Joel Ward has swapped the pitch for the pundit's chair after his "whirlwind" Wembley fairytale with Crystal Palace. The former Palace captain helped lift the FA Cup last year as the Eagles stunned Manchester City in one of the all-time great finals, before signing for Swansea as a free agent. He has since become a familiar face on TNT Sports, both through punditry and a new documentary on the competition's magic.
The FA Cup: The People’s Story explores Palace's heroics alongside other iconic moments, including Everton's 1966 win, Sunderland's 1973 upset of Leeds, the 1989 final and the first women's final at Wembley in 2015. The documentary also examines the deeper social impact of the cup, particularly what winning a first major trophy meant for Palace and South London.
Ward, 36, reflected on an emotional end to his 13-year spell at Selhurst Park. His daughter was born two days before the final, while his son walked out as a mascot. Despite being an unused substitute, manager Oliver Glasner and captain Marc Guehi ensured the club legend was honoured. Ward praised Guehi as a "role model and remarkable individual" and credited Glasner for changing the club's mindset.
"It was nice to relive it because the whole time was a bit of a whirlwind," Ward told Mirror Sport. "The feeling around the club, the journey everyone went on - including the fans - was just electric. It definitely doesn’t get any better." He added: "The whole football community look forward to these rounds... The FA Cup is often stories about coming through against all odds with giant killings and upsets. It represents a bit of hope and something for the underdogs to chase."
The documentary is part of TNT's four-year deal, with 22 live games from the third round and over 50 on TNT and Discovery Plus. Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace and Tottenham vs Aston Villa will also be shown on the BBC. Pundits include Steve McManaman, Joe Cole and Martin Keown.
