Shaq Forde
Shaqai Tyreece Steven Forde (born 5 May 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers. Early lifeShaqai Tyreece Steven Forde[2] was born on 5 May 2004 in Watford, Hertfordshire.[1] He is the son of former footballer Fabian Forde[3] and is of Barbadian descent through his father, who played for the Barbados national team.[4] CareerWatfordForde started his career with Watford in 2012.[5] He made his first-team debut on 8 January 2022 aged 17 as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4–1 away defeat to Leicester City in the 2021–22 FA Cup third round.[6] In February 2022, Forde joined Southern League Premier Division South club Kings Langley on a one-month loan.[7] He made his debut on 26 February in a 4–0 home win over Wimborne Town in the league, in which he scored a goal 10 minutes into the match, won a penalty kick and recorded an assist.[7] The loan was extended by a further month in March[8] before Forde was recalled by Watford on 1 April to join first-team training,[9] having scored two goals in three appearances for Kings Langley.[10] A successful 2021–22 season saw him named Watford's Young Player of the Season[11] before signing a professional contract with the club in July.[12] Forde joined National League club York City on 28 December 2022 on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[13] He scored in the 90th minute of his debut on 2 January 2023 with a shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal as York drew 2–2 away to Gateshead, after entering the match as a 66th-minute substitute.[14] Five days later, on his first start for the team, he scored a hat trick, helping York City to a 4–1 home win over Maidstone United.[15] He had a successful spell at York City, scoring nine goals in 20 appearance.[16] On 14 August 2023, Forde joined League One club Leyton Orient on a season-long loan deal.[17] On 26 August 2023, his second appearance for the club, Forde scored a first senior English Football League goal as he opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United.[18] Bristol RoversOn 30 August 2024, Forde signed for League One club Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee on an initial three-year deal.[19] On 5 October 2024, he scored his first goal for the club, equalising in an eventual 3–1 victory over Burton Albion.[20] In October 2024, Forde was racially abused on social media following a match.[21] Ahead of the club's following league match, fan podcast GasCast set up a crowdfunder to purchase two flags to go on display at the club's Memorial Stadium representing fans' commitment to diversity and inclusion.[22][23] Style of playForde plays as a forward and in March 2022 described himself as being "creative, powerful and always looking to go forwards".[24] Career statistics
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