As a player, he appeared in the Football League for both of Bristol's professional clubs during a career curtailed by injury.
[3] He was awarded a benefit match in July of that year, a game between the two Bristol teams which Rovers won 3–1 at Ashton Gate.
Moncur resigned in 1981 when Wallace Mercer gained executive control of the Edinburgh side and Ford was appointed manager when Mercer failed to convince either Jock Wallace, then at Leicester City, or Dundee United's Jim McLean to move to Tynecastle.
Again though Ford's managerial tenure was to be brief and he was dismissed in December 1981, his five months in charge including defeats to minnows such as East Stirlingshire.
[5] Ford's son Mike played in the Football League for Cardiff City and Oxford United.