It is with extreme sadness that we today learned that Mike Ford passed away last night. Mike endured a long illness without complaint. He was a wonderful servant to non league football and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of spending time in his company. Everybody at AFC Sudbury sends our deepest condolences to Mike's family. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

Andrew Long - Chairman

Mike had planned on attending tomorrows season opener against Aveley but alas he didn't quite make it that far but i am sure it wasn't for the want of trying.
There will be a minutes applause for Mike at tonight's Sudbury Sports fixture we are hosting and also tomorrow at the Aveley match where the applause will be shared with Mick Gibson who has also been taken from us too soon.
Details of the funeral arrangements are of course as yet unknown but we will be passing these on once finalised. I am sure there are a lot of our Sudbury family that would like to pay their respects.

"4D will be missed by all of us at the academy. He was with us at the very beginning, offering so much support and words of encouragement to all the players we have had come through the system. He loved being around the place and was with us on all the big occasions, be that FA Youth Cup runs, County Finals or the USA Tours. RIP mate"

Danny Laws - Academy Director

Mike started playing football at 16 years of age for Uxbridge United starting in the reserves but became a regular in the first team by the end of the season. At 18 years he moved to Redhill United. But unfortunately, in his first season, he suffered a bad break to his leg from which he never fully recovered. After a couple of years out of the game he was appointed reserve team manager for West Norwood Reserves. Then within 3 months he was appointed first team manager. This was the start of a 13 year relationship with the club that after a couple of amalgamations became known as Croydon Athletic with Mike then becoming a Director of the club.
Missing the day to day involvement with players Mike accepted an offer from Colchester United to work for them as a scout. He also worked as head scout for Ebbsfleet United. Chris Symes then invited him to join Cornard United as assistant manager where he spent the next 11 years. His continued success at Cornard had not gone unnoticed and AFC Sudbury were able to recruit him to work as joint manager with the Reserve team. Then followed spells with Halstead Town as Youth development manager. Until the then new first team manager David Batch persuaded him to rejoin AFC Sudbury as Head Scout, Mike’s role at AFC Sudbury gradually expanded as he became an integral part of Danny Laws staff in the AFC Academy while still working as head scout. He went on the last four USA football tours. As his health started to fail him, Mike became a board room ambassador for the club. Known and appreciated by so many, it was the perfect role for him. And for AFC Sudbury. To know Mike was to like Mike.
His knowledge of all things football was there for all to see. He always had time to pass on that knowledge to anybody, at any time. Nothing was too much trouble for 4D. Provided that it didn’t interrupt his afternoon siesta.
Mike will be remembered by all of us as a true football man. His experience, knowledge and above all his warmth and generosity will be missed by all of us.

I coached with Mike at Halstead Town with the under 18`s and met up with him again at Sudbury AFC walking Football. A really nice guy who had a good sense of humour and could also laugh at himself. As Andrew Long said -` a credit to non league football`. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

Geoff Thomas - Chairman Long Melford Football Club

I would be grateful if you could pass on my condolences to the family of Mike Ford. As a former sports editor of the Suffolk Free Press I have known Mike for 20 years, and was sorry to read the sad news of his death on the AFC website. It was always a pleasure to be in his company, and he will be sadly missed.
Thank you

Ken Watkins - Ex Suffolk Free Press