David Ford (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Ford is a former professional football player, who played for Sheffield Wednesday
, Newcastle United
, Sheffield United
and Halifax Town
. He is also a popular acoustic singer/songwriter. His career lasted from 1965 to 1976 during which time he made 245 league appearances with 15 as substitute and scored 42 goals. He was an attacking right sided player.
Ford was born in Sheffield
, he joined Sheffield Wednesday as an 18 year old in 1963 and made his debut in the 1965-66 season against Sunderland
on 23 October. He scored his first goal in a 1-0 home league victory over Fulham
on 20 November 1965. Ford’s career really took off in the latter stages of that first season when he scored 13 goals in 18 league and cup matches between 5 March and 14 May. His goals helped Wednesday reach the 1966 FA Cup Final
, he scored in the fifth round victory over Huddersfield Town
and twice in the quarter final win at Blackburn Rovers
. Ford’s greatest career moment happened in that year's F.A Cup final when he scored after 57 minutes to put Wednesday 2-0 up against Everton
and on the way to victory after their goalkeeper Gordon West
spilled a fierce shot by John Fantham and Ford followed up to slide the ball into the far corner, however Wednesday were defeated as Everton came back to score three times and win the trophy.
David Ford’s second season (1966-67) for Wednesday was also a success he finished the season joint top scorer with John Ritchie with 15 goals, however the goals dried up after this and he was sold to Newcastle United in December 1969. Ford made 26 league appearances in his 14 month stay with Newcastle, scoring three goals. He returned to play in Sheffield in January 1971 when he joined Wednesday’s city rivals Sheffield United. He was not a regular in the United side making only 21 league appearances and scoring twice in over two years. He moved to Halifax Town in July 1973 and played there for three seasons making 83 league appearances and scoring six goals. He was released by Halifax in May 1976 ending David Ford’s professional career.
David Ford has been running his own plumbing and heating business in Sheffield for many years and he is part owner of the Champs sports bar on Ecclesall road in the city.
David Ford appeared on the BBC
television football quiz “Quiz Ball” in the winter of 1967 representing Sheffield Wednesday along with fellow player Gerry Young, assistant manager John Marshall and celebrity supporter Stan Barstow.
He also now owns the Cross Sythes Pub in Totley
.
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
. He is also a popular acoustic singer/songwriter. His career lasted from 1965 to 1976 during which time he made 245 league appearances with 15 as substitute and scored 42 goals. He was an attacking right sided player.
Ford was born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, he joined Sheffield Wednesday as an 18 year old in 1963 and made his debut in the 1965-66 season against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on 23 October. He scored his first goal in a 1-0 home league victory over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 20 November 1965. Ford’s career really took off in the latter stages of that first season when he scored 13 goals in 18 league and cup matches between 5 March and 14 May. His goals helped Wednesday reach the 1966 FA Cup Final
1966 FA Cup Final
The 1966 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 14 May 1966. It was contested by an Everton team that was the first team to reach an FA Cup Final without conceding in the preceding rounds and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley....
, he scored in the fifth round victory over Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
and twice in the quarter final win at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Ford’s greatest career moment happened in that year's F.A Cup final when he scored after 57 minutes to put Wednesday 2-0 up against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and on the way to victory after their goalkeeper Gordon West
Gordon West
Gordon West is an English former professional football goalkeeper.-Blackpool:He made his debut for Blackpool at the age of 17...
spilled a fierce shot by John Fantham and Ford followed up to slide the ball into the far corner, however Wednesday were defeated as Everton came back to score three times and win the trophy.
David Ford’s second season (1966-67) for Wednesday was also a success he finished the season joint top scorer with John Ritchie with 15 goals, however the goals dried up after this and he was sold to Newcastle United in December 1969. Ford made 26 league appearances in his 14 month stay with Newcastle, scoring three goals. He returned to play in Sheffield in January 1971 when he joined Wednesday’s city rivals Sheffield United. He was not a regular in the United side making only 21 league appearances and scoring twice in over two years. He moved to Halifax Town in July 1973 and played there for three seasons making 83 league appearances and scoring six goals. He was released by Halifax in May 1976 ending David Ford’s professional career.
David Ford has been running his own plumbing and heating business in Sheffield for many years and he is part owner of the Champs sports bar on Ecclesall road in the city.
David Ford appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television football quiz “Quiz Ball” in the winter of 1967 representing Sheffield Wednesday along with fellow player Gerry Young, assistant manager John Marshall and celebrity supporter Stan Barstow.
He also now owns the Cross Sythes Pub in Totley
Totley
Totley is a suburb on the extreme southwest of the City of Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England. Lying in the historic county boundaries of Derbyshire, Totley was amalgamated into the city of Sheffield in 1935, and is today part of the Dore and Totley electoral ward in the city, though it remains...
.