Mark Ford (footballer)

Mark Stuart Ford (born 10 October 1975) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Leeds United, Burnley, Torquay United and Darlington and in the Belgian First Division for Lommel.[1] He was capped twice for the England under-21s.[2][3]

For other people named Mark Ford, see Mark Ford (disambiguation).

Mark Ford
Personal information
Full name Mark Stuart Ford
Date of birth (1975-10-10) 10 October 1975
Place of birth Pontefract, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1997 Leeds United 29 (1)
1997–1999 Burnley 48 (1)
1999–2000 Lommel 15 (0)
2000–2001 Torquay United 28 (3)
2001–2003 Darlington 57 (9)
2003 → Leigh RMI (loan) 13 (0)
2003–2004 Harrogate Town
2006–200x Tadcaster Albion
Total 190 (14)
National team
1993 England U18 5 (0)
1996 England U21 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Ford was born in Pontefract and attended Tadcaster Grammar School.[4] He began his football career as an apprentice with Leeds United, and was part of the Leeds team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1993. Ford turned professional in March 1993.[4] A hard-tackling midfielder, once he broke into the first team he was considered as a future replacement for David Batty. However, despite playing in the 1996 League Cup Final and scoring once in the league against Sunderland,[5] he struggled to establish himself at Elland Road and moved on to Division Two club Burnley, managed by Chris Waddle, in July 1997 for a fee reported as £275,000.[6] He had a successful first season at Turf Moor, but broke an ankle on the opening day of the following season. After three months out[7] he struggled to regain his place in new manager Stan Ternent's side and was released in the summer. In July 1999 he joined Belgian First Division side Lommel at the same time as Millwall's Kim Grant.[8]

He returned to the UK at the end of the 1999–2000 season, and signed for Torquay United on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling, turning down offers from Darlington, Hull City and Rotherham United.[4] He was made captain in the absence of the injured Brian Healy, but in February 2001 he was sold to Darlington for £15,000, helping Darlington against their battle against relegation instead of doing the same for Torquay.[9]

After two years with Darlington he joined Conference side Leigh RMI on loan,[10] before being released at the end of the 2002–2003 season. He then signed for Northern Premier League club Harrogate Town after a trial,[11][12] and in 2006 was playing for Tadcaster Albion in the Northern Counties East League.[13]

References
  1. "Mark Ford". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  2. "England youngsters stunned by Vucko". The Independent. London. 24 April 1996. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  3. Rollin, Glenda, ed. (1997). Playfair Football Annual 1997–98 (50th ed.). Headline. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-7472-5644-1.
  4. "Ford: Mark Stuart (Mark)". Leeds United F.C. History. Tony Hill. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  5. Hodgson, Guy (4 November 1996). "The home and away winner". London: Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  6. "Waddle lands £275,000 Leeds ace Ford". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 15 July 1997. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  7. "Ford hoping to step up comeback". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 4 November 1998. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  8. "Ex-Claret Ford kick-starts his career in Belgium". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 13 October 1999. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  9. "Own Goal Wins It For Quakers". The Northern Echo. 23 February 2001. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  10. "Leigh snap up Ford". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  11. "Ex-Leeds star Ford stakes Town claim". Harrogate Advertiser. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  12. "Harrogate Finally Get Their Man". NonLeague Daily. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  13. "Collis places his faith in the exuberance of youth". Wetherby News. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
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