Newcastle Red Bulls
Worth a Million Pound - Micky Ward
Testimonial Year
By Mally
August 28 2010
He’s big, he’s round, he’s worth a million pound…. Micky Ward, Micky Ward!!!! Club stalwart and possibly the most popular player at the club, Micky sat down with me on Friday for a chat about his time at the Falcons, his upcoming testimonial year and Matt Burke’s day at the races.
Having joined the club some 13 years ago as an academy player, last season Micky’s contract was renewed for the 2010-11 season. In honour of his many years of service to the club 2010 is Micky’s testimonial season.
Some players might be a little disgruntled about having had their contract renewed for a single year, but Micky is very upbeat and positive about his commitment to Newcastle Falcons, admitting he wants to stay at the Falcons for as long as he has a job here.
“Hopefully one thing people know about me, I hope, is I’m seen as a loyal member of the club.”
Despite offers to play elsewhere Micky has never been tempted and describes himself as having had the “ideal script”, then adding with a huge grin “well apart from 20 caps for England!”
“I’ve played for my home club, played professional rugby, coached rugby… well I’m dipping my toe into that.”
Being given his first professional contract was the biggest highlight of Micky’s career. Micky was on an apprenticeship, aged 18 or so, ‘still living at home and money was getting tight’. So he decided he had to go and ask Rob Andrew for a pay rise of about £20 a week extra after all he “had board to pay!” That day Micky goes into training all set to ask for his extra £20 a week, but before he can say anything, Rob tells him he needs a word after training. Immediately thinking the worst, “I was only gonna ask for £20” and assuming he is about to be given the chop, imagine his surprise as Rob then offers him his first professional contract! Micky’s reaction?
“Bloody hell you don’t have to ask me that twice!”
Looking back Micky picked out winning the Tetley Bitter & Powergen trophies, describing them as “great days out”. In fact, he struggled to put into words the experience of playing at Twickenham, but it’s clear how much the occasion & experience meant to him!
“It was a full weekend!”
As for this year – undoubtedly his 1 year contract is firmly on his mind, as his main goal for this season is to play a lot more rugby, to “put it across” and “win” a new contract. Over the last 2 years with Carl Hayman and Jon Golding being at the club, Micky has “not had much chance” and is looking forward to the prospect of the coming season, feeling like he has the opportunity to prove himself. Alongside this personal goal though is a strong desire to see & play in a successful Falcons team, however being a practical Northern lad he reiterates his main goal is to win another contract.
The way Micky talks about the club and how he feels for playing for his home team it’s obvious that for him it’s more than just a job, and he really cares about the club and the fans.
Me: Why do you always come in the bar?
Micky (looking a touch surprised at the question as if it needs explaining): One, it’s good craic. Two, the supporters come every week, I’m in a privileged position, so I go have a chat. I’m on the same wavelength as the fans in the bar. A lot of the lads say they don’t know anyone but neither did I when I first went in.
If you’ve ever watched Micky’s progress through the bar, then you know he talks to just about everyone in there, chatting to a huge number of fans, greeting many of them by name. It’s got to the point where Micky’s other half, Kimberley, knows not to expect Micky upstairs until at least half an hour after the other players have turned up!
He’s big!
He’s round
He’s worth a million pound Micky Ward! Micky Ward!”
If you’ve not actually sung it, then I’m sure you’ve heard it, and yes Micky does actually like it. With a grin, Micky admitted he enjoys the song and even his little girl sings it now. Modestly though he puts the song down to his time he spends chatting in the bar as opposed to any great glories on the pitch! Watch for his quick appreciative thumbs up the next time the song is sung.
Me: A final daft question before we talk about your testimonial year, if you were stuck on a desert island which Falcons player past or present would you want to be there with you?
Micky: (Thinking hard): Only 1?
Me: Ok you can have more than one.
(By this point MIcky was taking this question far too seriously!)
Micky: The group would be Noony, Burkey & Longy…
(Jamie Noon, Matt Burke & Andy Long - if you hadn’t figured that out!)
Micky: Noony 'cause I’ve known him a long time, Burkey …. well he’s just bloody good at everything and good craic, he’d be able to cook, and Longy is laidback, we get on well…
Me: So you, Noony, and Longy sat sipping a drink or two while Matt Burke runs around doing all the work?
Micky (definitely enjoying that image): Yes! Burkey is just one of those who is good at everything he does. We went to the races once, I think it was Joe Shaw’s birthday, and Burkey turns up, no money on him. Thought he’d just be there for half an hour or so. Borrowed £20 off someone, had a couple of bets and won £200. Paid back the £20 and went home with £180 in his pocket. Typical Burkey!”
As previously mentioned this season is Micky’s testimonial year and he and the planning committee are organising a wide range of events and they aim to have something for everyone. Micky is very aware sometimes testimonial events can have a tendency to be aimed more at the corporate fans and not your average fan. The impression from our conversation was that in many ways Micky sees his testimonial year as being much for the fans as it is for him, and as a chance for him to give something back both to the fans and his chosen charities. A percentage of the funds raised will being going to Wooden Spoon (http://www.woodenspoon.com/) and also to the Maggie’s Cancer Centre at the Freeman Hospital (maggie's centre - northeast).
In many respects “Wor Micky” is the sort of player who is disappearing from the modern game. He is a local lad, playing for his local club, who, despite offers, has never thought to go and ply his trade elsewhere. A true stalwart of Newcastle Falcons, Micky Ward is a player who over the years has given his all, not only on the pitch but also with the fans, always having time for a post match chat in the bar, win, lose or draw. When he does finally hang up his boots, the club will be much the poorer, and I, for one cannot think of a Falcon more deserving of a testimonial year.
(Author’s Note: Apologies for the transcription Micky talks fast & I don’t do Geordie!!)
Testimonial Events
Sunday 5th September : Family Fun Day
- FREE ENTRY
- At Burnside Business & Enterprise College, Wallsend, NE28 7LQ (Map & college website ).
- What’s on?
o Rugby games with the Falcons Foundation
o Football skills & games with NUFC
o Bouncy castle
o Hair braiding
o Cake stall
o Police display
o Mascot race
o A BBQ
o & some of the Falcons players, doing (Micky says) some different things!
- For more information call Anna on 07787194227, or email mickywardstestimonial@hotmail.com .
Upcoming Events
The following events are in the process of being planned and further details will be posted on this site & on Micky’s testimonial website (http://www.mickywardstestimonial.com/ ) as they are confirmed.
- Local Rugby Club Games Night (20th October, Hiding Place, Kingston Park)
o “An old school rugby boys night” (Micky’s description!)
- Curry Night (hopefully November)
o Something similar to the one Ian Peel had – details to follow.
- A Ladies Night (hopefully February time)
o Incorporating a Fashion show
o Obviously Micky wasn’t put off by his experiences at the Supporter’s Club event last season!
- Gala Dinner (April)
- A testimonial match (end of season)
o Micky has some great plans for this so keep an eye out for further details!
Contact info:
Email: mickywardstestimonial@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.mickywardstestimonial.com/
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Stumbleupon28/08/2010 22:43
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Micky is indeed a legend of the club, not in the manner of the superstars we've had, but as a great and loyal clubman and a more than handy prop on the pitch.
Micky deserves his testimonial, he also deserves his opportunity to get into coaching.
Good luck to him.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:29:14:47:56 by Leipziger.
I take it the site is still a work in progress??
Well\done, Mally, you have really done a lovely piece that conveys just how much respect Micky is held in by the supporters.
As you say, we may not see his likes again.
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