Francis Ford was educated at Repton School and King's College, Cambridge.
[2] He top scored with 191 when Cambridge University made its highest ever total of 703/9 v Sussex in 1890.
His Wisden obituary said “His drives, either kept down or lifted over the bowler's head, were dazzling, and his cuts the perfection of timing.
He revelled in these strokes when fast bowlers lost their length because of his punishment, and at Lord's the crowds grew enthusiastic over the way he scored from the best fast bowlers--Arthur Mold of Lancashire, Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood of Surrey, suffered specially at his hands.”[3] Ford, who was nicknamed "Stork" on account of his height, was part of a large cricketing family, with his father W.A., two brothers A.F.J., L.G.B.J.
and W.J., a nephew Neville Ford, great-nephew John Barclay and uncle G.J.Ford all playing first-class cricket.