After retiring as a player, Bamford moved into coaching. In 1972, he joined Dewsbury as assistant coach to Tommy Smales, and was part of the coaching staff when Dewsbury won the championship in the 1972–73 season. Bamford was appointed as head coach when Smales left the club in 1974, but was only in charge for a few months before being replaced by Alan Hardisty. After spending time at Bradford Northern as an assistant to Peter Fox, he joined Halifax in March 1978, who were bottom of the Second Division and hadn't won a game all season. He dramatically turned around the club's fortunes, missing out on promotion by one point in the 1978–79 season. In the following season, Halifax finished second in the league, winning promotion to the First Division. The club also reached the Yorkshire Cup final, but were defeated 15–6 by Leeds.