BIDFORD have turned to all-rounder Jack Ford as the man to lead them out of the Tolchards DCL B Division next season.
Ford, who is 21, went through Bideford’s youth section before having a crack at Premier Division cricket with Sandford in 2022. His cricket upbringing included touring South Africa with Devon under-15s in 2018 and spending the 2021-22 UK winter at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy in Adelaide.
Six games into the 2024 season – and boasting a batting average in the high 30s at the time – Ford returned to Bideford. He continued to skipper the Devon CCC Lions Development XI and was 12th man for the full county side when they played Cheshire at Sidmouth.
When Ford returned to Westward Ho! he said part of his motivation was to move up through the divisions with Bideford. The resignation from the captaincy of Tom Brend means Ford will have a big, hands-on role in the promotion race.
The new man at the helm is optimistic about Bideford’s promotion chances.
“After finishing in third place for the last two seasons, we all feel we have a squad capable of going one or two places better, and gaining promotion this coming season,” said Ford.
Brend, who has had three ‘enjoyable’ summers as captain, believes Ford is the right man for the job.
‘I firmly believe the club is trending upwards and our recent league finishes back that up,” said Brend, who has stepped aside due to increased work commitments.
“Jack is certainly the man to lead us forwards and will have my full support on and off the pitch.”
Ford will also have the backing of dad James, who remains a consistent run getter for Bideford and the Devon over-50s. Having had two stints as skipper himself – 2006-2008, then 2012-2015 – Ford senior has plenty of captaincy experience to draw on.
Sons following fathers as captains of the same DCL club include the Wards (Paignton), the Donohues (Plympton), Graham and Luke Bess (Sidmouth), the Murrins (Budleigh Salterton), the Parkers (Barton) and the Luffmans (Tavistock).
Ford junior has already started squad strengthening for the 2025 season by signing 18-year-old all-rounder Marcus Bulled from Newton Tracey.
“Marcus is a seam bowler and hard-hitting, middle-order batsman, and it is great to finally get him on board, as we have been after him for a couple of seasons,” said Ford.
“We know how good an addition Marcus is going to be as he already plays in the North Devon League for usand won the batting award in our title-winning season.”
Replacing the DCL runs and wickets scored by Aussie import Ewan Williams is a priority for Ford as he builds up the squad.
In his two British summers in the Westward Ho! dressing room, Williams scored 993 B Division runs and took 55 wickets.
Said Ford: “We are In talks to sign an overseas all-rounder to replace the big void of Ewan Williams' runs and wickets.”
Ford added: “The squad will largely be the same as last season’s. Nobody is leaving and, potentially, we will be adding one or two more arrivals.”
Any other additions to the Bideford squad – whatever their ability – will become apparent when pre-season training starts indoors at Bideford College in March.
