Millwall's Forde fond memories of Tolka
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
He may have played in goal for Derry City and his hometown club Galway United, but Ireland international David Forde holds a candle for Shelbourne. But how did Forde come to be a regular visitor to Tolka Park in his youth?
"When I played with Belvedere under 15s I used to come here a lot; I lived down in Marino" Forde explains. "I used to come up at weekends and stay with Tony Lynch. I would come here a lot on Friday evenings ever since I was a young lad."
Forde started out with Galway United before moving on to Welsh side Barry Town and then on to West Ham. The Hammers loaned him out to Derry City in 2003 and the following year he returned to Galway. A further two-season spell with Derry City followed before Forde returned to Wales, signing for Cardiff City.
From his playing days with Derry and Galway, Forde says he has "loads of fond memories" of playing in Tolka Park, speaking after his current side, Millwall, beat Shels 3-0 in a friendly last Monday. "You look at the League of Ireland and Tolka Park was always one of the top grounds" said Forde. "They [Shels] were one of the top clubs at the time, they had some of the top players. It was always one of my favourite places to play."
On his current form with Millwall, Forde is ambitious about the club's future. "We had a fantastic first season back" he says of last season's ninth-placed finish in the Championship- in their first season back in the second tier following promotion from League 1. This season, the mood in the Millwall squad is even more ambitious. "We're expecting at least a top-half finish and hopefully we can break into the top six" states Forde. "We'll give it a go, that's the plan, the aim. We're looking forward to the season ahead and giving it a crack."
Last season's fine form in goal for the Lions saw Forde earn a call-up to the Ireland squad for last March's matches against Macedonia and Uruguay. But Giovani Trappatoni didn't give him his international debut until the Carling Nations Cup defeat of Northern Ireland- when Forde came on for Shay Given. A clean sheet in the friendly against Italy boosted his claims for a spot in the Ireland squad, but Forde admits the task he faces is a difficult one. "It'll be tough but it's great for the country to have three goalkeepers" he says. "Shay has been fantastic for Ireland and Kieran [Westwood] has come in and done well too. I'm just delighted to be involved. Hopefully [after] getting a clean sheet against Italy and getting a couple of caps I can stake a claim myself."
"When I played with Belvedere under 15s I used to come here a lot; I lived down in Marino" Forde explains. "I used to come up at weekends and stay with Tony Lynch. I would come here a lot on Friday evenings ever since I was a young lad."
Forde started out with Galway United before moving on to Welsh side Barry Town and then on to West Ham. The Hammers loaned him out to Derry City in 2003 and the following year he returned to Galway. A further two-season spell with Derry City followed before Forde returned to Wales, signing for Cardiff City.
From his playing days with Derry and Galway, Forde says he has "loads of fond memories" of playing in Tolka Park, speaking after his current side, Millwall, beat Shels 3-0 in a friendly last Monday. "You look at the League of Ireland and Tolka Park was always one of the top grounds" said Forde. "They [Shels] were one of the top clubs at the time, they had some of the top players. It was always one of my favourite places to play."
On his current form with Millwall, Forde is ambitious about the club's future. "We had a fantastic first season back" he says of last season's ninth-placed finish in the Championship- in their first season back in the second tier following promotion from League 1. This season, the mood in the Millwall squad is even more ambitious. "We're expecting at least a top-half finish and hopefully we can break into the top six" states Forde. "We'll give it a go, that's the plan, the aim. We're looking forward to the season ahead and giving it a crack."
Last season's fine form in goal for the Lions saw Forde earn a call-up to the Ireland squad for last March's matches against Macedonia and Uruguay. But Giovani Trappatoni didn't give him his international debut until the Carling Nations Cup defeat of Northern Ireland- when Forde came on for Shay Given. A clean sheet in the friendly against Italy boosted his claims for a spot in the Ireland squad, but Forde admits the task he faces is a difficult one. "It'll be tough but it's great for the country to have three goalkeepers" he says. "Shay has been fantastic for Ireland and Kieran [Westwood] has come in and done well too. I'm just delighted to be involved. Hopefully [after] getting a clean sheet against Italy and getting a couple of caps I can stake a claim myself."
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net. View Full Profile