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ANTHONY FORDE
Ballingarry AFC starlet Anthony Forde began pre-season training with English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 2009 to become the first player from the schoolboy ranks of Ballingarry AFC to make the move to the professional ranks overseas.
The Ireland schoolboy international began training with Wolves youth team and played with their under 16 side.
Anthony who had just sat his Junior Certificate in Colaiste na Trocaire, Rathkeale when he moved, is a son of Noel and Christine and has one brother Kevin and a sister Leanne who both played football with Ballingarry AFC.
“We are delighted, it’s a great honour for Ballingarry AFC and the Limerick Desmond Schoolboy league” Anthony’s father Noel explained.
While Anthony had played for Ireland under 15s he also had 8 caps for the under 16 side by the time he moved to Wolves.
While a host of English clubs showed an interest in Forde with visits to Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Aston Villa it was Wolves who won the race for his signature.
Ballingarry AFC Chairman Pascal Moynihan was loud in his praise for the player.
“Anthony has played with Ballingarry since he began to come to the pitch as a five year old and has played with the club all the way up along”, said the club Chairman.
“This is fantastic for him and for our club; he is a very talented young man and as well as that he is a lovely boy and has a great attitude".
His club manager from his earliest days at the club John Clancy, said "You could see from the earliest point that the boy had a talent for the game, this coupled with a truly fantastic attitude made him stand out on the field. I have no doubt that Anthony will progress to the top and I expect him to wear the green of Ireland at senior level in the near future.”
.: Player Profile:
Born: November 16 1993.
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Makes his debut for Ballingarry AFC under 10 sides during season 1998/99 aged just six. (Click on small images to view pop-ups) |
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His career continues with the 10s through the 2001/02 season... |
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...to the 2002/03 season... |
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...until he finally gets his first winners medal with Ballingarry AFC when the LDSL Division 1 title in 2003/04 |
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Anthony got his first taste of “International” football at the tender age of 10 when he was part of the under 10 and 12 Ballingarry teams that hosted Damascus Stingers from Maryland USA in a test series hosted by Ballingarry AFC. |
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More “International” recognition followed in April 2004 when he travelled with Ballingarry AFC to Maryland USA for a return series against “The Stingers” |
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The Under 11 cup final of 2004/05 brings his second winners medal in the Green and Gold of Ballingarry AFC when the cup is secured in May 2005. |
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His next visit to the winners enclosure was in May 2006 when his Ballingarry side lifted the under 13 cup at Clonreask. |
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By now he was a major part of the LDSL Under 13 Kennedy Cup squad having already captained the side in a Munster final he would receive a winners medal with the squad in June 2006 from the Shield 2 success. |
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No medals for Forde at under 14 level |
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In fact honours wouldn’t return for him with the club until season 2008/09 when he was part of the Ballingarry side that completed the under 16 and under 17 cup double... |
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...where his performance won him the man of the match award |
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2009 has proved a huge year in his life. In addition to being awarded the LDSL under 16 player of the year award he also received the Ballingarry AFC under 15 player of the year award |
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While moving to Wolves is of course a major step in his life he also played at three different age groups for the Republic of Ireland |
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He debuted for the under 15s against Wales and palyed against Northern Ireland in the Tri-Nations tournament in May while in the under 16s he made his debut against Serbia in the Gradisca Tournament in Portugal |
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Anthony in action in an Ireland shirt for the U17s |
Then in August he was called up to the under 17 squad, while still just 15, for the Syrenka International Cup in Poland where he played against Sweden in his debut (2/9/09) and Romania (4/9/09). Finally on August 19th 2009 Ballingarry AFC said goodbye to Anthony Forde with a function in his honour at the Woodlands Adare which was attended by the club officials, his family and team mates where the club made a presentation of a laptop to the player.
During September 2009 Forde enjoyed a scoring debut with Wolves under 16 side when getting the equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Derby County. Unfortunately he also sustained a foot injury that restricted his movement, however it didn't keep him out of the side for the next game.
He has made steady and impressive progress and has settled well.
October 2009 Update:
After recovering fully from the foot injury sustained in September it was back to business with Wolves 16s side and a trip to Qatar to take part in the Aspire Academy invitational tournament.
He played a part in both games which unfortunately they lost before returning to Wolverhampton where he featured against both Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City.
During his mid term break he returned home to Ballingarry to attend the clubs 25th anniversary dinner in Adare on October 25th.
November 2009 has proved to be a month of activity for Forde seeing him feature in several games for Wolves.
He scored a goal as Wolves beat Everton (2-1) and featured against Manchester City (loss) Liverpool (lost 4-0) and Crewe (won 2-1). He was also called into the youth squad for the FA youth cup defeat at Liverpool (2-0).
He finally signed on his sixteenth birthday for Wolves and they are now awaiting the return of his registration. He had settled well at college while he had remained injury free.
December has proved to be a barren month for Anthony Forde as the weather has insured that all activity on the pitch was suspended. The highlight for the lad was coming home for the Christmas period, spending ten days in Ballingarry with his family.