Tony Ford

Tony Ford has been in football since 1974 and was awarded an MBE in 2001 for his services to sport.

He has starred for several Football League clubs, and he holds the appearance record for any player in the history of British football.

Tony's story is one of struggle. He is a black footballer who during the 1970s, '80s and '90s plied his trade at Sunderland, Bradford City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Scunthorpe Utd, Mansfield, Grimsby and Rochdale. In those politically incorrect days he suffered the usual abuse any ethnic minority footballer would suffer not just from opposing players and fans, but from within the clubs he played for.

However, he rose above it, maintained his discipline, and today is the most promising manager outside of the Premiership.

His story will show a man who was determined to succeed, both on and off the pitch, and with the help of his family is one of the north's most respected footballers. This will be an official biography that will be have a lot of involvement from the subject.

It will include many fascinating anecdotes from the dressing room (and after playing in 1,100 League games, Tony Ford has quite a few of them!), detailed career statistics and many photograph's.

Endorsements will come from Brian Clough, Lou Macari, Emlyn Hughes, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt and Alex Ferguson.