The underage Republic of Ireland international began training with the youths team and will also be eligible to play with the club’s under-16 side.
Due to his tender years, the central midfielder will not put pen to paper on a three-year deal until he turns 16 in November.
Anthony, who just sat his Junior Certificate in Colaiste na Trocaire Rathkeale, is a son of Noel and Christina and has one brother, Kevin and one sister, Leanne.
“We are all delighted - it’s great for Ballingarry AFC and for the Desmond League,” Anthony Forde’s father, Noel explained.
“He has played with Ballingarry since he was a little boy,” recalled his proud father, who himself lined out in the green and gold of their local club.
Anthony played at under-15 level for Ireland and has now won eight caps at U16 level.
Wolves’ new recruit first came to prominence as a 12-year-old when captaining the Desmond League side to a Munster final. A visit to Aston Villa followed while Blackburn, Reading, Plymouth and Derby have all expressed interest during the intervening years.
“We met with Mick McCarthy when we went over, but Anthony will be dealing mostly with the Academy managers,” explained his father.
“Anthony is staying with a local family over there.
“Another two lads from Donegal have joined this week as well and Anthony knows them from the international team so that is good for him.”
Also signing with Wolverhampton Wanderers this week was Irish international striker Kevin Doyle.
The arrival of Doyle from Reading, bolsters the Irish contingent that already includes Andy Keogh, Kevin Foley and Stephen Ward.
Anthony follows in the footsteps of Charleville’s Dominic Foley.
Foley was signed in 1995 by Wolves from St. James’s Gate, but he made just 27 appearances over four seasons at Molineux.
The 33-year-old striker now plays in Belgium with Cercle Brugge.
Ballingarry AFC chairman Paschal Moynihan was loud in praise of the club’s new hero.
“Anthony has been with us since he started to come to the field as a five-year-old and he has played with us all the way up along,” said the club chairman.
“This is fantastic for him and for our club.
“He is a very talented young fella and as well as that he is a lovely fella and has a great attitude.”
It also appears that Ballingarry could be about to offer Irish soccer another new international - 18-year-old Finntonio Yogue is a native of the world’s worst international side Montserrat, but is eligible for Ireland due to his grandmother Catherine Shanley from Ballingarry. The west Limerick woman moved to Montserrat to work as a nurse in 1940.
Now it appears her grandson is attracting the attention of Irish soccer bosses.
Finntonio Yogue plays with Italian side Udinese, but has been linked to a number of top clubs including Chelsea and Arsenal in recent weeks.
In Udinese the teenager is coached by Gianluca Torrotti who is an acquaintance of Irish boss Giovanni Trappatoni and assistant Marco Tardelli.
It is understood that Torotti has made the Irish management aware that a change of a FIFA ruling may allow Finntonio Yogue to line out for the Republic of Ireland.
A motion from the Algerian Football Association, removing the reference to the age limit, was passed by 58 per cent at the FIFA Congress, opening the way for many players to get a second chance in international football.
The rule change does not affect any player who has played for the full national team as they are barred from switching nations.
Yogue has already played twice for Montserrat, but both games were international friendlies.
“Finn has the ability to play soccer at the highest level and this has been proven by the many clubs that have been enquiring after him,” said Bradan Lifford, the coach who discovered Yogue.
“He’s had a good month, scoring in the Udinese run in to the Italian youth competitions, getting the international news and now the invite to Chelsea,” said Lifford.
It is believed that South Korea, Japan and Croatia have already been in touch with Yogue’s representatives to offer him a trial, but his Irish family background has the FAI monitoring the situation.
Jerome O’Connell
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