| Steve Forde | |
| Fullname: | Stephen Forde |
| Birth Date: | 29 August 1914 |
| Birth Place: | South Kirkby, Yorkshire, England |
| Death Place: | South Kirkby, Yorkshire, England |
| Youthclubs1: | South Kirkby Common Road |
| Years1: | –1933 |
| Clubs1: | South Kirkby |
| Years2: | 1933 |
| Clubs2: | Sheffield Wednesday |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1933–1937 |
| Clubs3: | Rotherham United |
| Caps3: | 116 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 1937–1952 |
| Clubs4: | West Ham United |
| Caps4: | 170 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Managerclubs1: | Penzance |
Stephen Forde (29 August 1914 – 1992) was an English footballer who played as a full-back in the Football League for Rotherham United and West Ham United.[1] [2]
Forde began his career as a junior at right-back, captaining his school team,[3] and playing with South Kirkby Common Road,[4] before joining South Kirkby.[5] In January 1933 he joined Sheffield Wednesday,[2] who played Ford as a centre-half. After just two months at Wednesday he moved to Rotherham United,[4] where he only missed two first team matches in four seasons.[6]
In January 1937, West Ham United paid a record fee of around £3,000,[7] to beat many other clubs to the signing of Forde from Rotherham. He was initially recruited for the reserve team as a replacement for Bill Adams. He became a regular for the Irons' second string as a full-back, where he formed a partnership with Alf Chalkley.[3] He made his first-team debut on 2 April 1938, a 1–3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.[8] [9]
During World War II Forde worked in a colliery whilst making guest appearances primarily for West Ham,[10] where he played in the 1940 Football League War Cup semi-final win against Fulham.[11] In 1943 he made guest appearances for Hartlepool United,[12] and also featured for Sunderland and Swindon Town.[3]
After the war, he returned to competitive football with West Ham – his return 7 years, 9 months and 19 days after his previous game remains as the second-longest period between first-team appearances, behind Reg Attwell.[13] He became a regular feature for West Ham and was an ever-present during the 1947–48 season.[8] He retired in 1951 having made 170 Second Division appearances for the club.[14]
After ending his League career in 1951, he spent time as manager of Western League team Penzance.[8]
His younger brother, John, was also a footballer who played for Stoke City and Gainsborough Trinity.[15]