James Ford (rugby league)

James Ford
Personal information
Full nameJames Ford
Born (1982-09-29) 29 September 1982 (age 42)
Yorkshire, England
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–05 Featherstone Rovers 34 6 0 0 24
2005–08 Sheffield Eagles 78 49 0 0 196
2009 Castleford Tigers 10 2 0 0 8
2010–11 Widnes Vikings 16 6 0 0 24
2011–14 York City Knights 57 23 0 0 92
Total 195 86 0 0 344
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2015–22 York City Knights 91 64 1 16 70
2023– Featherstone Rovers 41 25 0 16 61
Total 132 89 1 32 67
Source: [1][2][3]
As of 6 Oct 2024

James Ford (born 29 September 1982) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the 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 fullback but also played at centre, and on the wing. 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.[4]

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.[5] In November 2021, he extended his contract with the club until the end of 2024.[6] In October 2022 Ford resigned from York to become assistant coach at Super League club Wakefield Trinity.[7]

Featherstone Rovers

On 16 May 2023 he was announced as the new Director of Rugby at Featherstone Rovers.[8] He was later announced on 18 Aug 2023 to take over as head coach following the sacking of Sean Long.[9]

References

  1. ^ loverugbyleague
  2. ^ Rugby League Project
  3. ^ "Player Summary: James Ford". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  4. ^ "York coach James Ford explains how teaching has helped his coaching career". Total Rugby League. League Publications Limited. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Highly-rated coach James Ford signs historic new deal with York City Knights". Yorkshire Post. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  6. ^ "James Ford commits to long-term deal at York City Knights". Total Rugby League. League Publications Limited. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  7. ^ "James Ford resigns as York City Knights head coach after transformative reign". York Press. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Our New Director of Rugby: James Ford". Featherstone Rovers RLFC. 16 May 2023.
  9. ^ "James Ford gives first interview after being chosen as the man to guide Featherstone Rovers to Super League". Love Rugby League. 18 August 2023.


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