CONFIRMED – Initial signings for 2016-17 season

Forest have signed 20 players on first team forms ahead of the start of the Essex Senior League season this Saturday, with more expected to sign this week.

Some familiar faces return, and some exciting signings have been made.

Goalkeepers

Harrison Seetah has signed, though the club is still awaiting international clearance on another keeper.

Defenders

Charlie Yexley: Young defender who had spells with Millwall and West Ham before being a scholar at Dagenham & Redbridge.Spent part of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 season on loan at Ware.

Faisal Hemati: Equally adept at playing in midfield who was with Watford as a youngster. Has played for Hertford Town and Ariana FC, and was somewhat of a legend of Football Manager 2012. Becomes the first player of Afgani heritage to play for Waltham Forest.

Gareth Madden: Experienced defender who has impressed in pre-season. Has played for Ware, Hertford Town and was part of the Thurrock play-off squad in 2015. Is the brother of Rhys, who played for Forest in 2008.

Gus Douglas: Young defender who came through the youth ranks at Grays Athletic, where he made one first team appearance last season.

Lee Flynn: A vastly experienced defender who started his career in non-League football by signing for Romford in 1991. He then moved to Hendon before being snapped up by then Football Conference side Hayes in 1995, where he played 145 games, scoring 18 goals.

In January 2001, after six-years with Hayes, he transferred to Third Division side Barnet.

He remained with Barnet until May 2003 when he joined Stevenage Borough. In 2004, he moved to Dagenham & Redbridge, but found his opportunities limited and was loaned out to St Albans City and Cambridge City. He impressed during his loan spell at St Albans and was signed on a permanent deal in March 2006.

Flynn joined Thurrock after leaving the Saints in March 2007. He went on to sign for Isthmian League Division One North club Grays Athletic in June 2011. Flynn played for Grays for three seasons, including their promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division and spent a season as assistant-manager from 2013–14. He made a total of 125 appearances for Grays, scoring seven goals.

Flynn joined AFC Sudbury at the start of the 2014/15 Isthmian League Division One North season, and scored his first goal for AFC in a 3-3 draw at home to Thamesmead Town.

Stephen O’Hara: Talented defender who spent last season with Ware. Has also played for St. Albans City, Edgware Town and Leyton Orient.

Kemarr Salmon, Benga Odejayi and Ferhan Gul have also signed.

Midfielders

Ahmed Mohamed: Young midfielder who made his debut for Forest in 2013 after singing from Reading Town. He made 16 appearances that season and went on to make four more the following season, before moving to North Greenford United, where he spent a season and a half. Finished last season at Hanwell Town. Re-joined Forest midway through the 2016-17 pre-season, and has thoroughly impressed, having come on leaps and bounds since his first spell at the club.

Kubilay Akbayrak: Young defender/midfielder who is now in his third season with the club. Came through the youth system at Enfield Town before signing for Forest mid-way through the 2013-14 season, making his debut against Haringey Borough. He went on to make 8 starts and 9 substitute appearances that season. Was a mainstay in the side last season, under both Terry Fogarty and Turgut Esendagli, making 36 appearances and 2 from the bench, scoring 5 goals. Has donned the gloves a couple of times, including a clean sheet in a 3-0 win against Ilford.

Mustafa Denizer: Tricky full-back/winger who has previously played under Kem Kemal at Alsan and Broxbourne Borough. Has also played for Goffs Oak. Speaking when Denizer signed for Aslan, Kemal said “Denizer is one of the most exciting young footballers I have worked with. He has a fantastic attitude and only wants to learn”

Ryan Maxwell: Maxwell began his career as a youth player at Chelsea before moving onto Crystal Palace and Reading in 1999. He made professional appearances with Reading, Hamilton Academical and Raith Rovers. He then played for Llanelli in Wales, where he played in the UEFA Cup. The 32 year old midfielder had spells with a host of Conference and Conference South Clubs including Dagenham and Redbridge, Basingstoke Town, Margate, Bishop’s Stortford and Tonbridge Angels. More recently, he has played for Waltham Abbey, Ware and Harlow Town, amongst other Essex and Herts Clubs. He ended last season with Heybridge Swifts.

Volkan Calcalioglu: Attacking midfilder/striker who has played for Enfield Town and Broxbourne Borough, among others.

Jordan McKenzie, Prince Madu and Chris Hambis have also signed.

Fowards

Brian Moses: Tall front-man, known as “Ladders” who came through the youth ranks at Grays Athletic, making his first team debut in 2013. In total, he made 9 starts and 28 sub appearances for Grays across four seasons, and has also featured for Redbridge where he made 24 appearances in the 2014-15 season, scoring three goals.

Omar Nyame: Young front-man who has just come through the Carshalton Athletic youth team where he top scored with 34 goals last season.