The Big Interview: Tyler Forbes

After becoming a Spennymoor player in Januay, attacking full-back Tyler Forbes outlined his ambitions for his time at The Brewery Field and reflected on his career to date.

It’s a wind-swept Tuesday evening at Bede Sixth Form Centre in Billingham, Moors’ training base on Tuesday and Thursday as preparations for Kettering begin. Tommy Miller arrives early, going through a rigorous routine in the gym upstairs before his coaching commitments take over. Miller then makes his way to the entrance as the players begin to arrive, closely followed by manager Jason Ainsley. Both remain in the reception area ready for the arrival of their new signing, Tyler Forbes, brought in from National League side AFC Fylde. Forbes receives a warm welcome from the management team before sitting down with Moors TV for his first interview with the club.

“I’ve done these before, but I’m not a fan of them.” Forbes echoes the majority of players in their dislike of fronting up the camera lens, but, with a slaloming career at the tender age of 23, he has plenty to say. Originally a right winger in his younger years, Forbes now applies his trade a right-back, still occupying the attacking traits which were a big part of his game in his early years. He began his professional career at Fleetwood, where he spent two seasons after coming through Preston’s academy, featuring for The Fishermen at League One level. “It seems like a long time ago now, but it was enjoyable time in my career to play with that calibre of player at that level of the game. It’s now about getting back that consistency of playing games week in week out, and hopefully that can be the case here at Spennymoor Town.

I was a right winger from the age of six all the way to 18, but then I went to Fleetwood where Graham Alexander was in charge, and he played a diamond in midfield. Obviously, there is no room for wingers using that set-up, so after playing a training game at right back due to Conor Mclaughlin going on international duty, I performed well and have been playing in that position ever since.”

“After speaking with the gaffer I think this could be the perfect move for me at this stage of my career.”

By the end of 2014, the defender had received his senior debut against Yeovil Town and went on to make 17 appearances by the end of the campaign. After signing a new contract with the club, Tyler netted his first goal in his first game of the 2015/16 season in a 4-3 win over Bury. With 38 career senior appearances under his belt, the versatile player was signed by then Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on a two-year deal. Forbes always knew it would tough to break into a second tier first team after joining the Seagulls for a six-figure fee: “In a way it was frustrating to not get a chance at the first team at Brighton, but I am sure everyone is aware how difficult it is to make that step and get that opportunity. I am young and ambitious, and the goal is to try and break into the first team of a club at that level. But for now, I am ready to take my chance here and start playing games. That’s the big thing for me at present.”

Tyler went into the Seagulls’ Development Squad, playing 15 matches before moving on loan to Accrington Stanley the following summer. Following a five-month spell with Stanley, the right wing-back signed for Newport County in the summer of 2018. He made 20 appearances for the Welsh side before joined Salford City on loan. He was most recently on the books of AFC Fylde, joining The Coasters in September 2019.

After several moves across the country in a short space of time, Forbes feels like Moors could be the perfect place for him to settle and get a run of games: “After speaking with the gaffer I think this could be the perfect move for me at this stage of my career. I need a run of games under my belt. If I do well in training, conduct myself right and approach everything with 100% effort, then I will get my opportunity to show what I can do. Jason hasn’t spoken to me about my specific role and how he intends to use me yet. We will have a conversation about that at a later date, but at the moment he wants me to come in and embed myself in the dressing room, meet the lads and get to know the club. Hopefully we can go one better than last season.”

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