Mark Ford (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{other people|Mark Ford}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Ford
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Mark Stuart Ford
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|10|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pontefract, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Leeds United
| years1 = 1993–1997 | clubs1 = Leeds United | caps1 = 29 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1997–1999 | clubs2 = Burnley | caps2 = 48 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1999–2000 | clubs3 = Lommel | caps3 = 15 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2000–2001 | clubs4 = Torquay United | caps4 = 28 | goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2001–2003 | clubs5 = Darlington | caps5 = 57 | goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2003 | clubs6 = → Leigh RMI (loan) | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2003–2004 | clubs7 = Harrogate Town | caps7 = | goals7 =
| years8 = 2006–200x | clubs8 = Tadcaster Albion | caps8 = | goals8 =
| totalcaps = 190
| totalgoals = 14
| nationalyears1 = 1993 | nationalteam1 = England U18 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1996
| nationalteam2 = England U21 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player2/markford.html |title=Mark Ford |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=2 December 2009}} He was capped twice for the England under-21s.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-youngsters-stunned-by-vucko-1306601.html |title=England youngsters stunned by Vucko |newspaper=The Independent |date=24 April 1996 |accessdate=21 December 2009 | location=London}}{{cite book |title=Playfair Football Annual 1997–98 |editor1-last=Rollin |editor1-first=Glenda |year=1997 |publisher=Headline |isbn=978-0-7472-5644-1 |edition=50th |page=233}}
Career
Ford was born in Pontefract and attended Tadcaster Grammar School.{{cite web |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/F/FordMS.php |title=Ford: Mark Stuart (Mark) |website=Oz White's Leeds United F.C. History |accessdate=2 December 2009}}
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. 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,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-home-and-away-winner-1350625.html?CMP=ILC-refresh|title=The home and away winner |work=The Independent|accessdate=4 December 2011|location=London|first=Guy|last=Hodgson|date=4 November 1996}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/1997/7/15/823273.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709193641/http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/1997/7/15/823273.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2012 |title=Waddle lands £275,000 Leeds ace Ford |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Telegraph |date=15 July 1997 |accessdate=2 December 2009 }}
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{{cite news |url=http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/1998/11/4/787614.html |title=Ford hoping to step up comeback |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Telegraph |date=4 November 1998 |accessdate=2 December 2009 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.{{cite news |url=http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/1999/10/13/754634.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716071621/http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/1999/10/13/754634.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 July 2012 |title=Ex-Claret Ford kick-starts his career in Belgium |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Telegraph |date=13 October 1999 |accessdate=2 December 2009 }}
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. 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.{{cite news |url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/2/23/178264.html |title=Own Goal Wins It For Quakers |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=23 February 2001 |accessdate=2 December 2009}}
After two years with Darlington he joined Conference side Leigh RMI on loan,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leigh_rmi/2757317.stm |title=Leigh snap up Ford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 February 2003 |accessdate=2 December 2009}} before being released at the end of the 2002–2003 season. He then signed for Northern Premier League club Harrogate Town after a trial,{{cite news |url=http://www.harrogateadvertiser.net/sport/ExLeeds-star-Ford-stakes-Town.568339.jp |title=Ex-Leeds star Ford stakes Town claim |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=1 August 2003 |accessdate=2 December 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=12183 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926213908/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=12183 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 September 2012 |title=Harrogate Finally Get Their Man |work=NonLeague Daily |date=28 August 2003 |accessdate=2 December 2009}} and in 2006 was playing for Tadcaster Albion in the Northern Counties East League.{{cite news |url=http://www.wetherbynews.co.uk/sport/Collis-places-his-faith-in.1752070.jp |title=Collis places his faith in the exuberance of youth |newspaper=Wetherby News |date=8 September 2006 |accessdate=20 October 2010}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{NeilBrownPlayers|player2/markford}}
- [http://www.thefa.com/england/All-Teams/Players?p=341273 England profile] at The Football Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Mark}}
Category:Footballers from Pontefract
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:Darlington F.C. players
Category:Leigh Genesis F.C. players
Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
Category:Tadcaster Albion A.F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Belgian Pro League players