George Foster (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Walter Foster is a retired English footballer and manager, who spent the majority of his career at Plymouth Argyle
and Mansfield Town
. He began his career as a full-back, but was later moved into central defence.
Foster began his career at his hometown club Plymouth Argyle, making his debut in a Division Three match against Hereford United
on 20 February 1974. During an eight-year spell at Argyle, Foster played more than 200 games for the club, and also had loan spells at Devon
rivals Torquay United
and Exeter City
.
In June 1982, Derby County
paid £40,000 for his services, but would only spend one season at the Baseball Ground
, before moving to Mansfield the following summer on a free transfer. He made his Mansfield debut on 27 August 1983 in a 4-0 defeat against Bristol City
. However, things would soon take a turn for the better. In his first season at the club, Foster was named Player of the Year, and in 1984-85
, he was named team captain, and marshalled a defence that only conceded 38 goals in the league.
In 1985-86
, Foster helped Mansfield gain promotion from Division Four, and the following season he captained the side in their triumph at Wembley as Mansfield won the Freight Rover Trophy
.
When Ian Greaves
stepped down as Mansfield manager in February 1989, Foster was named player-manager. He did not gain the same amount of success as a manager as he had as a player, and he holds the dubious honour of being the only Mansfield manager who has been relegated twice, although he did also gain promotion in-between those two relegations.
In September 1993, following a poor start to the season, Foster was sacked as manager. The following month, he was named player-manager at Telford United
, where he stayed until June 1995. Since then, Foster has worked as a scout for several clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers
. In total, Foster played 448 games for Mansfield (373 in the league
), and scored three goals. Two of those goals came in the FA Cup
, while the third came in the Freight Rover Trophy.
He is currently chief scout for the Glenn Hoddle Academy
.
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. He began his career as a full-back, but was later moved into central defence.
Foster began his career at his hometown club Plymouth Argyle, making his debut in a Division Three match against Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on 20 February 1974. During an eight-year spell at Argyle, Foster played more than 200 games for the club, and also had loan spells at Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
rivals Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
and Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
In June 1982, Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
paid £40,000 for his services, but would only spend one season at the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
, before moving to Mansfield the following summer on a free transfer. He made his Mansfield debut on 27 August 1983 in a 4-0 defeat against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. However, things would soon take a turn for the better. In his first season at the club, Foster was named Player of the Year, and in 1984-85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
, he was named team captain, and marshalled a defence that only conceded 38 goals in the league.
In 1985-86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
, Foster helped Mansfield gain promotion from Division Four, and the following season he captained the side in their triumph at Wembley as Mansfield won the Freight Rover Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
When Ian Greaves
Ian Greaves
Ian Denzil Greaves was an English football player and manager. He was born in Crompton, Lancashire. He won a League Championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal while playing fullback for Manchester United between 1953 and 1960...
stepped down as Mansfield manager in February 1989, Foster was named player-manager. He did not gain the same amount of success as a manager as he had as a player, and he holds the dubious honour of being the only Mansfield manager who has been relegated twice, although he did also gain promotion in-between those two relegations.
In September 1993, following a poor start to the season, Foster was sacked as manager. The following month, he was named player-manager at Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
, where he stayed until June 1995. Since then, Foster has worked as a scout for several clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. In total, Foster played 448 games for Mansfield (373 in the league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
), and scored three goals. Two of those goals came in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, while the third came in the Freight Rover Trophy.
He is currently chief scout for the Glenn Hoddle Academy
Glenn Hoddle Academy
The Glenn Hoddle Academy was established in 2008, by former England international footballer Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle set the academy up in the memory of his brother, Carl, a former Tottenham Hotspur player who died aged 40....
.