Watford Academy product Shaq Forde said he is relishing life at Leyton Orient as he continues his development in Sky Bet League One.
The 19-year-old forward agreed a season-long deal with the O’s in the summer and has made his mark in East London, scoring nine times from 22 starts in the league.
Richie Wellens’ side currently sit 10th in the table and are five points adrift of the play-offs.
“I’ve loved my time here,” Forde told watfordfc.com. “It’s been a very good experience for me.
“Obviously apart from maybe my debut for Watford, it’s the best standard I’ve faced.
“The standard in this league has been a good challenge for me, both physically and technically.
“It’s been a good test for me.”
Highlights for Forde this season include scoring twice in Orient’s 3-2 home victory over Carlisle United in February, with both goals coming just before half-time as the O’s fought back from 1-0 down.
“I was finding my groove and was very confident,” the teenager said.
“We went 1-0 down but we never thought we were going to end up losing. Getting two goals was a great feeling.
“Any time I score is a great feeling, but that changed the whole narrative of the game for us and made it even better.”
Watford-born Forde joined the Hornets in 2012 and made his sole first team appearance for the Golden Boys against Leicester City in the FA Cup in January 2022, coming on as sub.
He was again named on the bench for the Premier League clash against Brentford that April, and earned the club’s Young Player of the Season award for his impressive displays and development.
Forde, the son of Fabian who himself played for Watford, has also spent time on loan at Southern Premier League club Kings Langley and National League outfit York City, so joining Orient means he has continued his climb up the pyramid.
“I’m moving in the right direction,” he said.
“The Watford coaches message me here and there, after I’ve scored a goal.”
Orient are still in with a chance of promotion – the opposite scenario to what Forde faced last season when York had to battle relegation.
The Minstermen only confirmed their status in the fifth tier on the final day of the campaign, when Forde netted a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Notts County.
“It [fighting for the play-offs] is another experience I can say I’ve had,” Forde said.
“Last season when I was fighting to stay in the league, that was a great experience.
“And I now know what it means to be in a team that is fighting for promotion.”
Leyton Orient photo credit: Simon O’Connor
