Newport County AFC’s sixth signing of the summer window – Tyler Forbes – believes he can add another dimension to the squad that can help the club towards their aspirations of a play-off place next season.
The 5’10” right-back put pen to paper on a one-year contract with the club earlier today, which will see Forbes stay at Rodney Parade until at-least the summer of 2019.
The 22-year old joins the club having progressed through the youth ranks at Preston North End before getting his first taste of Football League experience with Fleetwood Town.
From there, the defender joined Brighton & Hove Albion’s development squad – playing at the heart of the defence alongside ex-Exile Ben White – alongside a short loan spell last season in League Two with champions Accrington Stanley.
Here, read what Forbes exclusively told iFollow Exiles on his first day as an official Newport County AFC player – including why the manager played such a crucial role in his arrival at the club, why joining the Exiles so early in the window will aid integration as-well as what he hopes to achieve during the 2018/19 campaign.
On his decision to join Newport County AFC on a one-year deal…
“I spoke with the manager who told me what he wants from a player like myself. I think Newport County AFC fits the criteria of how I want to play so I’m really looking forward to getting started.
“I’d like to thank the staff here at Newport for bringing me here – the chief scout, manager, chairman and I’m looking forward to getting started at the football club.
“I just think that Mike Flynn is a down to earth manager and I think he’s like that because he’s played the game before and he knows his stuff about the game.
“He just sold the club to me really – he knows how he wants me to play and what he expects of me during my time here.
“He’s a great manager in terms of what he’s achieved and hopefully we can achieve even more next season.”
On what the fans can expect from him across the entirety of the 2018/19 campaign…
“I would like to think of myself as a player who is very attack minded. Obviously I’m a right-back - I can play in a number of positions as-well – but predominantly I’m a right-back.
“I like to tackle, I like to get forward and I like to get crosses into the box. I’ll give 110% in every game during my time here and hopefully the club can do one better than they did last year.
“I’m quite happy to adjust to whatever formation the manager decides. I’ll adapt to whatever he wants from me, give 110% and hopefully that will help me play every Saturday.
“If I was to say who my role model within football was then I would have to say Sergio Ramos. At the minute, Kieran Trippier is playing right wing-back for England so he’s another one that I look up to and hopefully I can emulate them.
“Obviously my family motivates me as-well. You always want to be the best player on the pitch, so I’ll just give it all I’ve got and hopefully my career can kick on.”
On his message to the fans upon the announcement of his arrival at the football club…
“I look forward to hopefully being in your team. I’ll give you everything I’ve got whilst I’m here – 110% - and hopefully I can please you.
“The fans are obviously our 12th man moving forward. If the fans are behind you then it gives you a morale boost.
“It’s about being all in it together. Obviously, Newport have a good fan base and I’ll be looking forward to playing in-front of them.
“Accrington Stanley were also a really tight-knit squad and fanbase - there was a real togetherness within the squad in the dressing room.
“I definitely see similarities here at Newport County AFC. I can already see that there is a togetherness within the squad – I’ve met with them for the first time today and I think they are all top, top lads.
“I can’t wait to get to know them better.”
On how he is looking to integrate within the first-team squad…
“I haven’t been able to speak to any players in depth as such yet. I’ve gone around the changing room and spoken to each individual to try and find out about their background and just basically get to know them on a personal level.
“I’m definitely looking to learn from Pipey. He’s a great professional and I’ll be looking to get tips and advice from him during my time here. There’s a lot of players that I will be able to learn from, but I also saw that there were a lot of players who have been here before and done really well.
“Those players have kicked on now and I’ll be looking to follow in their footsteps when doing well for the club, give 110% and then hopefully we can do something great at the club.
“Ben White was here last season and obviously did very, very well. All credit to Whitey, I obviously wish him the best of luck back at Brighton, but I’ve obviously come here to do my best at the football club.
“I want to get goals, assists – anything that will help the team really and hopefully that will then allow us to do great things.
“I’ve played with Jamille Matt before at Fleetwood Town, so I know how Jamille plays and I’m obviously looking forward to playing with him again.
“I know how Jamille plays and what he likes – he likes crosses in the box and stuff like that, so I just need to learn now what the other lads in the team like and then try to deliver that.”
On his targets for the 2018/19 campaign…
“Automatic promotion would be great, but the play-offs have to be the minimal target for the club this season.
“From the two teams that I’ve played for who then got promoted – Accrington Stanley and Brighton & Hove Albion – I could see that they had a togetherness running right through the squad.
“The squad here has that togetherness I believe so hopefully we can do good. Obviously the club did well in the FA Cup last season but the league has to become the main focus next year.”