History of the Club
Thomas Isidore with the assistance of Steven Armoogum and Mark Liburd, created Forest United football club in February 1999. The three football fans quickly established the club via family members, friends and as word spread round. Forest United football club would provide an outlet for people within the local area (Forest Gate, London Borough of Newham and surrounding areas) to play football. Regardless of talent, ability or social background, those interested would be given the opportunity to become a part of a community club.
Season: 1999-2000
Forest United first’s season playing within the Ilford and District league saw the club perform far and beyond what anyone had imagined possible, considering many of the players had never played with each other before and the club had only come into existence. Third place in Division three and reaching the semi-finals of the St Mary’s cup were the highlights of the first season. However disciplinary issues arose during the course of the season and despite being invited by the league to step up to division two at the end of the season along with the top two teams, Thomas felt that the club was not yet ready for the step up in division.
Season: 2000-2001
Before the new season started some players left the club in search of a higher standard of football and also because of the decision taken not to step up to division two. The season became a struggle for Forest United with not enough players being found to replace those that had left in time and this combined with players frustration at the lack of success on the pitch combined to leave Forest United finishing the season at the bottom of division three.
Season: 2001-2002
A complete rebuilding of the team together with a good pre-season placed Forest United in confidence mood for the new campaign in division three. As it turned out there was good reason for it. The club’s highest ever-scoring win (14-2 achieved against West Essex Vets) was during this season. Forest United also went on an unbeaten run between the beginning of January and the end of the season and was the only side in the division not to be beaten by the division champions Newtown Wesley. Too many drawn games however ensured Forest United missed out on promotion and finished fourth overall. The club’s discipline among its players was also outstanding with only one booking throughout the entire season in all competitions played. The end of the season saw changes in the operation of the club and the introduction of outside help to assist in the running of the club.
Season: 2002-2003
After a poor start to the new season, the arrival of Chuck, who coached the club for the remainder of the season combined with a revival in the club’s performances and despite the poor start, Forest once again finished fourth in division three. Due to the first and third place teams being unable to accept promotion Forest United along with the second placed team that season went up into the next division.
Season: 2003-2004
Due to a lack of funds the club were forced to reduce costs and were unable to retain the services of Chuck for the new season. A revamp of the Ilford and District League format saw only three divisions instead of four within the league and Forest United playing in division one. Although the early signs appeared encouraging Forest United were to suffer a tough season, which would see the club in the position of not being able to field the same starting eleven for more than one match, due to player work commitments and injuries as well as losing the services of the goalkeeper. Forest United only manage to win four matches, draw one and lose the remaining fifteen. Hard lessons were learnt during this season and despite finishing second from bottom and being relegated steps were already being undertaken to ensure that the club’s performance would not be repeated in the following season.
Season 2004-05
After a good pre-season, Forest started the season in division two of the Ilford & District league with a league match at home to Trelawny. In a very nerve racking encounter, Forest ended up 3-4 losers. Despite this early set back, Forest United improved and went on to lose only one further match in the period between September and December. Forest United inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the division two leaders East London Celtic during this period and also progressed to the quarterfinal stages of both the Fenton cup and St Mary’s cup.
However, after the return in January from the Christmas break, Forest United performances declined, losing to AFC Kings Vets Academy in the first match of the new year and than being knocked out by Ascot, from division three, in the St Mary’s cup quarterfinal. East London Celtic took their revenge on Forest United, dishing out a 9-3 beating in Goodmayes. Later on in the season, a league match against Gooseley Athletic was abandoned due to a fight breaking out among players from both teams. The fallout from this incident had an impact on the club as nine players became suspended. Forest United however continued to battle on and put up a good performance in the Fenton cup quarterfinal, against Clayhall from the premier division, losing 3-0. In the run-in to the end of the season, Forest United achieved some good results, beating Ryan 8-0 at home and Trelawny 8-3, away. Defeats to Club Catalan (2-1) and AFC Kings Vets Academy (3-1), away from home, meant that Forest United finished in fourth place in division two of the Ilford & District league. Forest United missed out on the automatic promotion places (Awarded to the first & second place clubs), but still achieved promotion into division one, thanks to the changes in club membership within the league.
Season 2005-06
After featuring in an Essex FA charter standard adult club tournament during pre-season, where Forest United was defeated in the final, everyone looked forward to the new season. The additional of a second team was also witnessed, which would be playing in division three of the Ilford & District league for the first time.
The first team had mixed results over the course of the season, starting with an 8-1 defeat of St Francis Res and than encountering defeats in the league cups and league. The reserves started the season with a 7-1 defeat to East Ham Inter and than in the following match was on the end of a 16-0 hammering by Alliance. However despite the first team being bottom of division one in December, by the end of the season they had fought back to finish fourth and banish any thoughts of dropping back down to division two. The reserves struggled throughout the season and failed to win any matches, yet achieved two draws. But this was a major disappointed for all involved with the reserve team since a better performance had been hoped for.
Season 2006-07
The Pre- season build-up started with both teams taking part in the Essex FA 11-a-side tournament for Adult Charter Standard clubs. Although neither team managed to reach the knockout stages, a good time was had by all present.
The season started with defeats for both teams. As things moved on, the first team were unable to establish a clear run of form, winning one match and than losing the next. The reserves also struggled in the early matches, before winning a thriller of a match, 5-4, against Newham Royals. Some of the new players brought into the first team proved to be not of the standard required and it took a while to finally identify the best line-up. The reserves went on to win a few more matches and were also invovled in some close scorelines, in their attempts to improve on last season's performance.
The first team finished sixth in division one, which was two places lower than the previous two seasons while the reserves finished second from bottom, but with a far greater improved goal scored, goals conceded and goal difference overall when compared with the previous season. Also positive was the increase in numbers of reserve team players stepping up into the first team and remaining within the first team. The first team also reached the final of the Supplementary cup, which was played at the end of the season against AFC Kings from the Preimer Division and were only a mere few minutes away from winning the match 1-0, only to suffer the pain of seeing the match go into extra time after AFC Kings scored and than losing 2-1 at the end of both periods of extra time. So, although Forest Utd failed to gain any silverware, plenty of good things for the future were thrown up by this season.
Season 2007-08
The season started with the Forest United first team suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Puma 2000 away, while the Forest United reserve team also lost their first league match of the season away to Dynamo Miguel. Both teams however went on to enjoy some good performances over the course of the season. The first team reached the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy group quarter-final, losing narrowly to May & Baker, before mounting a strong league campaign. Which resulted in them finishing third in division one of the Ilford & District league & securing a move to the premier division. The reserve team reached second place in division three of the Ilford & District league at one stage. Enjoying impressive victories over Newham Royals, Castle United reserves & Midland, the division three champions. However, the reserve team failed to build on their positive results for a number of reasons & once again finished second from bottom in their division. Despite this set back, the reserve team once again achieved an improved goals scored, goals conceded and goal difference overall when compared with the previous two seasons.
The story continues…………………………………………………………………