It’s three young but already established players in this latest trio of re-signatories. Between them, they missed only six games in the 2021-22 season. Continuing the excellent news for the Club!
TOM FORSTER
Tom is a product of the club’s mini-juniors and Colts set-up who went from AKS to study sports science at university in Leeds, a very similar pathway followed by his long standing friend, 1st XV back Adam Lanigan. Along the way, he earned county representation for Lancashire U18s.
The versatile, hard working Forster went initially on loan to Preston Grasshoppers, then as a full signing, for a three year period (2015-18). He made 35 appearances in National Two (North) and a full season in North Premier in 2017-18. He returned to the Woodlands for the 2018-19 season but suffered a broken jaw early on before fighting his way back into 1st XV contention towards the end of that season.
In 2019-20 he loyally played his part in the 1st XV squad making 17 appearances from the bench. Patience paid off when he finally made his 1st XV starting debut at Tynedale in the first match of the 2021-22 campaign. He took his chance with both hands and made 28 appearances during the season at centre, scoring 8 tries in the process. As former Head Coach Warren Spragg said: ““Tom is an intelligent player with a strong all-round skill set.” He certainly proved this last season.
TOM CARLETON
Tom, then still in the KGS 6th Form, made his Fylde debut as a replacement in a 2nd XV (Hawks) team at the Woodlands in 2016. Within 5 minutes he scorched along the right wing, scored from 40m out and he had set a pattern to be repeated so many times in subsequent years. He played a few 1st XV games in the 2016-7 season and became a National One regular in 2017-18. He’s never stopped scoring since, missing only a handful of games along the way – 117 1st XV appearances in all, 90 tries, an exceptional rate up there with former Fylde wing stars Oli Brennand and Nick Royle. Having his particular family rugby DNA has helped but it’s really down to his pace, strength, courage and ability to read a game, especially from his favoured full back spot.
He’s always enjoyed playing with his old KGS friends – Ben Gregory, Connor Wilkinson, Nick and Matt Ashcroft – as well as other members of the Fylde squad. Additionally, he’s played numerous games for Lancashire age group teams, including at senior level, and was joint skipper of England Counties U20s touring squad. After Kirkham he attended Lancaster University and in 2022 began his professional career in the Red Rose County.
“A star man in a very good back division” said The Rugby Paper when naming him at fullback two weeks ago in their N2(N) 2021-22 team of the season. This was Tom’s most productive season, with 30 tries to his name.
MATT GARROD
Lock forward Matt developed through the Fylde Mini-Juniors and Arnold Schools teams, progressed through the Fylde Colts and made representative appearances for Lancashire at U17s & U18s levels, also for North U18s.
He made his Fylde 1st XV debut at Darlington Mowden Park in April 2016 and went on loan to Preston Grasshoppers in the first half of the 2016-17 season. He returned for the 2nd half of that campaign before injury cut short his season.
He earned a regular place in the 1st XV in 2017-18 in National One, and followed up similarly in 2018-19. A major knee injury required surgery early in the 2019-20 campaign and he returned in January 2020 only for Covid to ruin the final quarter of the season. Last season he was almost an ‘ever present’, with 29 starts out of 30, and four tries to his name. He made his 100th appearance for his home town club against Tynedale at the Woodlands in the final game of the season.
The 25 year old has along the way gained coaching experience with Fylde Colts, Blackpool 6th Form, Myerscough College, Lancaster University and is currently working for Lancaster Royal Grammar School under Fylde Joint Head Coach Alex Loney.
