Stephen Foster (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stephen Foster
Personal information
Full name Stephen John Foster
Date of birth September 18, 1980 (1980-09-18) (age 27)
Place of birth    Warrington, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Barnsley
Number 16
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1997-2006
2006-2007
2007-
Crewe Alexandra
Burnley
Barnsley
217 (15)
017 0(0)
041 0(1)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 13:33, 27 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Stephen John Foster (born 18 September 1980 Warrington, Cheshire) is an English professional football defender who currently plays for Barnsley.

[edit] Career

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 didn't 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 2 minutes after Foster's goal. It took 4 seasons before Foster was received his first red card, he received it in Crewe's 2-1 loss at Gresty Road against Oldham Athletic. After the transfer of David Brammer to Stoke City in 2003, Stephen was named the captain of Crewe Alexandra for the 2003/2004 season, Foster's role as captain was taken away from him the next season and was given to team mate Kenny Lunt.

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 the 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 of 2007 Foster was transferred to Barnsley for the sum of £100,000 where he signed a two year contract. [1] He was a long term target for Barnsley[1] and they had been trying to sign the player throughout the summer.[2]

Foster made a positive start to his Barnsley career, enjoying a regular run in the team at right-back. Since his signing, Foster has become a valued member of the Barnsley first team squad. His time at Barnsley so far has had one notable set back which came in the form of a sending off for two bookable offences during the 3-3 draw between Barnsley and Stoke City at Oakwell on Boxing Day 2007. Two major high points have come in the F.A. cup for Foster with him grabbing an equaliser for Barnsley twice in three separate games. First of all came a delightful back heeled goal against Blackpool at Oakwell in the 3rd round, and secondly came the marvelous headed goal from Martin Devaney's cross against Liverpool at Anfield in a 5th round match that Barnsley famously went on to win 2-1.

He bagged his first league goal for the Reds at Watford in the crucial 3-0 win, heading home Diego Leon's corner.

Foster was named Barnsley F.C's player of the season in his first year at the Oakwell 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.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Tykes swoop for Anderson and Foster
  2. ^ Foster completes Barnsley move

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Stephen John Foster
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 18 September 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH Warrington, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH