Jimmy Forrest

Blackburn Rovers

Early days

Forrest was born in Blackburn and began playing football at school. By the time he was twelve, he was captain of local side Imperial United. He was first spotted by Blackburn Rovers when playing for Witton in 1880. By now he had left school and was working as a tape sizer in the cotton trade. After moving on to play for King's Own Blackburn, he was eventually persuaded to join Rovers in January 1883. At this time there was no organised league system, and Blackburn were restricted to friendly matches and cup tournaments, especially the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Cup, in which they had been finalists in 1882. In his first season with Rovers, they reached the FA cup final with easy victories in the early rounds over Southport Central (7–0), South Shore (7–0), Padiham (3–0) and Staveley (5–1), before meeting Upton Park in the fifth round. This match was won 3–0 and was followed by a 1–0 semi-final victory over Notts County, thus setting up a final appearance against Scottish club Queen's Park, who had defeated Rovers' local rivals, and cup holders, Blackburn Olympic in the semi-final. Forrest was called up for his first England cap for their final match in the inaugural British Home Championship against Wales on 17 March 1884, still aged only 19, replacing Notts County's Stuart Macrae at left half. According to Philip Gibbons in "Association Football in Victorian England", "the Welsh had few answers to the skilful England…

After his playing days ended, Forrest became licensee of the Audley Arms Hotel in Blackburn before becoming the landlord of the County Arms on Darwen Street, Blackburn for many years. He later joined a firm of shuttle peg makers, joiners and mill furnishers. He returned to Blackburn Rovers as an administrator, before becoming a director of the club in 1906. His son, James Henry Forrest, played for Rovers for four seasons in the 1920s. Jimmy Forrest died on 30 December 1925, aged 61. Footnote: One source described Jimmy Forrest as an industrious half-back, whose tough tackling was matched by an intelligent reading of the game that enabled him to anticipate danger and intercept the ball before the opposition could fully develop an attack.

Blackburn Rovers FA Cup winner (5): (1884, 1885, 1886, 1890 and 1891) Lancashire Senior Cup: 1884 and 1885