England Football Online
Players Index
Captains Index		 Page Last Updated
20 February 2024
 
 

Frank Forman

Nottingham Forest FC

 9 appearances, 1 goal

P 9 W 7 D 2 L 0 F 32: A 11
89% successful
1898-1903

captain: once
minutes played: 810

Frank Forman

Timeline
  Frank Forman JP
Birth Sunday, 23 May 1875 at The Cottage in Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire
registered in Shardlow April-June 1875
Baptism 20 June 1875 in Aston-on-Trent, by the Rector, James S. Holden
Education Attended Aston-on-Trent National School began on 3 June 1877, left 18 February 1889
 

According to the 1881 census, the five-year old Frank is the youngest of four children, including Frederick, to Ralph and Élise (née Kershaw), a French-born British subject. They all live on the Weston Road in Aston, Shardlow. His father is a farmer of 65 acres, employing two men and two boys.
 

According to the 1891 census, the family of six are all still living in Weston Road and his father is still a farmer.  They now have one servant.
"DEATHS ...FORMAN.—On the 2nd inst., at Aston-on-Trent, Ralph Forman, aged 54 years. Friends please accept this intimation." - The Nottinghamshire Guardian, Saturday, 11 June 1892
 

According to the 1901 census, Frank is one of three, including Frederick, who are living with their widowed mother, who is still running the farm on Weston Road. Frank himself is a builder, and they have two servants.
Marriage to Emilie Hellaby, on Tuesday afternoon, 23 June 1903 at St. Andrew's Church, Litchurch, Derbyshire. Frank was a builder, living at Midland Road in Derby at the time of his banns.
image lifted from Ancestry registered in Derby April-June 1903
"MARRIAGE OF FRANK FORMAN
"Mr. Frank Forman, the well-known International centre half-back, and captain until recently of the Nottingham Forest F.C., was married this afternoon at All Saints' Church, Derby, to Miss Emilie Hellaby, daughter of the late Mr. Hellaby, of Thurlston, and Mrs. Hellaby, of Alvaston, near Derby. Mr. Fred Forman was best man, and the bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Arthur Hellaby. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Jas. Holden, of Aston-on-Trent, of which village the bridegroom is a native. There was a large congregation at the church, some 300 persons being present, and amongst them Mr. W. T. Hancock, and Mr. Harry Hallam, chairman of the committee, and secretary of the Forest Club, and Mr. H. J. Linacre. Afterwards a reception was held at the Midland Hotel, where the presents were displayed. The honeymoon will be spent at Llanberis." - Nottingham Post/Journal, Tuesday, 23 June 1903
"On Tuesday afternoon considerable interest was taken in the wedding of Mr. Frank Foran. The bride was Miss Emilie Hellaby, daughter of Mrs. Hellaby, of Greenhill, Alvaston, near Derby, and the ceremony took place at St. Andrew's Church, Derby, which had been beautifully decorated. The bridegroom was accompanied by his brother, Mr. Fred Forman, who acted as best man, whilst the bride was attended by five bridesmaids, two of them being the daughters of Mr. Arthur Forman, whilst the others were Miss Lillie Hellaby, Miss Bertha Helliwell, and Miss Ida Moore. The bride was attired in a dress of white satin, trimmed with old Brussels lace, and a wreath and spray of orange blossom. The service was fully choral. The officiating clergy were the Rev. J. S. Holden, rector of Aston-on-Trent, and the Rev R.A.H. Hay, vicar of St. Andrew's. After the ceremony a reception was given at the Midland Hotel, where upwards of 100 guests were entertained in a spacious marquee on the lawn." - Belper News & Derbyshire Telephone, Friday, 26 June 1903
Children Frank and Emilie Forman had two children together, Hilda Lilian (b.13 April 1904) and Ralph (b.19 October 1906).

According to the 1911 census, Builder Frank is now married to Emilie, with two children, Hilda and Ralph. Along with two servants, they live at Clovelly, on Wilford Lane in West Bridgford.

Frank became a member of the United Grand Lodge of Freemason's on 3 October 1919.
According to the 1921 census, Frank is still a builder and is still married, and with Ralph, they live at The Mount, on Melton Road in West Bridgford.
(His mother died 18 January 1928 in West Bridgford)
According to the 1939 register, Builder Frank and Emilie are still married living at 131 Melton Road in West Bridgford.
(His wife, Emilie, died on 6 April 1951)
According to the 1957-60 Telephone Directories, Frank, still at The Mount, as is his business company (Forman & Linacre), could be reached at Nottm 23-1151.
Death Monday, 4 December 1961 at The Mount, 131 Melton Road in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
aged 86 years 196 days registered in Basford October-December 1961

Obituary
"THE death has occurred after a short illness of Mr. Frank Forman, the former England international half-back and Nottingham Forest player. He was 86. Mr. Forman joined the Forest committee when his playing days were over and resigned only two years ago on account of his age. He was mad a life member of the club in 1935. His death means that Alf Spouncer, who lives in Southend, is the only surviving member of the Forest F.A. Cup winning side of 1898. Mr. Forman, of The Mount, Melton Road, West Bridgford, was born at Aston-on-Trent. He was the younger of the two brothers, Fred and Frank Forman, and one of the family trio that included Harry Linacre, goalkeeper, who all gained international honours. All three first played for Derby County, but later joined Nottingham Forest." - The Derby Evening Telegraph, Monday, 4 December 1961.
Funeral cremated on Wednesday, 6 December 1961
Probate "FORMAN Frank of The Mount 131 Melton Road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire died 4 December 1961 Probate Nottingham 15 March to Ralph Forman company director and Hilda Lilian Forman spinster. Effects £35094." [2024 equivalent: £648,608].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began his career playing with his local side, Aston-on-Trent FC. He also helped Beeston Town FC and Derby Town FC before joining Derby County FC as an amateur in April 1894. He was allowed to join his brother at Nottingham Forest FC on 23 February 1895...
  "It is a matter of common knowledge that Forest were anxious to obtain from Derby County the transfer of Frank Forman, upon whose services they considered they had first claim. From a full knowledge of the facts, I am able to state that when the amateur joined the County it was with the distinct understanding that he should be able to quit that club and join another should he feel disposed. However, when asked to release him, the County refused to do so, and Frank declared that he would never again kick a ball for them, a resolution to which he has adhered. Then came the League meeting and the decision against the Forest. However, negotiations between the clubs continued, and the outcome was that last Saturday night...Frank Forman became a Forest player. As some compensation to Derby County for the loss they sustain, the Forest willingly released Shrewsbury." - The Football News, Saturday, 2 March 1895.
  Forman, at he insistence of his wife, retired from playing with Forest at the end of the 19002-03 season, but he was convinced to feature in a handful of league matches over the following two seasons and in two FA Cup matches in February 1906.

League honours
226 appearances 24 goals		 Derby County FC 1894-95 eight appearances
debut: 8 September 1894 Derby County FC 4 Nottingham Forest FC 2.
Nottingham Forest FC 1895-1905 218 appearances 24 goals
debut: 16 March 1895 Nottingham Forest FC 3 Bolton Wanderers FC 3
last: 24 April 1905 Nottingham Forest 0 Everton FC 2.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1897-98 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Football League Division One fourth place 1900-01 (27ᵃ 1ᵍ)
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 11", 12st. 7lbs [1901], 6' 0", 12st. 4lbs [1902].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of four who became 236th players (236) to appear for England.
Position(s) Right-half, centre-half;
First match No. 62, 5 March 1898, Ireland 2 England 3, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 22 years 286 days.
Last match
4 years 362 days		 No. 85, 2 March 1903, England 2 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, aged 27 years 283 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1897-98, 1898-99, 1900-01, 1901-02, 1902-03;
Team honours British Championship winners 1897-98, 1898-99, 1900-01, shared 1902-03;
Individual honours The Professionals (one appearance, March 1897)
The North (one appearance, February 1899)
Distinctions Brother to Fred Forman and uncle of Harry Linacre.
Died ten days after George Wilson

Beyond England
A member of the Nottingham Forest FC committee from 21 June 1905 until his 1959. He was in business since 1898 with his nephew, Harry Linacre, as a building contractor (which still exists today in Loughborough). He became Justice of the Peace in West Bridgford from 3 May 1916. Also a councillor within West Bridgford between 1908 until 1920, acting as its chairman 1916-17 - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.98.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
12 9 9 810 1 810 min 1 one
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
9 7 2 0 32 11 +21 0 2 3.556 1.222 88.9 +7
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 6 4 2 0 25 8 +17 0 1 4.167 1.333 83.3 +4
Away 3 3 0 0 7 3 +4 0 1 2.667 1.00 100.0 +3

Captain Record
Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Away 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 0 1 1.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 0 1 1 0 100 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1897-98 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 0 0 3.00 1.50 100.0 +2
BC 1898-99 3 3 0 0 19 3 +6 0 1 6.333 1.00 100.0 +3
BC 1900-01 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1901-02 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 0 1 1.50 1.00 75.0 +1
BC 1902-03 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 9 7 2 0 32 11 +21 0 2 3.556 1.222 88.9 +7

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 9 7 2 0 32 11 +21 0 2 3.556 1.222 88.9 +7
9 7 2 0 32 11 +21 0 2 3.556 1.222 88.9 +7

Match History

 Club: Nottingham Forest F.C. - nine full appearances (810 min) 1ᶜ 1ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - nine full appearances (810 min) 1ᶜ 1ᵍx

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 15 March 1897;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
1 62 5 March 1898 - Ireland 2 England 3
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   rh

one of four who became the 236th players (236) to appear for England
one of two who became the tenth Nottingham Forest FC player to represent England

2 64 2 April 1898 - Scotland 1 England 3
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   rh

Age 23 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 1 February 1899;

3 65 18 February 1899 - England 13 Ireland 2
Roker Park, Sunderland		 BC HW 16 20yards rh

his brother Fred also played for England in this match - the twelfth set of brothers to do so - the eighth set to play in the same match - the first set of brothers to score in the same match

4 66 20 March 1899 - England 4 Wales 0
Athletic Ground, Bedminster		 BC HW   rh
5 67 6 April 1899 - England 2 Scotland 1
Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham		 BC HW   ch

With his brother Fred also playing for England in this match, they become just the second set of brothers to play together in three matches

Age 24
68 17 March 1900 - Ireland 0 England 2, Lansdowne Road, Dublin BC AW withdrew
 

Age 25
72 18 March 1901 - England 6 Wales 0, St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne BC HW withdrew
6 73 30 March 1901 - England 2 Scotland 2
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HD   ch

Age 26
74 3 March 1902 - Wales 0 England 0, The Racecourse, Wrexham BC AD withdrew
7 75 22 March 1902 - Ireland 0 England 1
Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast 		BC AW won toss ᶜrh

the 29th player to captain England

void 5 April 1902 - Scotland 1 England 1, Ibrox Park, Glasgow BC AD   ch
8 76 3 May 1902 - England 2 Scotland 2
Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham		 BC HD   ch
 

Age 27
9 78 2 March 1903 - England 2 Wales 1
Fratton Park, Portsmouth		 BC HW   ch
 


     

 
cg