Amazing Tony Ford!

By: Fishy News Room
Date: 24/05/2001

Former Grimsby Town player Tony Ford is extending his career into its 27th year. As assistant manager at Rochdale, he played over 40 games last season and broke his 900-match barrier to create a new record. He assures us that he is not finished yet! The question is: Can he make 1,000?

"Somebody asked me if I would keep going until I get 1000 appearances and I said I'd need to play until I was 47! "I don't think so, but you never know. I'll get through pre-season and if I think it's too hard I might call it a day."

The Grimsby Telegraph today ran a feature story on Tony and his amazing career starting as the youngest-ever Mariner in 1975 when he was 16 and went on to play in over 400 League games for Grimsby Town.

"I thought at the beginning of last season that if I played more than 20 or 25 games I'd be amazed. But I got in and did well enough to stay in, "I think I played 41 games and then I injured my hamstring at Plymouth. "If that's all right now I'll see how the pre-season goes and take it from there."

Ford still has another year left to run on his playing contract and, narrowly missed playing in the play offs with Rochdale who just missed out after a hectic finish to the season and pointed out that some of his team mates were not even born when he made his debut for the Mariners!!

Prince Charles presented him with an MBE last year for services to football and he has not finished yet. Also waiting in the wings hoping to follow in his father's footsteps is his son Joshua Ford who also plays for Rochdale youth side but made one reserve game during last season.

"I'd like to think he can do it and we'll have to see how he develops, I don't think we'll play in the same team because he plays in my position!"

The amazing Tony Ford, long may he reign!!

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