The moment San Antonio FC was born, a rumble began in the crowd. Bring back the kid.
Bring back Billy Forbes, the electrifying midfielder who helped the San Antonio Scorpions win the NASL championship as a rookie in 2014.
As time passed, the rumble became a roar. On social media and at tailgates, someone would inevitably bring up the kid.
What about Billy Forbes?
Well, Forbes has some news for San Antonio soccer fans.
“The kid is coming home,” he said.
Forbes signed with San Antonio FC on Tuesday, returning to Toyota Field after playing with the Scorpions in 2014 and 2015. The Scorpions’ all-time assists leader and a fan favorite, Forbes spent last season with Rayo OKC, where he led the team with four assists and added three goals.
But Forbes, who turned 26 last month and lives in nearby San Marcos, said he always felt he would find a way back to South Texas.
“San Antonio is a part of me, and I think I share a special bond with this city,” Forbes said. “I can’t wait to see the fans again, especially since I know half of them by name.”
An athlete from a Caribbean Island coming to town and leading his team to a championship is a familiar story in San Antonio. A story that worked out well for St. Croix’s Tim Duncan might conjure some similarities with Forbes.
Forbes is from Turks and Caicos, and is currently the captain of the Turks and Caicos National Team, having played in World Cup Qualifiers for the islands of 31,000 people. He came to America at the age of 18 to play soccer at Western Texas College and Lubbock Christian University.
Forbes signed with the Scorpions after graduating, when he was discovered by then Scorpions assistant and current SAFC assistant coach Nick Evans.
Last week, Evans and San Antonio FC head coach Darren Powell were recruiting Forbes at lunch.
“Nick got me my first professional contract, so I owe a lot to him,” Forbes said. “There’s a lot of familiarity with this organization for me already, from the team to the staff to the building.”
Evans wasn’t the only familiar face hoping Forbes would return to San Antonio. Forbes said one of the first to reach out to him was midfielder Rafa Castillo, who sent him a video message asking to bring the band back together.
In the 2014 NASL Soccer Bowl, the Scorpions’ two goals came from Castillo and Forbes in a 2-1 win.
“Billy’s signing is incredible for us,” Castillo said. “He’s a player of the highest caliber, is an excellent teammate, and I’m sure he’s happy to come help us win plenty of games.”
Powell said Forbes, a 5-foot-9 attacking mid, not only creates for himself on and off the ball, but also poses matchup problems all over the field as defenses are forced to keep an eye on him at all times.
Forbes joins Akwafei Ajeakwa, Kris Tyrpak, Cyprian Hedrick and Ben Newnam as new players on the SAFC roster for 2017.
“One of the things we were looking for primarily was recruiting experienced players, and we didn’t have to look far to find Billy,” Powell said. “His past success is in the past, and he’s focused on the present and the future, and bringing more excitement to San Antonio.”
Forbes said he’s not sure how he’ll react when he walks into Toyota Field wearing a San Antonio kit again. He said he might cry, given all the memories he has and all the future ones he plans to create.
Forbes is sure of one thing: he’s home.
“San Antonio is not just another city to me and Toyota Field is not just another stadium,” Forbes said. “It’s a city that’s welcomed me since day one, and I have so many personal memories with our fans. San Antonio can expect nothing less than full effort from me, and I can’t wait to see them again.”
lchan@attcenter.com
The moment San Antonio FC was born, a rumble began in the crowd. Bring back the kid.
Bring back Billy Forbes, the electrifying midfielder who helped the San Antonio Scorpions win the NASL championship as a rookie in 2014.
As time passed, the rumble became a roar. On social media and at tailgates, someone would inevitably bring up the kid.
What about Billy Forbes?
Well, Forbes has some news for San Antonio soccer fans.
“The kid is coming home,” he said.
Forbes signed with San Antonio FC on Tuesday, returning to Toyota Field after playing with the Scorpions in 2014 and 2015. The Scorpions’ all-time assists leader and a fan favorite, Forbes spent last season with Rayo OKC, where he led the team with four assists and added three goals.
But Forbes, who turned 26 last month and lives in nearby San Marcos, said he always felt he would find a way back to South Texas.
“San Antonio is a part of me, and I think I share a special bond with this city,” Forbes said. “I can’t wait to see the fans again, especially since I know half of them by name.”
An athlete from a Caribbean Island coming to town and leading his team to a championship is a familiar story in San Antonio. A story that worked out well for St. Croix’s Tim Duncan might conjure some similarities with Forbes.
Forbes is from Turks and Caicos, and is currently the captain of the Turks and Caicos National Team, having played in World Cup Qualifiers for the islands of 31,000 people. He came to America at the age of 18 to play soccer at Western Texas College and Lubbock Christian University.
Forbes signed with the Scorpions after graduating, when he was discovered by then Scorpions assistant and current SAFC assistant coach Nick Evans.
Last week, Evans and San Antonio FC head coach Darren Powell were recruiting Forbes at lunch.
“Nick got me my first professional contract, so I owe a lot to him,” Forbes said. “There’s a lot of familiarity with this organization for me already, from the team to the staff to the building.”
Evans wasn’t the only familiar face hoping Forbes would return to San Antonio. Forbes said one of the first to reach out to him was midfielder Rafa Castillo, who sent him a video message asking to bring the band back together.
In the 2014 NASL Soccer Bowl, the Scorpions’ two goals came from Castillo and Forbes in a 2-1 win.
“Billy’s signing is incredible for us,” Castillo said. “He’s a player of the highest caliber, is an excellent teammate, and I’m sure he’s happy to come help us win plenty of games.”
Powell said Forbes, a 5-foot-9 attacking mid, not only creates for himself on and off the ball, but also poses matchup problems all over the field as defenses are forced to keep an eye on him at all times.
Forbes joins Akwafei Ajeakwa, Kris Tyrpak, Cyprian Hedrick and Ben Newnam as new players on the SAFC roster for 2017.
“One of the things we were looking for primarily was recruiting experienced players, and we didn’t have to look far to find Billy,” Powell said. “His past success is in the past, and he’s focused on the present and the future, and bringing more excitement to San Antonio.”
Forbes said he’s not sure how he’ll react when he walks into Toyota Field wearing a San Antonio kit again. He said he might cry, given all the memories he has and all the future ones he plans to create.
Forbes is sure of one thing: he’s home.
“San Antonio is not just another city to me and Toyota Field is not just another stadium,” Forbes said. “It’s a city that’s welcomed me since day one, and I have so many personal memories with our fans. San Antonio can expect nothing less than full effort from me, and I can’t wait to see them again.”
lchan@attcenter.com
