Steve Ford

Stephen Derek Ford (17 February 1959 – 20 December 2025) was an English footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Stoke City.

Ford was born in Shoreham-by-Sea and played amateur football with local side Lewes where he was a prolific goalscorer, scoring 35 times in 1980–81 which led to him being given a contract by First Division side Stoke City in 1981. He made two appearances for the club towards the end of the 1981–82 season. He left for Stafford Rangers and later played abroad for Cypriot club AEL Limassol and Irish club Finn Harps. In 1990 he joined Brighton & Hove Albion to help set up their football in the community programme a role he held for 23 years. He went on to work for Millwall, Sussex County Cricket Club, Grace Eyre Foundation as well as building an international soccer programme in the United States.

Ford died on 20 December 2025 at the age of 66.