Forman, Frank - Aston on Trent Footballer was England Captain

Aston on Trent born Frank Forman (1875-1961) - England captain

FRANK FORMAN was one of the select band of men born in Derbyshire who played association football for England. He was England captain on one occasion - on 22 March 1902 against Wales - and in all played nine times for his country between 1898 and 1903.

Frank Forman was born in the Derbyshire village of Aston on Trent on 23 May 1875. He began playing football for the village side when in his teens, and soon graduated to Beeston Town. A talented half-back, he was spotted there by Derby County, and joined the Rams in March 1894.

But alas the Derby committee failed to recognise his potential, and in December 1894, after he had played only 8 League games, the club let him go to their East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest. What a mistake that turned out to be, for by the time he retired in 1905 he had played 265 games for the Reds and scored 23 League goals. To add insult to injury, one of his appearances for Forest was in the 1898 Cup Final when they beat Derby County!

As a result, Frank Forman is one of the most revered figures in Forest's early history, and he later became a key member of the club's committee, serving from 1930 to 1961.

After finishing playing he went into business as a building contractor with his nephew James 'Harry' Linacre - and thereby hangs a tale. Linacre was also born in Aston on Trent and played for Derby County before being sold to Nottingham Forest - and he too played for England.

And the sorry tale of 'lost talent' gets even worse - Frank Forman's brother Fred was born in Aston, signed for Derby County, moved to Forest and played for England! That makes three Aston-ites who all slipped the Rams net and were later capped by England - so much for harnessing local talent.

Frank Forman lived in West Bridgford for the greater part of his life, and died there aged 86 on 4 December 1961.

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