On This Day – 3rd November
42 year old Tony Ford made his 931st and final Football League appearance on this day back in 2001, playing for Rochdale in a 2-0 home defeat to Torquay United.
Ford began his incredible run of appearances back in 1975 when he made his debut for his hometown club Grimsby Town. He spent eleven years at Blundell Park (including a short spell at Sunderland) before joining Stoke City.
After three years at Stoke, Ford moved on to West Bromwich Albion before heading back to Grimsby and a short spell on loan at Bradford City.
He then spent three years at Scunthorpe United and Mansfield Town before ending his career at Rochdale.
Over the course of his 26 year playing career, Ford never played in the top flight. He played a total of 1080 career appearances and scored 50 goals. The 931 Football League appearances is a record for an outfield player and only goalkeeper Peter Shilton has played more Football League games with an incredible 1005.
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