Tony Ford's Dream Team!

By: Jake Olley
Date: 21/03/2006

THIS is a real treat and was a great honour not only for me to interview a true Gentleman in Tony Ford, but for him to give me an insight on the players he's played with and against in his dream team. This truly was a 'Dream Come True' and this article is well worth a look at.

GK Peter Shilton - I played against Shilton in an F.A Cup tie I think it was and his presence and ability to command his penalty area made him stand out. He organized everything with military precision.

Defence Steve Nichol - He had everything you'd look for in a fullback. Whether it was the ability to pass, tackle or head the ball, Steve Nichol could do it. He also had plenty of energy to get up and down the park.

Defence Stuart Pearce - It was the early 90s I played against Pearce and Forest after they had been relegated and I was at Grimsby Town. Such was his verbal presence during the game that you were always on edge with him, it wasn't just you though, it was literally every other player on the pitch as well. He was a hard opponent.

Defence Kevin Ratcliffe - Ratcliffe was an excellent reader of the game and would compliment Beattie very well. He used to pick up all the pieces in defence and despite not being the tallest he was an excellent header of the ball. You can't be a bad player of you make nearly 500 appearances for Everton.

Defence Kevin Beattie - He was a really strong player and his stature made him a very intimidating defender. It was whilst I was with Grimsby Town that we played Ipswich and I thought our centre-forward Kevin Drinkell was a really good player at the time, that is until Beattie never gave him a kick all game.

Midfield Mark Chamberlain - Chamberlain was that good I was actually switched from right-wing to left-wing to help out our poor full-back in one game such had been the roasting he'd been receiving. He needed two men to mark him he was that good. Pace and skill in abundance.

Midfield John Wark - He was very good going forward and always had the uncanny knack of scoring, no matter how hard the chance. He had fantastic energy levels and was always up and down in and around both penalty areas. A wonderful player to watch.

Midfield Bryan Robson - A great leader who contributed both in an attacking and defending sense. He broke things up brilliantly one minute and the next he'd be in the opposition box finishing off a flowing move. Quite rightly named Captain Marvel.

Midfield John Barnes - I first came across Barnes in his Watford days and I had the pleasant experience of marking him after our right-back went off injured. He is the one player that made running with the ball an art form.

Forward Kenny Dalglish - Words cannot really do Dalglish justice, he was that good. All I will say is that he was so good he made brilliant defenders look silly.

Forward Cyrille Regis - He was the ideal targetman, such was his strength. His pace also gave him the capacity to run away from opposing defenders if the ball was played over the top. Due to my time at the Hawthorns I witnessed Regis first-hand and he was an awesome size to behold.

This concludes this one off article and hope you've enjoyed catching up with a true great. We'd like to thank Tony for taking time out to do both articles and wish him the best for the future and also I'd like to thank Stuart Ashworth who made this all possible. The interview which was posted is one of many interviews I have arranged for the Fishy and if you have a certain player you'd like to catch up with send me an email at electronicfishcake@yahoo.co.uk and I'll do my best to get you an interview on your favourite unofficial site!

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