Forbes

Forbes Chapman - 3/12/1935 – 2/7/2018

Amateur FA is sad to announce that past President of the Alliance, Forbes Chapman, has passed away aged 82.

Forbes joined Norsemen FC in the mid-1950s, soon after he arrived in London from his native Scotland, and was an ever-present centre-half in their first XI for many years.

Following his retirement from playing, he took up coaching and after gaining his preliminary badge, became Norsemen 1st XI manager.

In 1988, he became manager of the Amateur FA Representative Side - a role he enjoyed great success with for over 25 years.

Forbes then became President of the Alliance from 2011 to 2013.

A keen golfer who was Captain and President of Bush Hill Park Golf Club, Forbes kept very fit and could often be seen around the various AFA clubs on a Saturday afternoon, regularly visiting the bar afterwards to offer his opinion on the game.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Sue, his children and grandchildren and his many friends, as well as the hundreds of players around our clubs to whom he gave the opportunity to represent the County FA.

Dave Harvey of Old Danes FC, said: “Forbes was one of the AFA’s great footballing gentlemen; he gave me my debut and made me captain in the great sides in the 80s. His bellowing shout of ‘come on you mighty reds’ always spurred us on and he will be sorely missed.”

Steve Surridge of Old Aloysians, added: “Forbes was a real football man. I will never forget the trial game versus the Civil Service where he took me aside and said ‘you’ll do for me, Stevie.’ He made you feel 10 feet tall; he was a great leader of men.”

Funeral details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 28 August

Venue: Southgate Crematorium, Brunswick Park Rd, New Southgate, London N11 1JJ

Time: 2:00pm

Walk tall you blue giant!