Stephen Foster (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen John Foster is an English
footballer who plays for Barnsley
as a defender
, having previously been captain.
, Cheshire
, Foster signed for local club Crewe Alexandra
as a trainee in August 1997 and made his debut on the 22nd of that month in Crewe's 1–0 loss to Bury
. He made a second appearance in the same season a months later in Crewe's 1–1 draw with Bristol City
. Foster however did not play any first team games for Crewe during the next season. A season on and Foster scored his first goal for Crewe in their 2–2 draw with Bury, the goal came in the 84th minute, Mark Rivers
scoring the other goal for Crewe two minutes after Foster's goal. It took four seasons before Foster was received his first red card, which he received in Crewe's 2–1 loss at Gresty Road
against Oldham Athletic
.
After Crewe's relegation from The Championship in the 2005–06 season, Foster, who was out of contract, decided to turn down a new offer by Crewe in favour of joining Championship side Burnley
on a free transfer. He spent his first season at Burnley mainly as a squad player or substitute and started the 2007–08 season in similar vein. In August 2007 Foster was transferred to Barnsley for the sum of £100,000 where he signed a two year contract. He was a long term target for Barnsley and they had been trying to sign the player throughout the summer.
Foster made a positive start to his Barnsley career, enjoying a regular run in the team at right-back. Since his signing, Foster became a valued member of the Barnsley first team squad. His time at Barnsley so far has had one notable setback which came in the form of a sending off for two bookable offences during the 3–3 draw between Barnsley and Stoke at Oakwell on Boxing Day 2007. Two major high points have come in the FA Cup for Foster with him grabbing an equaliser for Barnsley twice in three separate games. First of all came a back heeled goal against Blackpool
at Oakwell in the 3rd round, and secondly came a headed goal from Martin Devaney
's cross against Liverpool
at Anfield
in a 5th round match that Barnsley went on to win 2–1.
He bagged his first league goal for Barnsley at Watford
in a 3–0 win, heading home Diego León
's corner.
Foster was named Barnsley's player of the season in his first year at the club. This honour was voted for by the fans, he beat club captain, Brian Howard
, and winger, Jamal Campbell-Ryce
into second and third place respectively.
At the start of the 2010/11 season, the captaincy was passed to new signing Jason Shackell, to enable Foster to concentrate on his own game.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, having previously been captain.
Career
Born in WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, Foster signed for local club Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
as a trainee in August 1997 and made his debut on the 22nd of that month in Crewe's 1–0 loss to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
. He made a second appearance in the same season a months later in Crewe's 1–1 draw with 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...
. Foster however did not play any first team games for Crewe during the next season. A season on and Foster scored his first goal for Crewe in their 2–2 draw with Bury, the goal came in the 84th minute, Mark Rivers
Mark Rivers
Mark Rivers born 26 November 1975 in Crewe is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward from 1994 until 2006 notably for Crewe Alexandra and Norwich City.-Career:...
scoring the other goal for Crewe two minutes after Foster's goal. It took four seasons before Foster was received his first red card, which he received in Crewe's 2–1 loss at Gresty Road
Alexandra Stadium
The Alexandra Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Crewe, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crewe Alexandra...
against Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
.
After Crewe's relegation from The Championship in the 2005–06 season, Foster, who was out of contract, decided to turn down a new offer by Crewe in favour of joining Championship side Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
on a free transfer. He spent his first season at Burnley mainly as a squad player or substitute and started the 2007–08 season in similar vein. In August 2007 Foster was transferred to Barnsley for the sum of £100,000 where he signed a two year contract. He was a long term target for Barnsley and they had been trying to sign the player throughout the summer.
Foster made a positive start to his Barnsley career, enjoying a regular run in the team at right-back. Since his signing, Foster became a valued member of the Barnsley first team squad. His time at Barnsley so far has had one notable setback which came in the form of a sending off for two bookable offences during the 3–3 draw between Barnsley and Stoke at Oakwell on Boxing Day 2007. Two major high points have come in the FA Cup for Foster with him grabbing an equaliser for Barnsley twice in three separate games. First of all came a back heeled goal against 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...
at Oakwell in the 3rd round, and secondly came a headed goal from Martin Devaney
Martin Devaney
Martin Thomas Devaney is an English football midfielder who plays for Tranmere Rovers. Born of Irish parents, Devaney has played for the Republic of Ireland under-16s.-Career:...
's cross against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in a 5th round match that Barnsley went on to win 2–1.
He bagged his first league goal for Barnsley at 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 a 3–0 win, heading home Diego León
Diego Leon
Diego León Ayarza is a Spanish footballer who plays for Nea Salamis Famagusta FC in Cyprus, as a midfielder.-Football career:...
's corner.
Foster was named Barnsley's player of the season in his first year at the club. This honour was voted for by the fans, he beat club captain, Brian Howard
Brian Howard (footballer)
Brian Richard William Howard is an English footballer who is contracted to Reading and is currently on loan to Millwall in the Football League Championship as a midfielder...
, and winger, Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Jamal Julian Campbell-Ryce is an English-Jamaican professional footballer currently playing for English Championship club Bristol City. He is a Jamaican international, qualifying through his parentage.-Career:...
into second and third place respectively.
At the start of the 2010/11 season, the captaincy was passed to new signing Jason Shackell, to enable Foster to concentrate on his own game.
External links
- Stephen Foster profile at barnsleyfc.co.uk