Forrester Signs

Last updated : 21 January 2003 By Andy Beill
Jamie Forrester
Jamie Forrester - back to his Humberside roots
Northampton's Jamie Forrester has signed a 2½-year contract with City. His contract was due to expire in the summer, so a nominal transfer fee has been agreed to settle the last five months of his Cobblers deal.

Bradford-born Forrester spent a short time as a youth at French club Auxerre, before Leeds signed him as a 17-year-old in 1992. He made less than 10 appearances for them, and was loaned out to Southend - under the reign of Peter Taylor - before Brian Laws signed him for Grimsby in 1995.

After a year and a half at Blundell Park, the 5'7" striker followed Laws to neighbours Scunthorpe. He scored 44 goals in all competitions in just over 2 seasons for the Iron before being tempted abroad to Dutch side FC Utrecht in 1999.

However, his spell there was not a happy one and he returned to English football in 2000, becoming Northampton's record buy at £150,000. Shortly after joining them he helped them to promotion from Division 3, and has given them 50 goals in return for their outlay.

Forrester's move to the Kingston Communications Stadium means he'll have played for all three Humberside clubs, and said: "A fresh start is just what I need and coming back to this part of the world would always have been my first choice."

The signing of Forrester rules out any possibility of Taylor signing QPR's Andy Thomson, while Gary Alexander and Lawrie Dudfield's places in the squad are under threat because of the new competition.

City's interest in Forrester was first reported on this site last week. Hull City Online - number 1 for the latest news.