Jack Foster (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Samuel "Jack" Foster (19 November 1877 – 1946) was an English footballer who played as a forward for various clubs in the 1900s. After retiring as a player, he became a manager.
, South Yorkshire
, but started his professional career as an inside-forward at Blackpool
of the Football League Second Division
, where, during the 1901–02 season, he scored six goals from 28 league appearances. He then dropped down to the Midland League where he spent several seasons back in Yorkshire
with Rotherham Town
before moving to Southern League
Watford
in 1906. At Watford, he developed a reputation as a "dashing leader of attacking football".
He returned to the Football League
when he joined Sunderland
of the First Division
in December 1907 for a fee of £800. He made his first-team debut on 7 December, playing at centre-forward when he scored in a 2–0 victory at Birmingham. Foster retained his place for the next six matches, scoring twice in a 5–2 victory over Woolwich Arsenal on New Year's Day
, before losing his place to Angus McIntosh. His time at Roker Park
coincided with a decline in his health, and his doctor advised him to move to a milder climate in the south.
Foster joined West Ham United
of the Southern League in May 1908, where his form returned, scoring nine goals in 15 outings, including a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Portsmouth
on 10 October 1908. In March 1909, he moved again, to join Southampton
in an exchange deal with Frank Costello
.
Foster's career at The Dell started badly as he missed some easy chances and after only six matches, when he scored once, he lost his place to Bob Carter
, who had also joined the club recently. At the end of the season, he was on the move again to join Huddersfield Town
, playing their last season in the Midland League and was their top goal scorer with 25 goals.
under Colin Veitch
. He succeeded Veitch in January 1928 as caretaker manager
for the final four months of the 1927-28
season. He finished sixth in Division Three (North)
, just seven points shy of promotion before handing over to Peter O'Rourke
.
Playing career
Foster was born in RawmarshRawmarsh
Rawmarsh is a large village in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England. It is two miles north of Rotherham. It has a population of 18,210. The village also forms part of the Sheffield Urban Area.-Etymology:...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, but started his professional career as an inside-forward at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, where, during the 1901–02 season, he scored six goals from 28 league appearances. He then dropped down to the Midland League where he spent several seasons back in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
with Rotherham Town
Rotherham Town F.C.
Rotherham Town Football Club was the name of two English football clubs from Rotherham, Yorkshire. The first briefly played in the Football League, while the second became part of another Football League club, Rotherham United, who are still members of the League today...
before moving to Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in 1906. At Watford, he developed a reputation as a "dashing leader of attacking football".
He returned to the Football 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...
when he joined Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in December 1907 for a fee of £800. He made his first-team debut on 7 December, playing at centre-forward when he scored in a 2–0 victory at Birmingham. Foster retained his place for the next six matches, scoring twice in a 5–2 victory over Woolwich Arsenal on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, before losing his place to Angus McIntosh. His time at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
coincided with a decline in his health, and his doctor advised him to move to a milder climate in the south.
Foster joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
of the Southern League in May 1908, where his form returned, scoring nine goals in 15 outings, including a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 10 October 1908. In March 1909, he moved again, to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in an exchange deal with Frank Costello
Frank Costello (footballer)
Frederick "Frank" G. Costello was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Southampton and West Ham United prior to the First World War.-Playing career:...
.
Foster's career at The Dell started badly as he missed some easy chances and after only six matches, when he scored once, he lost his place to Bob Carter
Robert Carter (footballer)
Robert Carter was an English footballer, nicknamed Toddler because of his small stature. He was the father of footballing legend Raich Carter.-Club career:...
, who had also joined the club recently. At the end of the season, he was on the move again to join Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, playing their last season in the Midland League and was their top goal scorer with 25 goals.
Managerial career
Foster was assistant manager at Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
under Colin Veitch
Colin Veitch
Colin Campbell McKechnie Veitch was an English football player in the early 20th century for Newcastle United and manager of Bradford City.-Newcastle United:Veitch was born in the Heaton area of Newcastle upon Tyne...
. He succeeded Veitch in January 1928 as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
for the final four months of the 1927-28
1927-28 in English football
The 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:...
season. He finished sixth in Division Three (North)
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
, just seven points shy of promotion before handing over to Peter O'Rourke
Peter O'Rourke
Peter O'Rourke was a Scottish footballer and manager.-Career:O'Rourke was a centre half who played for Celtic, Burnley, Lincoln City, Third Lanark and Chesterfield before his final playing days at Bradford City. He became player-manager in 1905 following the departure of Robert Campbell while he...
.