SHARED values on rugby league have contributed to James Ford being named York City Knights’ new skipper.

Alex Benson, who led the team last year, will continue as club captain, as revealed by The Press yesterday, but new player-coach Chris Thorman is giving the armband on match-days to former Castleford, Sheffield and Widnes centre Ford.

The pair will form part of a new leadership group also comprising two vice- captains to be confirmed.

Ford, 29, was appointed to the backroom team this off-season when named as under-18s coach, and Thorman reckons he is the ideal candidate for additional responsibility in the first team too – not least because of his beliefs on professionalism.

“He buys into the philosophy at the club that I’m trying to create,” said Thorman when explaining his appointment. “That’s the most important one for me. He realises what I’m trying to build and he’s a good one to preach that gospel. We’ve got to be singing off the same page.”

Asked what that gospel was, Thorman said: “We’re regarded as a semi-professional team in a semi-professional competition, but I hate that because we get paid and that means we’re professional. Therefore your life still needs to be based around what you can achieve on the pitch.

“If you can change your lifestyle to be better on the pitch then do it. You’ll be a better person, a better player and you’ll live your life better. I want it to be that big a deal. We also have similar beliefs on how the game should be played and on the specifics of the game.”

Ford, who arrived at Huntington Stadium on loan from Super League-bound Widnes at the end of April and made the switch permanent in September, also coached Wakefield College to National Colleges Cup glory last year.

“He’s going to be on the field for the 80 minutes, which is important,” said Thorman, pointing out a reason why he chose not to give the armband to a front-rower such as Benson.

“He’s also one of our better players. He was a marquee signing. He’s also a good guy and a likeable character.

“He often has the right thing to say and is educated on rugby league. For the most part they listen to him. He’s a scholar of the game and he’s a good coach, which helps. He knows the specifics of the game and he helps with the coaching. He’s a good go-between from the players and the staff.

“He’s played in Super League before and he’s got the players’ respect. He was quite surprised when I told him but for me he was an obvious choice.”

As captain, Ford will also be an intermediary between the players and the referee on the field in matches. Thorman said: “He understands that responsibility. It’ll help having a head coach (Thorman himself) next to him as well. I get on well with him as well and he understands the role.”

Thorman was at the launch of the 2012 Northern Rail Cup in Leeds yesterday, when it was announced the train operator, which has offices in York, would also sponsor the competition in 2013.