Steve Forde (footballer)
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stephen Forde[nb 2] (29 August 1914 – 1992) was an English footballer who played as a full-back in the Football League for Rotherham United and West Ham United.[5][6]
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Forde at West Ham United | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Forde[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 August 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | South Kirkby, Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | c. July 1992 (aged 77–78) | ||
| Place of death | South Kirkby, Yorkshire, England[nb 1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| South Kirkby Common Road | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1933 | South Kirkby | ||
| 1933 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | (0) |
| 1933–1937 | Rotherham United | 116 | (1) |
| 1937–1952 | West Ham United | 170 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| Penzance | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Forde began his career as a junior at right-back, captaining his school team,[7] and playing with South Kirkby Common Road,[8] before joining South Kirkby.[9] In January 1933 he joined Sheffield Wednesday,[6] who played Ford as a centre-half. After just two months at Wednesday he moved to Rotherham United,[8] where he only missed two first team matches in four seasons.[10]
In January 1937, West Ham United paid a record fee of around £3,000,[11] to beat many other clubs to the signing of Forde from Rotherham. He was initially recruited for the reserve team as a replacement for Bill Adams.[3] He became a regular for the Irons' second string as a full-back, where he formed a partnership with Alf Chalkley.[7] He made his first-team debut on 2 April 1938, a 1–3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.[12][13]
Wartime football
During World War II Forde worked in a colliery whilst making guest appearances primarily for West Ham,[14] where he played in the 1940 Football League War Cup semi-final win against Fulham.[15] In 1943 he made guest appearances for Hartlepool United,[16] and also featured for Sunderland and Swindon Town.[7]
After the war, he returned to competitive football with West Ham – his return 7 years, 9 months and 19 days after his previous game remains as the second-longest period between first-team appearances, behind Reg Attwell.[17] He became a regular feature for West Ham and was an ever-present during the 1947–48 season.[12] He retired in 1951 having made 170 Second Division appearances for the club.[18]
Coaching career
After ending his League career in 1951, he spent time as manager of Western League team Penzance.[12]
Family
His younger brother, John, was also a footballer who played for Stoke City and Gainsborough Trinity.[19]