Amateur’s Ford happy with first-team opportunities

Yorkshire Amateur’s new regular number one goalkeeper Oliver Ford, 18, instigated his journey towards first-team football, looking for senior-football match experience.

Teenager Ford left Boston United, where he was currently training with the first-team, according to Ford, during pre-season and went looking for regular first-team minutes.

Should Ford start for Ammers tomorrow against Knaresborough Town in the NCEL Premier, it will be his fourth consecutive first-team start.

“I wanted to see how I could deal with playing step 5 football, to see if I was up to it,” began Ford.

“I spent a bit of last season training with Boston United first-team but I didn’t feel like I’d get any game time because they seemed to keep bringing in ‘keepers on loan from bigger clubs.

“Boston only had an u19s. This [Ammers] is a good step up”.

Gainsborough Trinity welcomed Ford into training during pre-season, according to the ‘keeper, who then found home within Ammers’ youth system and eventually in the first-team.

“I then came to Farsley Celtic Academy and have gone on to progress to make my debut with Ammers’ first-team.

“I felt comfortable [on my debut]. I was nervous going into it but I relaxed as the game went on. The penalty was disappointing to concede but a penalty is what it is”.

Ammers and Ford continue their NCEL Premier season at home to Knaresborough Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Ticket prices for Knaresborough: Adults – £6, Concessions – £4.50, u16s – £2.50