 Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Ford akaberekerwa muPontefract uye akapinda Tadcaster Grammar School. Akatanga basa rake rebhora semudzidzi neLeeds United, uye aive chikamu chechikwata cheLeeds chakakunda FA Youth Cup muna 1993. Ford akava nyanzvi muna March 1993. Mutambi wepakati akasimba, paakangopinda muchikwata chekutanga aifungidzirwa semutsivi wenguva yemberi waDavid Batty. Zvisinei, pasinei nokutamba mu 1996 League Cup Finaluye akarova kamwe chete muligi vachipesana neSunderland, akatambura kuti azvisimbise kuElland Road uye akaenda kuDivision Two kirabhu Burnley, inotungamirwa naChris Waddle, muna Chikunguru 1997 nemubhadharo unonzi 275,000. Akava nemwaka wokutanga wakabudirira paTurf Moor, asi akaputsa gumbo pazuva rokutanga remwaka unotevera. Pashure pemwedzi mitatu kunze, akatambura kuti awanezve nzvimbo yake mumutungamiriri mutsva Stan Ternent uye akasunungurwa muzhizha. Muna Chikunguru 1999 akabatana neBelgian First Division side Lommel panguva imwecheteyo naMillwalls Kim Grant. 