The Representative Footballer -A Champion Beyond the Black and Gold

For George Ford, the Boulder City guernsey was only part of an extraordinary football journey. His performances in the Goldfields earned him opportunities to represent the region and showcase his ability against outstanding footballers from across Western Australia. And whenever the standard rose, George seemed to rise with it.

A Goldfields Representative

George became a familiar and highly respected figure in Goldfields representative football. His ability to read the play, win contested possession and create opportunities made him a valuable addition to representative sides. He was particularly dangerous around the stoppages. Strong in the contest, quick to recover and remarkably difficult to bring down, he could turn a crowded passage of play into an attacking opportunity in an instant. These were the qualities that made him such an exceptional Boulder player.They also made him a standout at representative level.
 

Twice a Fyson Medallist

Among George's representative achievements were two Fyson Medals, awarded for outstanding performances at WA Country football carnivals. These awards recognised his ability to perform against some of the strongest country footballers in Western Australia. To win such recognition once was a significant achievement.

To do it twice reinforced his standing as one of the Goldfields' outstanding representative footballers.

George was also part of the Goldfields Football League's winning team at the 1991 WA Country Championships, another memorable chapter in his representative career.
 

Representing Indigenous Football

George's football journey also included numerous selections in Indigenous representative teams.

These appearances added another important dimension to his career. As a proud Indigenous footballer, George belonged to a rich tradition of players whose talent, creativity and understanding of the game have made an enormous contribution to Australian rules football.His representative selections recognised his ability to compete at a high level while contributing to the proud history of Indigenous football.
 

The Respect of His Peers

The most revealing stories about great footballers are often told by the people who shared the field with them.

George's teammates remember his anticipation, his ability to stay upright in heavy traffic and his extraordinary speed in reaching the football. He could make difficult passages of play appear effortless. But they also remember the man. Darryl “Shack” Evans described George as an unbelievable footballer and a great bloke.

That combination of outstanding ability and personal respect is perhaps the finest recognition a player can receive.
 

A Legacy That Continues

One particularly touching recollection came from Jason Hill, who remembered George taking him under his wing and teaching him the art of playing as an on-baller. George even passed on his favourite No. 1 guernsey, which Jason proudly wore in the 1994 Grand Final. It was a simple gesture, but one that stayed with a younger Tiger for decades. That is how football legacies are created. Not just through medals, premierships or representative selections, but through the knowledge and encouragement passed from one generation to the next.

One of the Best
 

• Five Boulder City Fairest & Best awards.

• Two Fyson Medals.

• A member of the Tigers All Star Team.

• Kalgoorlie Miner Footballer of the Year 1989

• A Goldfields representative and multiple Indigenous representative footballer.

• A champion whose influence extended well beyond the football field.
   

George Ford's record places him among the great footballers of the Boulder City Football Club.

But ask those who played alongside him, watched him from the boundary or learned the game under his guidance, and the answer is often much simpler. George Ford was one of the best.

Boulder Tigers Digital Museum — Preserving the People, Achievements and Stories of the Black and Gold.