Exeter City striker forced to retire

Jonathan Forte suffered a severe knee injury last season

Exeter City's 33-year-old striker Jonathan Forte, who joined the Grecians last summer, has been forced to retire from professional football following a severe knee injury he picked up last season.

In a statment issued by Exeter City Football Club this morning, first team manager Matt Taylor said: “It is a real shame. The knee injury was severe as what we suspected towards the end of last season. He has literally got no cartilage left and it is bone on bone and it is wearing away. It is a brutal injury and unfortunately Jonno is going to retire.”

“He will leave the club with our best wishes and we will help in any way we can in the future. We feel we have not seen enough of him but that is through no fault of his own.

“I think, in the patches, that you did see him on the pitch he showed what he could do. I wish I would have worked with him five or 10 years ago because he is a hell of a player and a hell of a person.

“I know what a great character he has been around the place and it is such a shame. I am really disappointed for him.

“Hopefully, he has been pretty cute in terms of his career and what he has done with his money and so on and so forth, but he is still retiring relatively early.

“However, we are always here as a club for Jonno and he is always going to be welcome. We will catch up with him time and time again when we play up north and hopefully he will bring the family down south to watch some games at the Park."