Jamie Forrester... Who are ya!?

Last updated : 12 June 2008 By Dane Vincent

Forrester began his career with AJ Auxerre at the age of just 16, in an attempt to kick-start his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Without making any appearances for the French side, the Bradford born front-man returned to England after just one year.

Cup winner: Forrester helped Leed United win the FA Youth Cup...
Upon his return to home soil, Forrester teamed up with Premiership outfit, Leeds United after they forked out £60,000 to secure his services. Although he only played 11 games for the Whites' first-team, his time at Elland Road was quite memorable.

Forrester was part of the Leeds youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1993, beating a star-studded Manchester United side 4-1 over two legs in the final. The promising youngster managed to get his name on the score sheet in both of these encounters to help clinch the silverware.

During his last two years at Leeds, the five-foot-seven striker found himself loaned out to Southend United and Grimsby Town, who later signed him on a free transfer in 1995. During his two year spell with the Mariners, he made 47 appearances, scoring just nine goals. His efforts were still enough to see him scoop the Young Player of the Year award in his first season.

His tenure at Grimsby's local rivals, Scunthorpe United proved to be more fruitful, as he found the back of the net on 43 occasions throughout three campaigns. Ever since, the well travelled journeyman has been a regular on the score sheet near enough everywhere he has played.

Forrester's next destination was Holland - signing for FC Utrecht under the Bosman ruling. Again, he had little success on foreign soil, featuring just once as a substitute for the Dutch side.

Forrester was later loaned out to Walsall, followed by another at Northampton Town, who later splashed out £150,000 on the former-England schoolboy international. This turned out to be money well spent, as he bagged 17 league goals in back-to-back seasons, and another five in 18 starts the year after, helping Scunthorpe to a third place finish in Division 3 (League Two).

Peter Taylor was the next manager to take an interest in the consistent goal-scorer, offering him a deal at the upcoming Hull City. His spell with the Tigers was somewhat frustrating, however, as he rarely started, making only 17 starts over two seasons.

Bristol Rovers ended this misery, by signing Forrester two years later. He nearly joined the Pirates four years earlier, but Northampton rejected their £300,000 bid.

His nine goals in 23 starts was not enough to impress Rovers' boss, Paul

Impressive: County's latest signing regained his scoring touch at Lincoln City
Trollope, who shipped him out on loan to League Two rivals, Lincoln City.

Forrester found himself back to his best after a successful loan period at the Imps, in which he netted five times in just nine outings. He later went on to score a further 18 times last season, and then 12 this time around in a struggling Lincoln side. Even to repeat this season's total would be a huge improvement on the Magpies' most recent contributors.

Notts managed to secure the 33-year old's signature from under the nose of City, despite Forrester claiming that he was hopeful of a new deal back in January. Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo, he explained: "I'm going to be out of contract in June, but like all of the lads, I am really happy here.

"I'm desperate to win a new deal here [at Lincoln], but if we are relegated then I know there will not be a new deal on the table."

Five months later, Forrester has turned down a one-year deal at Lincoln to team up with Ian McParland's squad for the forthcoming campaign. He is the second arrival of the summer, following in the foot-steps of the returning Michael Johnson.

Credit has to be given to the management team for finally securing a proven goal-scorer at this level.

MAD Fact: Jamie Forrester runs his own football academy aimed at primary school children in Lincoln. Notts' latest signing started the coaching school in October, 2007 with the aim of getting as many youngsters involved in the game as possible.