Forde: Stephen (Steve)

WW2 Guest: 1944-1945 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Left Back

Born: South Kirkby: 29-08-1914

Debut v Chesterfield (h): 02-04-1945

Height & Weight: Unknown

Forde started with his local team South Elmsall before joining First Division Sheffield Wednesday in January 1933. He did not make the senior team at Hillsborough and moved to Third Division North Rotherham United in April 1933. He soon established himself at Millmoor and scored one goal in one hundred and sixteen League games and also played in eight F.A. Cup ties and scored once in four other games, before moving to Second Division West Ham United in January 1937. He made his debut for the Hammers in a 1-3 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 2nd April 1938 and played the remaining five games of that season and he had made seven appearances for the Hammers, before the Second World War brought an end to the Football League fixtures. He guested with West Ham during the War years and played four War-time League and two War-time Cup games. He also guested for several clubs durimg the Second World War. Two of his War-time League appearances came in the 1939-40 season and one each in 1941-42 and 1945-46. He played eight games for Doncaster Rovers in 1940-41 and six with Rotherham United in 1942-43. He played once for Swindon Town in 1945-46, and also guested for Leeds United, playing two games at Left Back in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship) in two consecutive matches in a 0-2 home defeat by Chesterfield on 2nd April 1945 and a 0-3 away defeat at Grimsby a week later. However it was with Hartlepool United that he accumulated the most war-time games, playing nine in 1943-44, thirty-six in 1944-45 and eight in 1945-46. When the War ended Forde returned to Upton Park and continued his career as the regular Left Back for the Hammers until he retired in 1951. He made a total of one hundred and seventy League appearances and also played six F.A. Cup ties in his time at Upton Park. He scored just one goal, which came in a 2-0 home victory over Bury on 7th February 1948 and he played his final game for West Ham on Boxing Day 1951 in a 1-6 defeat at Luton Town. After he left the Hammers, he joined Western League club Penzance as Manager. He died in 1992.