FORD AND CHELSEA AND MORE

On 3rd November 2001, Tony Ford made what was his last appearance in the Football League, in midfield for Rochdale in their 2-0 Division 3 defeat of Torquay United at Spotland. He had made his League debut as a 16 year old back in 1975 and in the intervening years had made 931 League appearances, a record for an outfield player. An amazing achievement!

Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1975–1986	Grimsby Town	355	(55)
1986	→ Sunderland (loan)	9	(1)
1986–1989	Stoke City	112	(13)
1989–1991	West Bromwich Albion	114	(14)
1991–1994	Grimsby Town	68	(3)
1993	→ Bradford City (loan)	5	(0)
1994–1996	Scunthorpe United	76	(9)
1996–1999	Mansfield Town	103	(7)
1999–2002	Rochdale	89	(6)
Total		931	(108)

Anthony (Tony) Ford MBE (born 14 May 1959) through most of his career, was a midfielder, but in later years, he was converted to right back. In a career that spanned 27 years, across four decades, Ford played 931 LEAGUE matches, between 1975-2002, an all time record for an outfield player. He is one of three outfield players in English football to have ever passed a 1,000 games in competitive football (including league, cup) the others being Scott MacGleish and Graham Alexander, who also played for hs national team.

Most career League appearances: 1,005 (849 in First Division), Peter Shilton (1966 to 1997) 

Most career League apps at one club: 770, John Trollope (Swindon Town, 1960–1980)

Most top-flight League apps at one club: 672, Ryan Giggs (Man U) 2 March 1991 to 6 May 2014) 

Most career consecutive League apps: 375, Harold Bell (Tranmere Rovers)1946 to 1955 and (401 club games with 26 FA Cup apps)

Chelsea's record of being unbeaten in 86 consecutive home League matches is one they are justly proud of but 3rd November 1987 saw them start a record run they would prefer not to remember. On that day they were beaten 3-1 at Arsenal in a First Division encounter and that was the first of 21 League matches without a win - a Chelsea record. The 21st and final match in that sequence saw Chelsea draw 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in the return match against Arsenal but the following week - April 9th - they beat Derby in another home match. The dismal run saw former player John Hollins sacked as manager but that victory over Derby was their last league win of the season and they were duly relegated.