Mike Ford (footballer)

Michael Paul Ford (born 9 February 1966) is an English football manager and former professional player. His father, Tony Ford, was also a professional footballer.

Mike Ford
Ford in 2019
Personal information
Full name Michael Paul Ford[1]
Date of birth (1966-02-09) 9 February 1966[1]
Place of birth Bristol,[1] England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Evesham United
Youth career
Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984 Leicester City 0 (0)
1984 Devizes Town
1984–1988 Cardiff City 145 (13)
1988–1998 Oxford United 289 (18)
1998–2000 Cardiff City 51 (0)
2000 Oxford United 1 (0)
2003 Thame United
Managerial career
2000 Oxford United (caretaker)
2001 Oxford United (caretaker)
2009–2014 Oxford City
2015–2020 Banbury United
2022– Evesham United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Ford began his career at Leicester City where he became a full-time professional at the age of 18. He was released by the club without making an appearance and moved to non-league side Devizes Town but he was signed a few months later by Cardiff City and quickly made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Leeds United. A mainstay in the side, Ford played in numerous positions for Cardiff in defence and midfield and helped them to promotion in his final year at the club. He signed for Oxford United in 1988 and was eventually made club captain. He spent ten years at the Manor Ground before being released in 1998 and being taken back to Ninian Park by Frank Burrows, who handed him the captaincy; he again helped Cardiff to promotion.[3]

Managerial career

During the 1999–2000 season he developed a problem with a disc in his back and was forced to retire. After his retirement he was appointed as youth team manager at Oxford and was called back into action for the team in 2000 when the team faced an injury crisis, making one appearance against Bristol City. Ford also took over as caretaker manager on two separate occasions for Oxford when they were between managers and was working as assistant manager at the club when he was fired in 2003,[4] a decision that caused outrage among Oxford fans.[5] After he was sacked Ford had a spell playing for non-league side Thame United.[6]

Ford was the manager of Conference North football team Oxford City, who gained promotion in the 2011–12 season. He was also working as a football coach at the North Oxfordshire Academy teaching football skills and theory to 16- to 21-year-olds at the Academy sixth form, but is now employed by Oxford and Cherwell Valley College coaching students in the 16–19 age bracket. His team produced 3 or 4 players who helped the Oxford City first team to promotion.

On 30 April 2014, Oxford City announced that Ford would no longer be their first-team manager.[7] After a year out of the game, in May 2015 he was appointed manager of Banbury United in the Southern League Division 1 South & West.[8] He earned promotion to the Southern Premier Division in his first season as manager via the playoffs.

On 29 April 2020, Banbury United announced that Ford would cease to manage the club once his contract expired at the end of the month.[9]

In the summer of 2022, he was appointed as manager of Evesham United in the Southern League Division One.[10]

References
  1. "Mike Ford". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 66. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  4. "Oxford release Ford". BBC Sport. 12 February 2003. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  5. "Fordy exit rocks fans". Oxford Mail. 13 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  6. "Thame snap up Fordy". Oxford Mail. 15 February 2003. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  7. "Mike Ford". Oxford City F.C. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. "FOOTBALL: Mike Ford is relishing challenge after taking over as Banbury United boss". Oxford Mail. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  9. "Mike Ford". Banbury United F.C. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  10. "Manager Mike Ford looks ahead to new Evesham United season". Worcester News. 3 August 2022.
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