A name synonymous with Watford and the women’s game, Helen Ward has enjoyed a stunning 22-year career. Winning silverware, huge matches and making memories along the way, the forward has cemented herself as a legendary figure.

Following her retirement, we take a look back at her career, reminiscing on her journey to Watford immortality.

Born in England, but representing Wales on the international stage, Ward is a lifelong supporter of Watford. A proud season ticket holder in the Rookery Stand, the clinical striker began her association with the Golden Girls in 1995 at the age of nine, having seen an advert.

Ward certainly knew she had talent having been told by her older brother: ‘You’re not bad.’ The leader rose through the ranks and became captain of the women’s side, having made her debut in yellow back in 2001.

Going on to secure the Southern Premier League title in 2007, the achievements kept coming as Ward made her international debut for Wales. Coming against Luxembourg, the then 21-year-old notched a memorable goal on her international bow to open her account for Cymru.

With plenty of game-time and experience under her belt with the Hornets, Ward made the decision to join Arsenal in January 2009 to further continue a career which was going from strength to strength.

Notably, she scored on her debut for the Gunners in the Women’s FA Cup, and having made it to the final of the competition, Ward was unlucky not to be crowned victor as Everton upset the odds and beat Arsenal 3-2.

However, she would eventually taste success, winning her first league title with the red side of North London in 2009, even playing against the Golden Girls on a few occasions. Having enjoyed a successful, but ultimately concise spell at Arsenal, Ward moved to rivals Chelsea where she would spend the next three seasons of her career.

After her Chelsea spell, Ward signed for Reading, but the most significant moment in her career so far came on the international stage; becoming Wales’ leading all-time scorer, overtaking Ian Rush.

In October 2013, during her spell with Reading, Ward was quoted in the Watford Observer as saying: “I have a lot of affection for the club and I always think I will make my way back there at some point.”

Following the conclusion of her four-year spell with the Royals – and after an eight-year absence – the Watford supporter made good on her word and returned to Vicarage Road in 2017.

Having re-joined the club, and being re-appointed as captain on her arrival, Ward continued to impress over the coming seasons for Watford and Wales.

When the pandemic struck, she was forced to look for a temporary move away whilst waiting for the Golden Girls’ season to resume. After a short spell at London Bees, Ward returned to Watford, helping to win promotion via upward movement to the FA Women’s Championship. And despite relegation back to the third-tier this season after, Ward reached a century of Wales caps.

She enjoyed one final season at The Vic during the 2022/23 campaign and hoped for a successful end to a stellar career. After announcing her plans to retire at the end of the campaign, Ward helped lead the Golden Girls to a first-place finish in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division – notably scoring four goals in one game at Vicarage Road against Bridgwater United in April.

She would make her final appearance against Billericay Town on May 7, coming off the bench with 25 minutes left to play.

Despite not making it off the bench during the play-off final at Stadium MK against Nottingham Forest, which secured promotion back to the Championship, Ward was a significant figure in the dressing room throughout the season and will be sorely missed on the pitch having ended the season as top goalscorer.

A Watford fan who lived the dream, Ward will always be welcome at The Vic, recently explaining to BBC Radio Wales: “I couldn’t have wished for a better end to the season and a final send-off; it’s been absolutely perfect.”