After leaving Ytterhogdals IK in 1956, Tord made the move to Degerfors to play football in the Swedish 1st Division and work full-time in a steel company, meanwhile studying part-time for a degree in Physical Education.

It was through his work with the steel company that Tord had an opportunity to sample life in Birmingham. They had an office in the West Midlands where Tord was assigned for three months in 1961. Whilst there, not wanting to rest from football, Tord joined Aston Villa and played in a number of matches, most notably appearing as number 10 in Villa's 5-0 Intermediate League win away at Stoke in March of that year.