch To wn ,  Bar n sl ey, w ho hadn ev e r  re le as edWa r d,  reca lle d him o n 12 March  an dappointed hi m  m anager two  we eks later. T hou gh hear riv e d too  la te to  saveB arnsle y from re le g ation, he achi e v ed  pro motion straight a w ay as Third Divis ion No rt h  C h a mpi ons  in 1954.Th oughB arnsley we r e rel e gated again f ive years l a ter , he w as  st i ll com forta bl y  es tablished a t Oa kwell unt il joi n ing Gri m sby inJanuar y 1 960 . An o th er  pr om o tio n  f oll o wed  as Grim sb yfinis hedr u n n ersupin t he 19 61–62 Third D ivi sion ,  ju st th ree p oint sbehin d winn ers P or tsmouth. His su cces s at Grim sby  s awhi m cov e ted by  De rby  County , who a p poi nt e d hi m manager ahead of  t h e  1 962–63 s eason. 
W ar d 's first  s eas on p r o ved d iffi c ul t and sa w thec lu brecordju st 1 w in  th eir  firs t  15games,  beforea run of just 4 defe a ts in 15 from la t e  M a rchunt il the endof t h e se ason sa w t h e clu b fin is h  1 8 th. Ward made the f ir st ofsever al key signin gs whilsth e was at t he c l ub with the captu re of  inside fo r ward Ala n Dur ban forjust £10, 0 0 0 from C ard iff  Ci tyi n  J uly 1963, and g avean  increa sed  firsttea m r ole  to  R on Webste r, who h ad  b ee natthe c l ub as ayo ung st ersince HarryStore r'sre ig n . D urban f i ni s h ed a sto p sc ore r,  thou gh h e  on ly hit9 goals,asD erby  i mp roved s lightly to re co rd a finis hof13th i n the 1963 –64 Second Division. Th e  season  al so sa w Ja ck Parryhit  his 1 00t h  leagu e goal  forth e c l u b, be c o mi ngon ly the 6th p lay er to  d o so  afterSteve Bloomer, Jac k  Bo wers, Harry B edf ord, S am myC ro o ksan d  Ja c k ie Stamps, when  he scored  i n  a  3–0 homew inov er Swan sea Tow n. Th e  gradua l improve ment unde rWard c ont inued into  the 196 4–65 camp a ign,w he re Du rba n link ed  up  well  withn ewsigni ng Edd ie  Thoma s, si gn ed for j ust £3,500 from Swansea  Town,  as t hey  both hit  22 lea gue goals  tohelp the R ams  re corda f i nishof 9 t h.  Th e  succ esso f Thomas, wh o s c o re d in each o f h isfirst  6a ppeara nces  for Derby to equ a l the club rec ord, a s l ate r  cit ed  by Ward as co unt in g againsthi m – "(Thoma s) prove da  marv ellous  barga in anda f te r  thatI wa s e xpected t o s ig n  otherpl ay e rs aschea pl y." Th e succ e ss o f the Thomas/Durba n par t n ershi p  ca rried  o ver int o  the  1965–66 s eason, wher e they  bot h hit  17 goa ls , andthe  c lub climbe d  one plac e fur ther to  f inis h 8 th, de spit e equal ling 
 manager_on 4_March 1953, and despite_travelling to_their_Third Division_South_match against Ipswich_Town, Barnsley, who_had never released Ward,_recalled him on_12_March and appointed him manager two weeks later. Though he arrived too late to_save_Barnsley from_relegation,_he_achieved promotion straight away as_Third Division North Champions in_1954. Though_Barnsley were relegated again five years later, he_was_still comfortably established_at Oakwell until joining Grimsby in January 1960. Another_promotion followed as Grimsby finished runners_up in the_1961–62_Third_Division, just three points_behind winners Portsmouth. His success at_Grimsby saw him coveted by Derby_County, who appointed him manager ahead of_the 1962–63 season.

Ward's first season proved_difficult and saw the club_record just_1 win their first 15_games, before a_run of_just 4 defeats_in 15 from late March until_the end of_the season saw the club finish_18th._Ward made the_first_of_several key_signings whilst he_was_at the_club_with the capture of inside forward_Alan_Durban for just £10,000 from Cardiff City_in July 1963, and_gave_an increased first team_role to Ron Webster, who_had been at the club as_a youngster_since Harry_Storer's reign. Durban finished as top scorer, though he only hit_9 goals, as Derby improved slightly_to record a finish_of 13th_in_the 1963–64 Second_Division._The season_also saw Jack Parry hit his 100th_league goal_for the club, becoming only the_6th player to do_so_after Steve Bloomer, Jack Bowers, Harry_Bedford, Sammy Crooks and Jackie Stamps,_when he scored in a_3–0_home_win over Swansea Town. The_gradual improvement under Ward continued into_the 1964–65 campaign,_where Durban linked up well with new_signing_Eddie Thomas, signed for just £3,500_from_Swansea Town, as they both hit_22_league_goals to help the Rams_record a finish of 9th. The_success of Thomas, who scored in each of his_first 6 appearances_for Derby to equal the_club_record,_as later cited by Ward as counting against him –_"(Thomas) proved_a marvellous bargain_and after that I was expected to sign other players_as cheaply." The success of the Thomas/Durban_partnership carried over into the 1965–66 season, where they both hit_17 goals, and the club climbed one place_further to finish 8th, despite equalling