Craig Forrest

Last updated

Craig Forrest
Personal information
Full name Craig Lorne Forrest
Date of birth (1967-09-20) 20 September 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Coquitlam Bel-Aire City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1985–1997 Ipswich Town 263 (0)
1987–1988 → Colchester United (loan) 11 (0)
1997 → Chelsea (loan) 3 (0)
1997–2002 West Ham United 30 (0)
Total307(0)
International career
1988–2002 Canada 56 (0)
Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner 2000
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Craig Lorne Forrest (born 20 September 1967) is a Canadian former professional soccer player and sports commentator.

Contents

As a player, he was a goalkeeper from 1985 until 2002, playing his entire career in England. He made Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town, Chelsea and West Ham United, whilst also spending time on loan in the Football League with Colchester United. He made 56 international appearances, representing Canada. In 2012 as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team. [1]

Early life

Born and raised in British Columbia, Forrest began playing football at age 12. He first tried goalkeeping when a friend could not make it to a game and he decided to play as a replacement. He began playing with Coquitlam Bel-Aire City and also played for the BC U-16 and U-18 provincial teams. He was scouted by scouts from England and, in 1984, he travelled to England, signing a two-year apprenticeship deal with Ipswich Town at the age of 17 and soon after was training with the English national youth team. [2]

Club career

Ipswich Town

Forrest joined English league side Ipswich Town in 1984 and remained with the club until 1997, making 263 league appearances. Forrest saw his first first-team action with 11 appearances on loan to Colchester United in the 1987–88 season. From 1988 to 1989 through to 1996–97, Forrest was in the Ipswich Town goal, including during the 1991–92 season when the club won promotion to the newly established Premier League by winning the old Football League Second Division. Forrest was ever-present that season. He was also one of only 13 foreign players to play on the opening weekend of the FA Premier League along with John Jensen, Jan Stejskal, Anders Limpar, Peter Schmeichel, Andrei Kanchelskis, Robert Warzycha, Eric Cantona, Ronnie Rosenthal, Michel Vonk, Gunnar Halle, Roland Nilsson and Hans Segers.[ citation needed ] He was the goalkeeper for what was then the heaviest Premiership defeat in history when Ipswich lost 9–0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 1995.

His goalkeeping helped Ipswich beat United (then in the early years of their period of dominance of English football) on one occasion in the first three seasons of the Premier League in a 3–2 victory there in September 1994 - as well as holding them to draws at Old Trafford in August 1992 and November 1993 - on the latter occasion he ensured that Ipswich were one of just three sides who visited United in the league without conceding a goal that season. He was voted Goalkeeper of the Month in the Premier League for October 1994, and around this time an offer of around £2 million from an unnamed club for Forrest's services was rejected by Ipswich. He remained loyal to the club despite their relegation at the end of that season, and stayed there for another two seasons. [3]

Forrest went on loan to Chelsea from Ipswich in 1997, playing in the same team with the likes of Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola under the guidance of manager Ruud Gullit. A permanent move to Chelsea was turned down by the Ipswich Board of Directors.

West Ham United

Forrest signed for West Ham United in the summer of 1997 for £500,000. [4] Forrest played a number of first-team games in the FA Premier League in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the east Londoners, remaining at Boleyn Ground until his retirement from football in 2002. On 1 April 2000 he was again the goalkeeper for a big defeat by Manchester United. Although West Ham scored first, the game finished 7–1 to Manchester United. [5] In 2001, Forrest was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He beat the disease, but was advised by his doctors that he would no longer be able to play, culminating in Forrest retiring in 2002. [6]

International career

Forrest played at the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup [7] and made his debut for the Canada senior team in a May 1988 friendly match against Chile. He earned 56 caps (excluding the May 1990 North American Championship match against the US), the most of any goalkeeper in the national team's history tied with Pat Onstad and earned the most clean sheets in the country's history before retiring from international football in 2002. The highlight of his international career was undoubtedly helping Canada win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which Forrest was named tournament MVP and Most Valuable Goalkeeper for allowing a mere three goals and stopping two penalties in his side's five games. Also during his international career Canada had secured a 1–1 draw against Brazil only a month prior to the World Cup in the US in 1994. Forrest had further success against Brazil in 2001, recording a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw in the 2001 Confederations Cup in Japan. In 2012, Forrest was voted by the fans into the Canadian best XI in the CSA's first 100 years.

Media career

Forrest began working as a sports analyst with Rogers Sportsnet (now Sportsnet) upon his retirement from playing. He appears[ when? ] frequently[ clarification needed ] as a broadcaster for the men's national team and Toronto FC on Sportsnet as well as Sportsnet's Soccer Central Matchday. Forrest is now[ when? ] the Canadian FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children's Villages.

Honours

Ipswich Town

West Ham United

Canada

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Howard</span> American soccer player (born 1979)

Timothy Matthew Howard is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He is the minority owner of USL Championship club Memphis 901, as well as an international ambassador in the U.S. for Premier League club Everton. Howard is regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer in Canada</span>

In Canada, soccer is the most popular sport in terms of participation rate; according to FIFA's Big Count, almost 2.7 million people played in Canada in 2006. Professional soccer in Canada is played in the Canadian Premier League and Major League Soccer. Canada also has many semi-professional and amateur soccer leagues. Canada's men's and women's national soccer teams are ranked 49th and 9th respectively in the FIFA World Rankings as of April 4, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada men's national soccer team</span> Mens national soccer team representing Canada

The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions since 1924. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association, the governing body for soccer in Canada. They have been a member of FIFA since 1948 and of CONCACAF since 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobi Jones</span> American soccer player

Cobi N'Gai Jones is an American former professional soccer player and commentator. He is an analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. He has also been seen on Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Fox Sports, BeIN Sports, the Pac-12 Network, and as the host of the Totally Football Show: American Edition. In addition, during the 1990s, he hosted the health show Mega-Dose on MTV.

Neil Shaka Hislop CM is a football commentator and former player who played as a goalkeeper. Born in England, he played for them at under-21 level before representing Trinidad and Tobago at senior international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Yallop</span> Soccer player and coach (born 1964)

Frank Walter Yallop is a British-Canadian professional soccer coach and former player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Onstad</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1968)

Patrick Stewart Onstad is a Canadian former professional soccer goalkeeper who serves as the General Manager of the Houston Dynamo. During his career, Onstad played with a variety of clubs in Canada and the United States and was a three-time winner of MLS Cup. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in November 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Stalteri</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1977)

Paul Andrew Stalteri is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a defender or midfielder. He spent most of his professional career in Germany, winning the league and cup double with Werder Bremen in the 2003–04 season. Stalteri also played football in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason de Vos</span> Canadian soccer player

Jason Richard de Vos is a Canadian soccer executive, coach, and former player who currently serves as an assistant coach with Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. While representing his country, he was part of the national team that won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Brennan</span> Canadian soccer coach and former player

James Gerald "Jim" Brennan is a UEFA Pro License-holder Canadian soccer coach, analyst and former player. During his playing career he played as a defender in Canada and England, most notably with Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton F.C. Norwich City and Toronto FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin McKenna</span> Canadian former professional soccer player (born 1980)

Kevin James McKenna is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a centre back and current assistant manager of 1. FC Köln. Occasionally, he also played as a central midfielder or striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada women's national soccer team</span>

The Canada women's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association, the governing body for soccer in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Corazzin</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1971)

Giancarlo Michele "Carlo" Corazzin is a Canadian retired professional soccer player who played as a forward for Winnipeg Fury, Vancouver 86ers, Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic and Vancouver Whitecaps at club level. At international level, he was capped 59 times for the Canada national team, scoring 11 goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Howard (soccer)</span> Former soccer player (born 1943)

Richard James Howard is a retired professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He moved to Canada from England in 1967 and went on to appear for Canada internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doneil Henry</span> Canadian soccer player

Doneil Jor-Dee Ashley Henry is a Canadian former professional soccer player. He currently serves as the Sporting Director of League1 Ontario club Simcoe County Rovers FC, with whom he is also a co-owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxime Crépeau</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1994)

Maxime Crépeau is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers and the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Turner (soccer)</span> American soccer player

Matthew Charles Turner is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Crystal Palace, on loan from Nottingham Forest, and the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kailen Sheridan</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1995)

Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan is a Canadian professional soccer goalkeeper for National Women's Soccer League club San Diego Wave and the Canada national team. She previously played for Sky Blue FC / NJ/NY Gotham FC and played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers. She was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year with the Wave in 2022.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is North America's major tournament in senior men's soccer and determines the continental champion. Until 1989, the CONCACAF Championship was the regions' primary competition. It is currently held every two years. In earlier editions, the continental championship was held in different countries, but since the inception of the Gold Cup in 1991, the United States have hosted or co-hosted every tournament. Since then it has expanded to more countries in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dayne St. Clair</span> Canadian soccer player

Dayne Tristan St. Clair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United and the Canada national team.

References

  1. ↑ "Association announces All Time Canada Men's XI Canadasoccer.com". Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Beck, Jason. "Craig Forrest". BC Sports Hall of Fame.
  3. ↑ "Canuck keeper shines for Ipswich". Toronto Star. 9 November 1994. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net". www.sporting-heroes.net.
  5. ↑ "Manchester United 7-1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 1 April 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Canadian keeper Craig Forrest retires from soccer". CBC. 25 July 2002. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Record at FIFA Tournaments - FIFA
  8. ↑ "Intertoto win gives Hammers Uefa spot". BBC. 24 August 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Trinidad & Tobago And The Netherlands Antilles Will Kick Off The 2002 FIFA World Cup". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 15 March 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.