Two London winters were enough for Jordy Ford, his return to Gunnedah late last year after some 30 months living and working in the English capital a warm embrace both weather and lifestyle wise.
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The 28-year-old’s life has come full circle as he effortlessly slipped back into his pre-travel existence. Like putting on a favourite pair of shoes.
He’s back working as a self-employed carpenter, has resumed boxing training ahead of his fourth amateur bout and is back at the Gunnedah Bulldogs in preparation for the new season.
The lock forward last played for the Bulldogs in 2014, when North Tamworth beat them in the grand final.
“It’s good to be back,” he said. “There’s plenty of work in town, and it’s good to see the family and old mates again.”
“I did two winters [in London] and I couldn’t do another one,” he added. “It’s definitely a struggle. I’d get up at 7am [to work as a carpenter] and it was dark, and I’d get home at 3.30pm and it was dark. It gets to you after a while.”
The weather aside, Ford described the experience as the “time of my life” . “Bloody oaf, I had a great old time,” he said.
He travelled a lot and played two seasons of league with Hammersmith Hills Hoists, a collection of expat Aussies and Kiwis. The side plays in the South Premier division of the Rugby League Conference, and they won the grand final last season after losing the grand final the previous year.
Ford said the good teams in the competition played at a standard comparable to Group 4 first grade.
He has returned to Gunnedah for the launch of the revamped first-grade competition. He likes the look of the team the Bulldogs have assembled. And he likes the look for Bulldogs coach Sean Hayne, who led the side to the preliminary final last year in his debut season in charge.
“I’m very impressed with Sean Hayne. He’s no nonsense,” Ford said. “There’s no guys who are gonna get special treatment, that’s for sure. Which I think has been the problem at Gunnedah for a lot of years. They’re putting a pretty good culture into the club.”
It was thought Ford would again pack down with former Bulldogs captain-coach Trent Hilton, who missed last season through injury. But Ford said Hilton would not play this season because of work and family commitments.
Group 4’s opening round is on April 28-29. The Bulldogs host Narrabri at home on April 29.
“For sure,” Ford replied when asked if he was ready to go. “I’m definitely looking forward to that first game.”