Gerry Forrest
Encyclopedia
Gerald "Gerry" Forrest is a retired English footballer who played at full-back for Rotherham United
and Southampton
.
, Forrest played his youth football with Billingham Town
and was a member of the Stockton Youth Representative team in the mid-1970s.
He then joined South Bank
of the Northern League from where he was invited to Rotherham United
for a trial in February 1977. After making an impression on manager Jimmy McGuigan
, Forrest was signed as a professional and went straight into Rotherham's first team at the start of the 1977–78 season, remaining an automatic choice for several years. In 1981, Rotherham were Third Division
champions but after two seasons in the Second Division
they dropped back down again.
Described as "an exceptionally skilful attacking right back", Forrest soon attracted attention from top clubs, with an offer of £200,000 from Sunderland
being rejected. Eventually, Rotherham agreed to let him move on in December 1985 after Southampton
of the First Division
made an offer of £100,000, although Forrest was by now 28 years old.
At The Dell, Forrest soon justified manager Chris Nicholl
's investment and made the step-up to top-flight football seamlessly. He was a cultured right back who was comfortable on the ball and strong in attack yet had great defensive abilities. He made his debut for "the Saints", when he took the place of Steve Baker in a 3–0 victory over Arsenal
on 7 December 1985, retaining his place for the rest of the season.
Over the next three seasons, he rarely missed a game, until October 1988 when he was replaced by Ray Wallace
in a 2–1 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday
. Wallace's brothers Rod
and Danny
were established members of the Southampton side – this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in the Football League First Division
for 67 years.
Now in his early thirties, Forrest made only the occasional appearance until he sustained a serious knee injury against Wimbledon
on 30 September 1989 which ended his career at Southampton. By the time that he had regained his fitness six months later, Jason Dodd
was beginning to establish himself at right-back and with Aleksei Cherednik also on the books, Forrest was unable to get back into the team and was given a free transfer.
Forrest returned to Rotherham in August 1990 for one final season in League football before dropping down to the lower leagues with Gateshead United.
taking over the reins as caretaker manager in October 1993 (with Tim Parkin
) when Billy McEwan
was dismissed. Forrest and Parkin took charge of the first-team for four matches before Alan Murray
took over permanently.
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Football career
Born in Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, Forrest played his youth football with Billingham Town
Billingham Town F.C.
Billingham Town F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. In 1982, they joined the newly formed Northern League Division Two. They reached the 5th round of the FA Vase in the 1997–98 season. They are currently members of the Northern League Division One.Their home ground is Bedford...
and was a member of the Stockton Youth Representative team in the mid-1970s.
He then joined South Bank
South Bank F.C.
South Bank F.C. is a football club based in Middlesbrough, England. The team was the founding members of the Northern League in 1889, won the FA Amateur Cup in 1913. In the 1925-26 season, they reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, but left from the Wearside League in 1999....
of the Northern League from where he was invited to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
for a trial in February 1977. After making an impression on manager Jimmy McGuigan
Jimmy McGuigan
James "Jimmy" McGuigan was a Scottish professional football player and manager.-Playing career:McGuigan, who played as a wing half, played junior football with Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, before turning professional in 1946 with Hamilton Academical...
, Forrest was signed as a professional and went straight into Rotherham's first team at the start of the 1977–78 season, remaining an automatic choice for several years. In 1981, Rotherham were Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
champions but after two seasons in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
they dropped back down again.
Described as "an exceptionally skilful attacking right back", Forrest soon attracted attention from top clubs, with an offer of £200,000 from Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
being rejected. Eventually, Rotherham agreed to let him move on in December 1985 after Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
made an offer of £100,000, although Forrest was by now 28 years old.
At The Dell, Forrest soon justified manager Chris Nicholl
Chris Nicholl
Christopher John "Chris" Nicholl is an English-born former Northern Ireland international footballer.-Playing career:Nicholl was born in Macclesfield...
's investment and made the step-up to top-flight football seamlessly. He was a cultured right back who was comfortable on the ball and strong in attack yet had great defensive abilities. He made his debut for "the Saints", when he took the place of Steve Baker in a 3–0 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
on 7 December 1985, retaining his place for the rest of the season.
Over the next three seasons, he rarely missed a game, until October 1988 when he was replaced by Ray Wallace
Ray Wallace (footballer)
Raymond George "Ray" Wallace is an English former footballer who played in the Football League and Premier League for Southampton, Leeds United, Swansea City, Reading, Stoke City and Hull City, in the Scottish Football League for Airdrieonians, and in the League of Ireland for Drogheda United...
in a 2–1 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Wallace's brothers Rod
Rod Wallace
Rodney Seymour "Rod" Wallace is a retired English footballer.Wallace played predominantly as a striker or part of an attacking forward line. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 playing 128 league games scoring 45 goals. This form earned him a transfer to Leeds where he won the first...
and Danny
Danny Wallace (footballer)
David Lloyd "Danny" Wallace is an English former footballer who played for Southampton, Manchester United, Millwall, Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers. He won one full cap for England. His football career was ended prematurely by the effects of multiple sclerosis.-Southampton:Wallace was born...
were established members of the Southampton side – this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for 67 years.
Now in his early thirties, Forrest made only the occasional appearance until he sustained a serious knee injury against Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
on 30 September 1989 which ended his career at Southampton. By the time that he had regained his fitness six months later, Jason Dodd
Jason Dodd
Jason Robert Dodd is an English former footballer and manager, who spent most of his playing career with Southampton, where he was briefly First-Team Coach...
was beginning to establish himself at right-back and with Aleksei Cherednik also on the books, Forrest was unable to get back into the team and was given a free transfer.
Forrest returned to Rotherham in August 1990 for one final season in League football before dropping down to the lower leagues with Gateshead United.
Coaching career
In 1992, Forrest joined the coaching staff at DarlingtonDarlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
taking over the reins as caretaker manager in October 1993 (with Tim Parkin
Tim Parkin
Timothy John "Tim" Parkin is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Parkin passed through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers to earn a contract in 1976, in three years with the club he made 13 league appearances...
) when Billy McEwan
Billy McEwan (footballer born 1951)
William Johnston McGowan "Billy" McEwan is a former Scottish football player and now manager. He had a 14 year playing career in the Scottish and English professional leagues, playing for seven different clubs. McEwan then undertook a coaching career; he has managed six different English league...
was dismissed. Forrest and Parkin took charge of the first-team for four matches before Alan Murray
Alan Murray (footballer)
Alan Murray is a former footballer, coach and manager.- Biography :Murray spent the first years of his playing career at Middlesbrough, gradually honing his coaching skills as he struggled to break into the first team...
took over permanently.
Honours
Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
- Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
champions: 1980–81