by Billy Horan Peter Ford evokes a cherished boyhood memory every time I see him wearing the Mayo jersey. A scrapbook, compiled by younger brothers and myself and filled with pictures of the GAA stalwarts of the time, is fondly recalled. A young Galway and Connacht hurler, with a shock of black hair, by the name of Robert Ford, adorned one of it's pages. Provincial leanings made me identify with him and that pictorial evidence was my initial contact with the Ford family. Years later that scrapbook picture took on a more meaningful significance when bob, Peter's father, joined the teaching staff of the CBS in Ballinrobe, my native town and stayed in the Commercial House owned by an aunt of mine. Bob was pleased that a Mayo child, with no hurling experience, had deemed it worthwhile to extract his picture from a daily paper and he regaled me with anecdotes culled from his exploits while wielding the caman. Names, familiar to me from Michael O'Hehir's inimatible commentaries on summer Sunday afternoons became real people - Wexford's majestical Nicky Rachard, Bob's fellow countyman and peerless goalie Sean Duggan and that prince of centre half backs John Keane of Waterford. I can still remember Bob's typically self-effacing comment on the day he was opposed by the Decies star - "I never touched the ball". In a domestic contest, Bob, who was a native of Kinvara, played with Liam Mellowes, a Galway based club, then a far more formidable force than now. There was no love lost between Mellowes and neighbouring Castlegar and the intense rivalry was at the heart of many of the tales Bob related of their hectic clashes. I later joined Bob as a colleague on the teaching staff of the Ballinrobe CBS and was deeply saddened by his untimely death in 1981. As a student it was evident from the outset that Peter was academically gifted. Even in the classroom there was the same low-key approach which has characterised his football. Anything smacking of the ostentatious was alien to him, an outsider would never single him out. It occasioned no surprise in view of the fact of the blood coursing through his veins that he was generously endowed in a sporting context. Basketball, hurling - the game had become popular in Ballinrobe at the time - boxing and of course, football were among the expressions of that capacity. The county minor selectors quickly took note of his talent, he was a sub, while still only 16, on the team which won the All-Ireland in 1978. He represented the county in the grade in 1979 and 1980 as well and his selection as captain in 1980 was an indication that leadership qualities were beginning to flower. He was awarded a sports scholarship on the results of his leaving certificate and sporting achievements. While studying for a commerce degree at UCG, he achieved the goal of all third level players, the winning of a Sigerson Cup medal in 1980. The performance was repeated three years later, again under the tutelage of Tony Regan. Peter's contemporaries at UCG included Thomas Tierney, then donning the Galway colours, Anthony Finnerty and John Maughan, now putting his expertise at the disposal of Clare in a managerial role. 1983 brought another worthwhile accolade, in the shape of an All-Ireland under 21 medal won against Derry in Irvinestown. Senior provincial medals followed in 85, 88 and then the trauma of a defeat at the hands of Cork in the All-Ireland final on 17th September 1989, in which Peter's opponent was the wily veteran Dinny Allen. Peter has also achieved national honours in boxing, a youth's heavyweight title and a junior light heavyweight title in 1980. An All-Ireland senior title has eluded him, despite his best endeavours and a major contributory factor must be the dearth of adequate sparring partners at local level. There is nothing flamboyant about Ford's occupancy of the full back berth, no spectacular leaps skywards in the manner of a Paddy Prendergast or Paddy O'Brien. Instead, he controls his area of operation with a cat like vigilance and his steely determination, nurtured in Sigerson playing fields where there is no place for the faint hearted, has stood him in good stead in many a testing circumstance. Yet, in his unobtrusive way, Peter, a Sligo based teacher can be a motivating influence as witnessed by his surge upfield to score a point in the game against Sligo, when the forwards were failing in their primary function. His team mates in the Ballinrobe club can attest to that quality also, when uplifted by his example as player manager, they won the county junior title in 1990. There is an insatiable longing for a national success in Mayo, 41 years in a lengthy barren stretch by any yardstick. Could there be any comfort in the fact that the first man to bring the Sam Maguire cup to the county in 1936 was Seamus O'Malley, a Ballinrobe born teacher, now domiciled in Claremorris. History has been known to repeat itself, even in the sporting arena. Taken from Hogan Stand 24th July 1992 Tweet

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