JAMES FORD may not have been in the York City Knights dugout this weekend against Sheffield Eagles were it not for his opposite number Mark Aston.

Ford was close to leaving the sport of rugby league after six seasons at Featherstone Rovers before he was signed by Sheffield head coach Aston, who is now in his 22nd season as boss, in 2004.

The move kickstarted Ford’s playing career and he would go on to play in Super League with Castleford Tigers before later becoming York coach in 2015.

And ahead of this Sunday’s meeting (4.30pm) between two Betfred Championship sides chasing a spot in the play-offs, Ford paid tribute to his former mentor.

“I have got a lot to thank Mark for,” he said. “I was probably on the verge of not playing the game anymore when I left Featherstone.

“I went to Sheffield and I really enjoyed playing under Tubby (Aston). He was right for me at that time and he gave me some good guidance and we had a laugh and a joke at times.

“Mark is a cracking bloke who has done tremendously well for Sheffield over a really long period.

“I look back on my time at Sheffield fondly. When young players come out of Super League and say, ‘What do you think about Sheffield?’, I always say that ‘I really enjoyed it and that Mark is a great guy’. I can’t speak highly enough of him. I’m looking forward to catching up with him on Sunday but we’re going there with one goal, which is to compete as hard as we can and win the game.”

York would overtake Sheffield in the Betfred Championship with a victory over them at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium this weekend.

To do so, the Knights will have to nullify the threat posed by Sheffield’s veteran half-back Anthony Thackeray, another whom Ford is familiar with, having played alongside him at Widnes Vikings.

“Anthony Thackeray is a really strong player,” said Ford. “He competes hard, he’s a running threat and he’s looking to influence games in a real positive way.

“Thackeray is a real handful as are (Ryan) Millar, (Josh) Guzdek and (Rob) Worrincy.

“James Davey is a livewire off the back of ruck wins, Oliver Davies runs a really well-timed lead line and they’ve got some competitors in the middle.

“They’re a good team, but so are we and we’re looking forward to building on what we produced against Swinton.”

Ford is set to give a York debut to full-back Aidan McGowan, who signed on loan from Huddersfield Giants earlier this week, against Sheffield.

On McGowan, Ford said: “He’s a quick and balanced runner, has got a good passing game for a full-back, times his lines out of the back really well and is good under kick pressure.

“This allows us to leave Matty Marsh in the halves and gives us an out-and-out full-back and a really good spine.

“At times, we haven’t had anybody in there. On the weekend, we’ll go into the game with at least five. That’s a great situation to be in.”

The Knights already have cover at full-back in Myles Harrison, who debuted impressively against Wigan Warriors earlier this year.

“Myles is improving physically and mentally, and we believe in Myles because he’s certainly got some potential,” said Ford.

“But, in my opinion, it’s still a little bit early to put him in consistently in a real key position because he’s only 17.

“Myles has a cracking attitude and I do want to find some opportunities for him to play.

“Full-back is a tremendously different position to go from under-16s to first grade.

“It’s such a crucial position and everyone is relying on you in terms of finding that last pass for tries, organising defensive shape with numbers and saving tries and scoring tries.

“To throw him in right now would be asking a lot of him.”