James Ford (rugby league)
{{short description|English RL coach and former rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = James Ford
|fullname = James Ford
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|09|29}}
|birth_place = Yorkshire, England
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|FB|WG|CE}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Featherstone Rovers}}
|year1start = 2003
|year1end = 05
|appearances1 = 34
|tries1 = 6
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 24
|club2 = Sheffield Eagles
|year2start = 2005
|year2end = 08
|appearances2 = 78
|tries2 = 49
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 196
|club3 = Castleford Tigers
|year3start = 2009
|year3end =
|appearances3 = 10
|tries3 = 2
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 8
|club4 = Widnes Vikings
|year4start = 2010
|year4end = 11
|appearances4 = 16
|tries4 = 6
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 24
|club5 = {{nowrap|York City Knights}}
|year5start = 2011
|year5end = 14
|appearances5 = 57
|tries5 = 23
|goals5 = 0
|fieldgoals5 = 0
|points5 = 92
|coachteam1 = {{nowrap|York City Knights}}
|coachyear1start = 2015
|coachyear1end = 22
|coachgames1 = 91
|coachwins1 = 64
|coachdraws1 = 1
|coachlosses1 = 16
|coachteam2 = {{nowrap|Featherstone Rovers}}
|coachyear2start = 2023
|coachyear2end = 25
|coachgames2 = 45
|coachwins2 = 28
|coachdraws2 = 0
|coachlosses2 = 17
| retired = no
| updated = 26 February 2025
|source = [http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/James-Ford/ loverugbyleague][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/james-ford/summary.html Rugby League Project]{{Rugby league records|id=3168}}
}}
James Ford (born 29 September 1982) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the former head coach of Featherstone Rovers in the Championship, and a former player.
Playing career
As a player Ford played in the Super League for Castleford Tigers and the Widnes Vikings, as a {{rlp|fb}} but also played at {{rlp|ce}}, and on the {{rlp|wg}}. Ford signed initially for the Featherstone Rovers as a youth in 1998, before moving on to the Sheffield Eagles, and then Castleford in 2008. Ford made his first-grade début whilst playing for the Castleford Tigers in Super League in a 28–6 win away to the Warrington Wolves in 2009's Super League XIV, and he went on to make a total of eight appearances, scoring once. In late 2009, he left the club for Widnes. During his playing and early coaching career, he was a lecturer at Wakefield College.{{cite web |title=York coach James Ford explains how teaching has helped his coaching career |url=https://www.totalrl.com/york-coach-james-ford-explains-how-teaching-has-helped-his-coaching-career/ |website=Total Rugby League |publisher=League Publications Limited |access-date=2 February 2022 |date=26 May 2020}}
Coaching
= York Knights =
After retiring as a player in 2014, Ford took over as head coach at York, and became the club's first ever full-time coach in 2018.{{cite web |title=Highly-rated coach James Ford signs historic new deal with York City Knights |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/highly-rated-coach-james-ford-signs-historic-new-deal-york-city-knights-1759999 |website=Yorkshire Post |access-date=2 February 2022 |date=17 July 2018}} In November 2021, he extended his contract with the club until the end of 2024.{{cite web |title=James Ford commits to long-term deal at York City Knights |url=https://www.totalrl.com/james-ford-commits-to-long-term-deal-at-york-city-knights/ |website=Total Rugby League |publisher=League Publications Limited |access-date=2 February 2022 |date=7 November 2021}} In October 2022 Ford resigned from York to become assistant coach at Super League club Wakefield Trinity.{{cite news |title=James Ford resigns as York City Knights head coach after transformative reign |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/23038732.james-ford-resigns-york-city-knights-head-coach/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=York Press |date=11 October 2022}}
= Featherstone Rovers =
On 16 May 2023 he was announced as the new Director of Rugby at Featherstone Rovers.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title=Our New Director of Rugby: James Ford |url=https://www.featherstonerovers.co.uk/news/our-new-director-of-rugby-james-ford-q0eYR/ |website=Featherstone Rovers RLFC}} He was later announced on 18 Aug 2023 to take over as head coach following the sacking of Sean Long.{{Cite web |date=18 Aug 2023 |title=James Ford gives first interview after being chosen as the man to guide Featherstone Rovers to Super League |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/exclusive-james-ford-gives-first-interview-after-being-chosen-as-the-man-to-guide-featherstone-rovers-to-super-league |website=Love Rugby League}}
On 26 February 2025 it was reported that he had left Featherstone Rovers after just two games of the 2025 season.{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=26 Feb 2025|author=Aaron Bower|title=Featherstone Rovers eye up international coach after James Ford exit|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/featherstone-rovers-eye-up-international-coach-after-james-ford-exit}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Featherstone Rovers coaches}}
{{York City Knights coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, James}}
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:Castleford Tigers players
Category:English rugby league coaches
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Featherstone Rovers coaches
Category:Featherstone Rovers players
Category:Rugby league players from Yorkshire
Category:Rugby league fullbacks
Category:Sheffield Eagles players
Category:Widnes Vikings players
{{England-rugbyleague-bio-stub}}