Steve Forde (footballer)

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]

For the Stoke City player, see Steve Ford (footballer).

Steve Forde
Forde at West Ham United
Personal information
Full name Stephen Forde[1]
Date of birth (1914-08-29)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(s) Defender
Youth career
South Kirkby Common Road
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1933 South Kirkby
1933 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1933–1937 Rotherham United 116 (1)
1937–1952 West Ham United 170 (1)
Teams managed
Penzance
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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]

Notes
  1. Registered in Q3 1992 in the now-defunct registration district of Claro.[2]
  2. Many contemporary sources prior to Forde joining West Ham United give his surname as Ford. This spelling was used in West Ham's initial announcement of his signing,[3] and thereafter corrected.[4]

References
  1. "Steve Forde". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. Marsh, Steve. "Steve FORDE ... (1938–1951)". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  3. West Ham United Reserves v Chelsea Reserves Official Programme. West Ham United F.C. 9 January 1937.
  4. West Ham United Reserves v Southend United Reserves Official Programme. West Ham United F.C. 20 February 1937.
  5. Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  6. "Wednesday Sign A Centre Half". Sheffield Independent. 11 January 1933. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. West Ham United v Luton Town Official Programme. West Ham United F.C. 25 December 1951.
  8. "Rotherham United". Sheffield Independent. 16 March 1933. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "South Kirkby Colliery (Almost) Complete History". Matthew Thomas. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  10. "Transfer Market". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 14 January 1937. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Big Fee for Ford". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 14 January 1937. p. 19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 84. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  13. "Steve Forde". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  14. "West Ham in Thriller". Sports Argus. 25 May 1940. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Today's Football". Liverpool Daily Post. 1 June 1940. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Pools Team". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 24 September 1943. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Other Records". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  18. "Steve Forde". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  19. "Stoke Player Joins Trinity". Lincolnshire Echo. 29 July 1938. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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