Chris Forrester has thanked St Pat’s for looking after him during some dark days as he strives to bring the good times back to the Saints.
The stalwart will make his 300th appearance for the Inchicore club - spread over two spells with 69 goals - in tonight’s sold-out derby clash with Shamrock Rovers.
And as he reflects on the run to date, one of the league’s outstanding talents revealed he is grateful to club staff and supporters for sticking by him.
By his own admission, Forrester feels he was miles off it when he returned to the club in 2019 after four years away with Peterborough and Aberdeen.
He was coming to terms with a family bereavement and was struggling on and off the pitch having returned home from Scotland.
Forrester said: “When I came back from Aberdeen, I wasn’t playing well and the fans stuck with me for probably a year-and–a-half of me playing absolutely terrible football.
“It’s not through not wanting to play good football, just not being in a mental state - but they stuck by me.
“I was in a really bad mental state, I just couldn’t get a good game out of me and you think ‘this is just going to be the way it is forever’.
“But I’ve learned as I’ve got older, football is like that, you’re going to have some bad days and you’re going to have some good days.
“It’s just about trying to stay at a consistent level, not being too high and not being too low and trying to stay at that level as long as you can.
“It took a long time for me to get out of that state. You hear a few rumbles (in the crowd) which is fine but the fans stuck with me through hard times.
“So when I play well I feel that’s my way of saying ‘I’m appreciative of what youse do for me’ and this is how I try to repay the club and fans.”
And Forrester continued: “You need people around you who will build you up and even tell you a few lies just to keep you pushing on.
“It’s tough when you’re in a bad mental state. It’s hard to explain. When you come out of it, it’s like ‘Jesus, it wasn’t all that bad’. I probably could have done this or done that.
“That’s hindsight, I suppose. It’s hard sitting there (before a game) knowing you’re not going to have a good game, but you still have to go out and try to perform your best.
“But by doing that you have to win yourself back over. It’s the only way to do it. You have to get back on the saddle and just go again. Just persevere, I suppose.”
Forrester, 30, has his swagger in check this season and has been key in the Saints revival and surge to second in the table with five goals - and four in his last four games.
He was also claiming one straight from a corner in last week's win at Bohs, but St Pat’s boss Tim Clancy awarded it to striker Eoin Doyle after the game.
“It’s just about feeling wanted and feeling appreciated and I really do feel appreciated. I love playing for the fans and I love playing for this club,” added Forrester.
“I wouldn't say I ever came close to quitting. Especially when Pat’s came back in for me.
They were so great with me, (owner) Garrett Kelleher and everybody around the club.
“I felt I was back home and I knew it was only a matter of time before I got myself back on my feet again.”
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