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Players Index Page Last Updated
9 July 2023
 
 

Jimmy Forrest

Blackburn Rovers FC

11 appearances, 0 goals

P 11 W 6 D 3 L 2 F 38: A
11
68
% successful

1884-91


captain:
none

minutes played:
990

Timeline

  James Henry Forrest
Birth Friday, 24 June 1864 at 24 Pemberton Street, Blackburn, Lancashire
  registered in Blackburn July-September 1864.
Baptism 17 July 1864 at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Blackburn, Lancashire, living at 24 Pemberton Street, Blackburn. Baptism by T. Buxton (Curate).
 

According to the 1871 census, James H. is the youngest of five children to Samuel and Ann (née Holden). They live at 14 Dugdale Street in Blackburn. His father is a cotton weaver.
(His father died in the middle in 1874)

 

According to the 1881 census, James H. is a heald varnisher, and is living with his brother William and his wife, Margret, at their home at 108 Johnston Street in Blackburn, along with their widowed mother Ann and William's son, also called James.

Marriage to Alice Blackledge, on 26 April 1886, at St. Peter's Church, Blackburn. James is living at 3 Midsummer Street, whilst Alice is living at 103 Johnstone Street
  registered in Blackburn April-June 1886.
"MARRIAGE OF A CELEBRATED FOOTBALLER.—An interesting ceremony took place at St. Peter's Church on [Mon]day morning, when Jimmy Forrest, the celebrated half back in the Rovers team, was married to Miss Blackledge, of St. Barnabas' street. The event has created great interest in the football community, and we heartily join in the many wishes for his future welfare and success." - Blackburn Standard, Saturday, 1 May 1886.
Children Jimmy and Alice Forrest had eight children together. Alice Ann (b.30 January 1887), Elizabeth (b.2 April 1889), Florence (b.6 December 1891), Annie (b.5 November 1893), James Henry (b.28 October 1895), Maria (b.20 November 1887). The other two had been born and died within census periods.
 

(His mother died at the end of 1890)
According to the 1891 census, James H. is now married to Alice and is now an innkeeper with two daughters, Alice and Elizabeth, and one servant. His mother is also living with them, at 11 Darwen Street in Blackburn.

 

According to the 1901 census, still married, James H. and Alice have four more children, Florence, Annie, James and Marie. He is a licensed victualler living at 37 Higher Audley Street in Blackburn.

 

According to the 1911 census, James Henry, still married to Alice, and with five of his children, they live at 29 Copy Nook in Blackburn. James is a bookkeeper at the Mill. The census return also reveals that James and Alice had eight children, two had died.

 

According to the 1921 census, James Henry, still married, and with three of his children, they live at 135 Whalley New Road in Blackburn. James is a Shuttle Wood Turner at the Pickering, Brown & Co wood mill.

  "Illness of J. H. Forrest
"We regret to hear that James Henry Forrest, one of the directors of the Blackburn Rovers, was afflicted with a stroke in the early part of last week. The illness which had overtaken the renowned Rover was a topic of conversation at the inter-League match at Bolton, and aroused much sympathy, especially among those who recalled his playing days. Although his condition has not materially changed in the meantime all those who are devoted to the game will hope for his speedy restoration to health."
- Athletic News, Monday, 9 October 1922.
Death Wednesday, 30 December 1925 at 135 Whalley New Road in Blackburn, Lancashire
aged 61 years 188 days registered in Blackburn January-March 1925

Obituary

"DEATH OF JIMMY FORREST, OF BLACKBURN ROVERS.
"A Blackburn message says Mr. James Henry Forrest, a director of Blackburn Rovers and a famous half-back in his younger days, died to-day. Forrest was a member of Rovers team on five occasions when they won the F.A. cup. He was capped on eleven occasions and was the first professional to play for England against Scotland."
 - Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 30 December 1925
Funeral

Monday, 4 January 1926
Blackburn
"The Late Jimmy Forrest
"Jimmy Forrest, the Blackburn Rovers' director was buried at Blackburn yesterday. The Rovers' players and trainers acted as bearers, fellow directors attended, and amongst the numerous floral tributes from prominent clubs and sportsmen was one from the Blackburn Rovers' players."
- Leeds Mercury, Tuesday, 5 January 1926.
Probate "FORREST James Henry of 135 Whalley New-road Blackburn died 30 December 1925 Probate London 20 March to Alice Forrest widow and James Henry Forrest (the younger) mill furnisher.
Effects £5845 1s. 11d." [2019 equivalent: £358,022].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] Ian-opc.co.uk & 

Playing Career

Club(s) By the time he was twelve, he was captain of local side Imperial United FC. He was first spotted by Blackburn Rovers FC when playing for Witton FC in 1880. After moving on to play for King's Own Blackburn, he was eventually persuaded to join Rovers in January 1883.  Forrest was awarded the club captaincy in August 1886. He joined Darwen FC in the close season of 1895, and the following season, he was assisting Imperial United FC
League History
158 appearances, 3 goals
Blackburn Rovers FC 1888-95 148 appearances, two goals
debut: 15 September 1888 Blackburn Rovers FC 5 Accrington FC 5
Darwen FC 1895-96 ten appearances, one goal
debut (second division): 19 October 1895 Darwen FC 8 Burslem Port Vale FC 2.
last (second division): 25 January 1896 Grimsby Town FC 5 Darwen FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1883-84, 1884-85, 1885-86, 1889-90, 1890-91;
Football League third place 1888-89 (21ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Individual honours None
Distinctions Forrest was aged 19 years and 277 days when he scored his first FA Cup final goal, making him the youngest FA Cup Final scorer at the time, a record he retained for 75 years, until Dicky Dorsett scored for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the 1939 FA Cup Final.
Height/Weight 5' 7", 10st. 4lbs [1891]

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career

Player number 114th player to appear for England.
Position(s) Left/centre-half.
First match No. 22, 17 March 1884, Wales 0 England 4, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 19 years 267 days.
Last match No. 38, 15 March 1890, Ireland 1 England 9, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 25 years 264 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1883-84, 1884-85, 1885-86, 1886-87, 1888-89, 1889-90.
Team honours British Championship shared 1885-86, 1889-90.
Individual honours The North (three appearances, 1885-87 1ᶜ, withdrew in 1890)
The Players (one appearance, January 1886)
The Whites (withdrew in March 1890)
The Stripes (one appearance, March 1891)
Distinctions "A fact that I have not seen recorded in connection with Mr. Forrest's international career is that after being chosen to play for England against Scotland he was offered a sum of not less than £10 to stand down in favour of an amateur." - Lancashire Evening Post, Saturday, 9 January 1926

Beyond England

When he left school, he was working as a tape sizer in the cotton tradeForrest 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. Became a director of Blackburn Rovers FC on 24 March 1906. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.99.


The Numbers
parties Appearances withdrew comp. apps minutes captain
16 11 two 11 990 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
11 6 3 2 38 11 +27 1 4 3.455 1 68.2 +4
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 7 3 2 2 21 8 +13 1 3 3.00 1.143 57.1 +1
Away 4 3 1 0 17 3 +14 0 1 4.25 0.75 87.5 +3

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1883-84 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1884-85 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2.00 0.67 66.7 +1
BC 1885-86 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 0 0 2.00 1.00 75.0 +1
BC 1886-87 3 2 0 1 13 3 +10 1 2 4.333 1.00 66.7 +1
BC 1887-88 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1888-89 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0 0 2.00 3.00 0.00 -1
BC 1889-90 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1890-91 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC All 11 6 3 2 38 11 +27 1 4 3.455 1.00 68.2 +4

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 11 6 3 2 38 11 +27 1 4 3.455 1.00 68.2 +4
11 6 3 2 38 11 +27 1 4 3.455 1 68.2 +4

Match History

 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - eleven full appearances (990 min) F.A. Committee - seven full appearances (810 min)x

apps match match details comp res rundown pos

Age 19
21 15 March 1884 - Scotland 1 England 0, Cathkin Park, Glasgow
BC
AL reserve
1 22 17 March 1884 - Wales 0 England 4
The Racecourse, Wrexham
AW   cb

the 114th player to appear for England
the sixth player from Blackburn Rovers FC to represent England
the third youngest player to represent England - so far
the youngest player to represent England competitively - until 1886

Age 20 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, January 1885.

2 23 28 February 1885 - England 4 Ireland 0
Manchester Football Ground, Manchester
BC HW   hb
3 24 14 March 1885 - England 1 Wales 1
Leamington Street, Blackburn
BC HD   hb
4 25 21 March 1885 - England 1 Scotland 1
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
BC HD   cb
  

Age 21 trial  
two appearances - The Players vs. The Gentlemen, 16 January 1886. The South vs. The North, 30 January 1886;

5 27 27 March 1886 - Scotland 1 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow

BC
AD   hb
6 28 29 March 1886 - Wales 1 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham
AW   hb

Age 22 trial  
one appearance - The Northᶜ vs. The South, 22 January 1887.

7 29 5 February 1887 - England 7 Ireland 0
Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Sheffield
BC HW   lh
8 30 26 February 1887 - England 4 Wales 0
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
BC HW   lh
9 31 19 March 1887 - England 2 Scotland 3
Leamington Street, Blackburn
BC HL   lh

  F.A. International Selection Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x

Age 23
32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5, Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe BC AW withdrawn
33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AW withdrawn
  

Age 24
10 37 13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
BC HL   lh

Age 25 trial  
withdrew - The South vs. The North, 13 January 1890;

11 38 15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast
BC AW   lh

trial  
withdrew - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890;

40 5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AD reserve
  

Age 26 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1, Ewood Park, Blackburn BC HW reserve
  


   

 
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