Mike Ford signed for his home town club in January 1988 from Leigh, after having first had a successful spell with Wigan, tasting Wembley glory in the 1985 victory over Hull. This was his second game in the famous stadium, his first being for the Oldham under-11’s schoolboy side in the curtain-raiser to the 1977 final.
A scrum half of real pace, Mike played with the local St Anne’s club before his move to Central Park, toured New Zealand with the BARLA Under 18’s and won Great Britain Colts honours. His first season with Oldham ended in promotion and that thrilling win over Featherstone at Old Trafford. This was supplemented by being selected for the 1988 tour “down under”, with Mike acting as Great Britain captain in some of the club matches.
1989-90 saw Oldham in the semi final of the Challenge Cup, Mike was in inspired form in the match and who could forget that last gasp kick for the corner that he placed to perfection, for Paul Lord to score, only for referee Holdsworth to rule the wingman offside denying Oldham at least a replay and sending Warrington on their way to the final.
In the same season he also played a vital part in the Lancashire Cup semi final victory over Wigan, but here again the “Wire” would prove a stumbling block at the last hurdle. There was however some consolation for Mike when he picked up the man of the match in the Second Division Premiership Final after skippering the team in that remarkable come back against Hull K.R. in 1990. He later left to join Castleford where he enjoyed much success. After two spells in Australia and several other British clubs, Mike was back at Oldham as player coach for the 2000 season and took the club to being just one game away from Super League in 2001.
In 2002 he became the defensive coach for the Ireland Rugby Union team and would go on to earn more plaudits in this capacity with the full England national team. After further appointments in Rugby Union at club and international level, Mike returned to Oldham as the managing director in March 2023, as he looked to establish the club back to the top level of the game.
In spite of his many journeys in the rugby world there is no doubting Mike’s passion for his hometown club and his desire to take Oldham back to the top.
Mike was inducted into the Oldham RL Hall of Fame on January 19th 2025.
Player profile
Mike Ford signed for his home town club in January 1988 from Leigh, after having first had a successful spell with Wigan, tasting Wembley glory in the 1985 victory over Hull. This was his second game in the famous stadium, his first being for the Oldham under-11’s schoolboy side in the curtain-raiser to the 1977 final.
A scrum half of real pace, Mike played with the local St Anne’s club before his move to Central Park, toured New Zealand with the BARLA Under 18’s and won Great Britain Colts honours. His first season with Oldham ended in promotion and that thrilling win over Featherstone at Old Trafford. This was supplemented by being selected for the 1988 tour “down under”, with Mike acting as Great Britain captain in some of the club matches.
1989-90 saw Oldham in the semi final of the Challenge Cup, Mike was in inspired form in the match and who could forget that last gasp kick for the corner that he placed to perfection, for Paul Lord to score, only for referee Holdsworth to rule the wingman offside denying Oldham at least a replay and sending Warrington on their way to the final.
In the same season he also played a vital part in the Lancashire Cup semi final victory over Wigan, but here again the “Wire” would prove a stumbling block at the last hurdle. There was however some consolation for Mike when he picked up the man of the match in the Second Division Premiership Final after skippering the team in that remarkable come back against Hull K.R. in 1990.
He later left to join Castleford where he enjoyed much success. After two spells in Australia and several other British clubs, Mike was back at Oldham as player coach for the 2000 season and took the club to being just one game away from Super League in 2001.
In 2002 he became the defensive coach for the Ireland Rugby Union team and would go on to earn more plaudits in this capacity with the full England national team.
After further appointments in Rugby Union at club and international level, Mike returned to Oldham as the managing director in March 2023, as he looked to establish the club back to the top level of the game.
In spite of his many journeys in the rugby world there is no doubting Mike’s passion for his hometown club and his desire to take Oldham back to the top.
Mike was inducted into the Oldham RL Hall of Fame on January 19th 2025.