A Keighley soldier achieved his goal when he marched proudly on to the football pitch at Leeds United to receive his medal last weekend.

Private Joe Ward, 22, has just completed a four month tour of duty in Afghanistan where he was the lead scout for patrols.

“I was responsible for searching for improvised explosive devices — quite a responsible if dangerous job,“ said Joe, a former pupil of Parkside Secondary School, in Cullingworth.

Joe, who is a member of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, was one of 14 soldiers who stepped on to the pitch at Elland Road during the Leeds United v Huddersfield match led by The Yorkshire Regiment’s Corps of Drums. They collected medals from former England international player Frank Worthington and Leeds United legend Peter Lorimer.

“I have followed Leeds United since I was a child so it was a proud moment to step on to the pitch,” said Joe, who joined the army in 2008.

The soldiers, who returned in early November, have been supporting other military units located throughout Helmand Province and took part in Operation “Panthers Claw” — a five-week operation to clear the area of insurgents and enable local people to exercise their democratic rights in elections held in August.

Sadly, the deployment was not without loss. Private Johnathon Young, from Hull, was killed in action early during the tour. A regimental spokesman said that 3 Yorks would never forget his immeasurable sacrifice and contribution and their thoughts remained with his family.

Thirty-one soldiers are still working in Helmand Province as part of a MASTIFF Armoured Vehicle Group. Although 3 Yorks is based in Warminster, Wiltshire, the majority of its soldiers hail from Yorkshire.