| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frederick Ralph Forman | ||
| Date of birth | 8 November 1873 | ||
| Place of birth | Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 14 June 1910 (aged 36) | ||
| Place of death | Skegness, England | ||
| Playing position | Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Aston-on-Trent | |||
| Beeston Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1892–1894 | Derby County | 4 | (3) |
| 1894–1903 | Nottingham Forest | 158 | (34) |
| National team | |||
| 1899 | England | 3 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Frederick Ralph Forman (8 November 1873 – 14 June 1910) was an English professional footballer, who was one of three members of the same family who started his professional career with Derby County before joining Nottingham Forest and going on to play for England, for whom he made three appearances (scoring twice).
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Forman was born in Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire, the elder brother of Frank Forman and uncle to Harry Linacre and all three followed a similar career path. Forman played youth football for the local village side before moving up to Beeston Town, where he was spotted by Derby County. County signed him in January 1892 but, after only making only four appearances, he was transferred to East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in 1894, where he was soon joined by his brother.
He soon became an established player on the wings for Forest, putting in the crosses for centre-forwards Tom McInnes and Charlie Richards, contributing a handful of goals each season as Forest finished each season in mid-table. Illness and injury restricted his appearances in 1897–98 and he played no part in Forest's FA Cup success in which they defeated Forman's former club, Derby County in the final 3–1.
By the end of he following season, he was restored to fitness and was selected for all three England matches in the 1899 British Home Championship, in all of which he played at outside right with his brother Frank at wing half. He made his international debut in the match against Ireland, played at Roker Park, Sunderland on 2 March 1899 when he and Frank became the first brothers from the same professional club to represent England at the same time,[1] a record that stood until Manchester United's Neville brothers repeated the feat in 1996, nearly a century later. England totally dominated the Irish team and the England forwards "scored at will"[2] with four from Gilbert Smith, three from Jimmy Settle and two each from Fred Forman and Steve Bloomer. Frank Forman also got on the score-sheet with the opening goal as England ran out victors by a 13–2 margin. This is still the record number of goals scored by England in a single match and the highest aggregate goals (15) in a game involving England.[3] Forman retained his place for the next match against Wales, played at Ashton Gate, Bristol on 20 March when he scored the third goal in a 4–0 victory, with two from Bloomer.[4] In his third and final appearance, England defeated Scotland 2–1, and thus England retained the Championship.
Forman continued to appear regularly for Forest over the next few seasons, until he retired in 1903, after making a total of 181 appearances, scoring forty goals.
After retiring from playing, he pursued his profession as a railway draughtsman.[5] He died at Skegness on 14 June 1910, aged 36.