Made one appearance as a player, coming off the bench in a 1-0 defeat away to Bedford Town.

Returned to the club in 2005 as part of the link with the Barking Abbey Sports College, and was a first team with Hakan Hayrettin, as well as managing the highly successful under 18s who won the Pelly Cup, Conference Youth League and made it to the 4th round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

Was appointed first team manager in the summer of 2006, and despite an opening day where Forest narrowly lost to AFC Sudbury in the last minute, it became clear that while his young side was extremely talented, it lacked the experience of men’s football.

He was relieved of his duties four games into the season, but continued to coach at a youth level, to great success.