# Shaq Forde

Shaqai Tyreece Steven Forde (born 5 May 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers.

## Early life

Shaqai Tyreece Steven Forde was born on 5 May 2004 in Watford, Hertfordshire. He is the son of former footballer Fabian Forde and is of Barbadian descent through his father, who played for the Barbados national team.

## Career
### Watford

Forde started his career with Watford in 2012. He made his first-team debut on 8 January 2022 aged 17 as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4–1 away defeat to Leicester City in the 2021–22 FA Cup third round.
In February 2022, Forde joined Southern League Premier Division South club Kings Langley on a one-month loan. He made his debut on 26 February in a 4–0 home win over Wimborne Town in the league, in which he scored a goal 10 minutes into the match, won a penalty kick and recorded an assist. The loan was extended by a further month in March before Forde was recalled by Watford on 1 April to join first-team training, having scored two goals in three appearances for Kings Langley. A successful 2021–22 season saw him named Watford's Young Player of the Season before signing a professional contract with the club in July.
Forde joined National League club York City on 28 December 2022 on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. He scored in the 90th minute of his debut on 2 January 2023 with a shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal as York drew 2–2 away to Gateshead, after entering the match as a 66th-minute substitute. Five days later, on his first start for the team, he scored a hat trick, helping York City to a 4–1 home win over Maidstone United. He had a successful spell at York City, scoring nine goals in 20 appearance.
On 14 August 2023, Forde joined League One club Leyton Orient on a season-long loan deal. On 26 August 2023, his second appearance for the club, Forde scored a first senior English Football League goal as he opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United.

### Bristol Rovers

On 30 August 2024, Forde signed for League One club Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee on an initial three-year deal. On 5 October 2024, he scored his first goal for the club, equalising in an eventual 3–1 victory over Burton Albion. In October 2024, Forde was racially abused on social media following a match. Ahead of the club's following league match, fan podcast GasCast set up a crowdfunder to purchase two flags to go on display at the club's Memorial Stadium representing fans' commitment to diversity and inclusion.

## Style of play

Forde plays as a forward and in March 2022 described himself as being "creative, powerful and always looking to go forwards".

## Career statistics

    As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Watford | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Watford | 2022–23 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Watford | 2023–24 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Watford | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kings Langley (loan) | 2021–22 | Southern League Premier Division South | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| York City (loan) | 2022–23 | National League | 20 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 9 |
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2023–24 | League One | 40 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 9 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2024–25 | League One | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 73 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 22 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

## Honours

Individual
* Watford Young Player of the Season: 2021–22