FORRESTER’S THE LOCAL AUTHORITY
Chris is happy to give pals a helping hand
CHRIS FORRESTER has taken his first steps into the world of coaching – with an amateur side called The Local!
It’s an opportunity for the St Patrick’s Athletic star to find out whether coaching is for him.
At the age of 29, he is already thinking about the next stage of his career – and he is desperate to stay in the game.
“I’ve been thinking about possibly doing the B Licence,” said Forrester.
“I think I have a bit to offer the game. I’m always speaking to the younger boys and trying to coach them in the game.
“I’m probably filling them full of nonsense, but I feel like I have an opinion. It’s something I’ll probably have a look at.”
Talk to Forrester about football and he strikes you as the last person who’d be interested in the heavily structured world of coaching.
“Players can get too caught up in being the perfect training player, doing everything to the book,” he says, when asked about his own training ground habits.
“I try to go off on my own little bit. Every now and again you have to be reined back in.
“I’m not getting any younger, it’s the way I relive my childhood, just being free.
“(A lot of footballers), they are just doing a job. It’s not a job for me, I love it. I love football. Everytime I step out on the pitch I just want to express myself.”
He added: “I’ll probably go into a coaching job and change my whole style!”
Forrester’s become involved with a side named after a restaurant owned by a friend of his.
“I actually coach one of my local teams, they are called The Local,” said the former Peterborough and Aberdeen ace.
“That’s all my mates – from all around my way. I coach them, just to see if I have a feel for it. I was saying, if I can coach them, I can coach anyone.
“They play in the Phoenix Park, the United Churches League.
“I just like to do some of the sessions and I try to give little bits of advice and stuff.
“The level is what the level is. It’s just trying to put a shape and a structure on things, and trying to rub off on a couple of the players.”
With regards to his day job, Forrester has stressed the importance of a top-three finish this season. Tim Clancy’s (inset) side are currently fourth in the table, two points behind Dundalk with a game in hand over the Lilywhites.
Unless Derry City win the FAI Cup, fourth won’t be enough to secure European football next year.
“You don’t want to be sitting on your hands, waiting for Derry to go and win it,” he said.
“We have good momentum, we are in a good vein of form. We just want to go and get the job done ourselves rather than depend on anyone else.”
Will last year’s FAI Cup final hero head along to this year’s decider?
“Me? It depends on who is in it,” he said. “I’m not coming to watch Shels lift the trophy!”