Anton Forrester

Anton Forrester
Personal information
Full name Anton George Forrester[1]
Date of birth (1994-02-11) 11 February 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Liverpool, England[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2003–2012 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2013–2014 → Bury (loan) 28 (6)
2015 → Morecambe (loan) 3 (0)
2016–2018 Port Vale 34 (4)
2019–2020 Radcliffe 10 (0)
Total 77 (12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Anton George Forrester (born 11 February 1994) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward.

A former Everton youth team player, he was signed to Blackburn Rovers in January 2013. He spent the 2013–14 season on loan at Bury, where he scored seven goals in 30 appearances. He suffered a serious knee injury in March 2014, which left him sidelined for nine months. He joined Morecambe on loan in November 2015 and signed with Port Vale in July 2016 after being released by Blackburn. He was released by Port Vale in May 2018 and signed with Radcliffe in August 2019.

Club career

Blackburn Rovers

Forrester was born in Liverpool and attended the Everton Academy from the age of nine.[4] He joined Blackburn Rovers after a trial spell in January 2013, and signed a two-year contract after impressing manager Michael Appleton and reserve team manager Gary Bowyer.[5][6] He made his debut in the FA Cup on 13 March, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Joshua King in a 1–0 defeat to Millwall at Ewood Park.[7]

In July 2013, Forrester joined Bury of League Two on loan until 1 January 2014.[8] He made his debut for the "Shakers" in the opening game of the 2013–14 season, where he came on as a substitute for Ashley Grimes 60 minutes into a 2–0 defeat to Chesterfield at Gigg Lane.[9] On 17 August, he scored his first goal in the Football League, in a 3–0 home win over Accrington Stanley.[10] He then scored in the next game seven days later, in a 2–2 draw at Burton Albion.[11] Three days later, he scored again in the second round of the League Cup, in a 6–3 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road.[12] The following month he scored two goals in two games against Southend United and Dagenham & Redbridge.[13][14] After scoring his sixth goal just 43 seconds into a 2–1 win over York City on 29 December, his loan deal was extended until the end of the season.[15][16] The goal against York was later voted the club's 'Goal of the Season' at the end of season awards dinner.[17] He added a seventh goal to his tally in a 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers on 1 February.[18] However, he suffered a knee injury against Fleetwood Town on 11 March, which brought his season to an end.[19]

Forrester was sidelined for nine months before he recovered from his knee injury.[20] He then struggled with minor hamstring injuries for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.[21] He signed a one-year contract with the club in July 2015.[22] He returned to League Two on a one-month loan at Jim Bentley's Morecambe in November 2015.[23] He made two starts and two substitute appearances during his loan spell. Forrester scored six goals in 17 games for Blackburn Reserves in the 2015–16 season.[21] He was released by new manager Paul Lambert in May 2016.[24]

Port Vale

He signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Port Vale in July 2016 after impressing manager Bruno Ribeiro in a trial game.[25] He scored the opening goal and provided the assist for the second in a 2–0 victory over Southend United on his home debut on 13 August.[26] He picked up a hamstring injury at the start of September, and then aggravated the same hamstring upon his return to action on 1 October, leaving him with another month-long lay-off.[27] He was again forced off upon his return to action on 22 November, having again aggravated the same hamstring injury.[28] He underwent surgery on his Achilles in April.[29]

He picked up a thigh injury at the start of the 2017–18 season which saw him ruled out of action for three months.[30] He had a meeting with the new manager Neil Aspin in November, who stated that "I can only comment since I have been here, but he has got himself fit and his attitude has been fine."[31] He marked his return to action in November with two goals in three appearances, including the equalising goal at Newport County.[32] However, injuries and a lack of confidence restricted his first-team opportunities, leading Aspin to state that "he is a player who possesses a lot of good attributes but it is a case of who can get those attributes out of Anton and can he do it himself?"[33] He was released upon the expiry of his contract in May 2018.[34]

Later career

Forrester joined Sunderland on trial in July 2018.[35] Having gone the 2018–19 season without a club, he joined Jon Macken's Radcliffe of the Northern Premier League Premier Division on 23 August 2019.[36] As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to, from, or within the competition.[37]

International career

In March 2015, Forrester was called up for the England under-19 team but did not play due to injury.[38]

Style of play

Forrestor is a forward who can hold the ball up well and bring others into play.[39] He is strong and aggressive with a good first touch.[40]

Personal life

His elder brother Carl (born 1992), played in the youth teams at Tranmere Rovers and Liverpool, and in the senior teams for non-League sides Southport and Leigh Genesis.[41][42]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2012–13[43] Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2013–14[44] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[45] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[46] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Bury (loan) 2013–14[44] League Two 28 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 30 7
Morecambe (loan) 2015–16[46] League Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 4 0
Port Vale 2016–17[47] EFL League One 21 2 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 24 2
2017–18[48] EFL League Two 13 2 2 0 1 0 1[a] 1[a] 17 3
Total 34 4 3 0 2 0 2 1 41 5
Radcliffe 2019–20[49] Northern Premier League Premier Division 12 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 14 2
Career total 77 12 6 0 4 1 3 1 90 14
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.

References

  1. ^ "Anton Forrester". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2017/2018". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2017/2018". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Blue Boys: Academy striker Anton Forrester joins Blackburn Rovers". Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  5. ^ Wheelock, Paul (20 December 2014). "Blackburn Rovers striker Anton Forrester eager to follow in Ross Barkley's footsteps after overcoming serious injury". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Everton striker Anton Forrester joins Blackburn on free transfer". BBC Sport. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 0 - 1 Millwall". BBC Sport. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Blackburn striker Anton Forrester joins Bury in loan deal". BBC Sport. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Bury 0 - 2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Bury 3 - 0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Burton Albion 2 - 2 Bury". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Norwich City 6 - 3 Bury". BBC Sport. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Bury 1 - 1 Southend United". BBC Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Dagenham & Redbridge 2 - 1 Bury". BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Bury 2 - 1 York City". BBC Sport. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Forrester extends Shakers stay". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  17. ^ "End of Season Awards Dinner". Bury F.C. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Bury 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Forrester returns to Blackburn". Bury F.C. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Young Rovers striker Anton Forrester out for season". Lancashire Telegraph. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Profile". rovers.co.uk. Blackburn Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  22. ^ "Big seasons ahead for young Blackburn Rovers duo Ryan Nyambe and Anton Forrester". Lancashire Telegraph. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Anton Forrester: Blackburn striker joins Morecambe on loan". BBC Sport. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  24. ^ Wheelock, Paul (19 May 2016). "Striker Anton Forester set to leave Blackburn Rovers in the summer when contract expires". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  25. ^ "Port Vale: Jerome Thomas and Anton Forrester latest to join Ribeiro revolution". BBC Sport. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  26. ^ Baggaley, Mike (15 August 2016). "Port Vale: Anton Forrester hoping he's earned first league start". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  27. ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 October 2016). "Port Vale: Anton Forrester ruled out for around three weeks". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  28. ^ Baggaley, Mike (22 November 2016). "Port Vale fear lengthy lay off for Anton Forrester". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  29. ^ Baggaley, Mike (8 April 2017). "Port Vale lose three players to long-term injury, manager reveals". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  30. ^ Baggaley, Mike (17 August 2017). "Vale reveal long-term injuries for Danny Pugh and Anton Forrester". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  31. ^ Baggaley, Michael (7 November 2017). "Port Vale boss Neil Aspin wants Anton Forrester to make his case". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  32. ^ Baggaley, Michael (11 November 2017). "Neil Aspin hails battling Port Vale as they earn 1-1 draw at Newport". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  33. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 February 2018). "Port Vale's Neil Aspin challenges Anton Forrester to fulfil his potential". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  34. ^ "Port Vale: Neil Aspin releases 10 players from struggling League Two club". BBC Sport. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  35. ^ Mennear, Richard (10 July 2018). "Who is Anton Forrester? Profile of striker looking to win Sunderland contract". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  36. ^ Jones, Matthew (23 August 2019). "Anton Forrester Signs for The Boro". www.radcliffefc.com. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  38. ^ "International Thursday". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  39. ^ Baggaley, Mike (22 November 2016). "Port Vale v Oldham: Forrester so important says Ribeiro". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  40. ^ Baggaley, Michael (19 November 2017). "Port Vale review as promotion form eases relegation fears". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  41. ^ "Oh brother! Tranmere and Everton stars Carl and Anton Forrester star for Liverpool Boys". Liverpool Echo. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  42. ^ Lawton, Matt. "Carl Forrester". thefootballnetwork.net. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  43. ^ "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  44. ^ a b "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  45. ^ "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  47. ^ "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  48. ^ "Games played by Anton Forrester in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. ^ "Radcliffe | Appearances | Anton Forrester | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2020.