He is still only 31. With plenty of football years, and exciting challenges, still ahead.
But for former Wolves and Walsall midfielder Anthony Forde, his journey so far, from the small village of Ballingarry in County Limerick to the Premier League, has been quite the story.
A script, perhaps befitting for consideration from Ryan Reynolds and Ryan McElhenney, stars of Hollywood stage and screen and owners of Wrexham, where Forde spent a hugely enjoyable three years.
Perhaps none more so than the night of April 18th, 2023.
Several months previously, and just a few weeks after the joy of the birth of their son Paddy, Forde’s partner and now wife, Laura, had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour after a routine MRI scan.
They were told that the worst case scenario was a grade 3 or 4 tumour. And that she might not have very long to live. At the same time, he was already dealing with the news that his brother Kevin had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Forde immediately took some time away from football. ‘Personal reasons’ was the explanation for the public as the young family somehow tried to come to terms with their world being torn apart. But at Wrexham, they stick together. And Reynolds and McElhanney, were straight on the front foot to step up to help.
As Forde explains: “It was a tough time, the worst time, as you can probably imagine.
“We had been told the worst case scenario, but while we were waiting for the biopsy results, the owners were speaking to us all the time, and suggested we got a second opinion.
“They put us in touch with a leading American neurosurgeon, and his prognosis was far more positive, which helped put our minds at rest a little bit.
“And when the biopsy results finally came back, it was the best news we could have wished for – a grade one tumour which was benign.”
That news came on the day of April 18th, 2023. Having returned to training following several weeks’ absence, Forde was selected for his first start in seven weeks for Wrexham’s home game with Yeovil in the National League. It was a crucial night in the race for promotion, and Forde broke the deadlock on the hour mark to spark a 3-0 win which took the Red Dragons to within a win of returning to the Football League. Which they ultimately achieved.
A script for any Hollywood actor or director to be proud of.
“We went to the hospital to get the results in the morning, and I played in the game in the evening,” Forde recalls.
“I managed to score the first goal – I don’t get that many – and everyone still speaks now about how big that goal was as we just had to win that game.
“It was crazy, but everything that went on in those weeks, and throughout my time at Wrexham, has left me with such a strong connection to everyone there.
