Tom Ward will carry on playing despite taking over as manager of Newark and Sherwood
New boss Tom Ward is set to play a significant role on the pitch for Newark & Sherwood United.
Ward, 34, enjoyed big success as player-manager at Sleaford, guiding them to successive top-five finishes in United Counties League Premier Division North.
He continued to play after leaving Sleaford in September last year, ending the 2024/25 campaign in central defence for Skegness, and has no plans to hang up his boots.
“I’m more than happy on the sidelines but, ultimately, I still think I’m a very good centre-half for Step 5 football, so if I can help the team, it often means I’m on the pitch,” said Ward, who will be assisted by brother Charlie.
“I surround myself with the right people, so I’ve got people who will still be in the dugout and I trust them 100%.
“They’re knowledgeable people and I have faith in them that they’ll make the right decisions on the sidelines.
“It all fits well and we’ve had a lot of success in the past and long may that continue.
“Still being in and around football as a player allows me to link with players differently.
“I think myself and Charlie link together, we understand dressing rooms, we both played good levels of football and have always been captains at Step 2, Step 3 and things like that.
“We’re natural leaders, we communicate well with the group, we create that family feel.
“That’s been a big part of our success at various levels as players but also in management.
“We had a real togetherness as a group and I think that gets you points in itself.
“You then start adding some seriously talented lads to the mix, which we’ve been able to attract over the years with our playing connections and our reputations in non-league football.”
Ward enjoyed success as a player before turning to management, most notably at King’s Lynn, where he won the National League North title in 2020.
Playing in various parts of the country opened his eyes to different styles and he’ll look to bring that flexibility to Newark & Sherwood and help players realise their potential.
“I’ve won National North, won the Southern Premier and played National South, so I’ve got influences all over,” said Ward.
“That’s northern football which is big, strong, direct, and playing the percentages, then down south at St Albans where it was more fast-paced, penetrative football, and then when I was more Midlands with King’s Lynn, it was more possession-based, control the game, control the ball, control the result then across to Tamworth which was similar.
“That’s allowed me to combine those experiences to create my football philosophy.
“Both myself and Charlie are teachers by trade, we’re really keen on helping players develop.
“We’ve helped a lot of players kick on and get into the pro game but also those lads that have been doing well at Step 5 for some time and are ready to kick on and prove they are Step 4, Step 3 footballers.
“I think that’s a big selling point for us, that we get a lot of development in people.
“We don’t tend to have people stick around for two, three years.
“What you tend to find is people end up getting opportunities much higher.
“Our track record is really good and I think the players we attract and the environment we create and the detail we can give is really good.
“I think that’s what sets us apart, if I’m totally honest, particularly for Step 5 football.”
Ward is aiming to keep the nucleus of the squad who reached the Notts Senior Cup final under Romaine Graham.
Top scorer Kieran Cummings has already joined Basford but others are set to stay with the Highwaymen.
It will then be a case of adding players in the right areas.
“We’ve inherited a good group, some really talented lads,” said Ward.
“All those boys will get opportunities because of what they’ve done for the club before.
“I think that’s a mark of respect whenever you go into a new football club.
“A lot of those lads we’ve seen before, or tried to sign before, so we know a lot about them and we’re keen on them, so I expect there to be a nucleus that will definitely stay.
“But, ultimately, we also look to add quality wherever we can so when good players become available we do jump on them and hopefully they add to the group rather than replace the group and take us from strength to strength.
“I think we’re in a good place right now.
“We’ve got the vast majority really keen to be involved next year, which means we’re doing something right and we’ve sold our vision for the club.
“But also with the nature of me and Charlie and our connections, we have players galore in the pipeline that are desperate to come along in pre-season and desperate for us to offer them a deal and I think that creates a really good high-performance culture.
“We drive people to continue to improve and progress and that comes down to a little bit of competition sometimes.
“Some lads need a little bit of love to get the most out of them but others need to be driven to continue to improve.
“If you look at Newark over the last couple of years, finishing 12th and 13th, I think there’s a few lads in there who have maybe got a bit comfortable.
“Hopefully a fresh impetus from us, some fresh ideas and our enthusiasm, will kick those boys on and we’ll be ready for a good season.”
