Stephen Foster (footballer)

Stephen Foster

Foster playing for Barnsley
Personal information
Full nameStephen John Foster[1]
Date of birth10 September 1980[1]
Place of birthWarrington, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
?–1998Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1998–2006Crewe Alexandra217(15)
2006–2007Burnley17(0)
2007–2013Barnsley226(10)
2013Tranmere Rovers4(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:15, 9 May 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Stephen John Foster (born 10 September 1980) is an English footballer who is currently a free agent.

Career

Born in Warrington, 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.[2] He was a long term target for Barnsley[2] and they had been trying to sign the player throughout the summer.[3]

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.

Defender Stephen Foster joined Tranmere in June on a two-year deal, but Rovers have confirmed that player and club have already agreed to part company. The 32-year-old's contract has been terminated by mutual consent.

Career statistics

As of 27 August 2011.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 1998–99[4] 1000100020
1999–00[5] 0000000000
2000–01[6] 290302100341
2001–02[7] 345311000386
2002–03[8] 354301040434
2003–04[9] 452102000482
2004–05[10] 341103100382
2005–06[11] 393000000393
Total 217151111024024218
Burnley 2006–07[12] 170101000190
2007–08[13] 0000100010
Total 170102000200
Barnsley 2007–08[14] 411520000463
2008–09[15] 383101000403
2009–10[16] 422104000472
2010–11[17] 331101000351
2011–12[18] 411100000421
Total 195892600021010
Tranmere Rovers 2013–14[19] 4000100050
Total 4000100050
Career totals 433232131924047728
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tykes swoop for Anderson and Foster
  3. Foster completes Barnsley move
  4. "Crewe 1998/1999 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. "Crewe 1999/2000 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  6. "Crewe 2000/2001 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  7. "Crewe 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  8. "Crewe 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  9. "Crewe 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  10. "Crewe 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  11. "Burnley 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  12. "Burnley 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  13. "Burnley 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  14. "Barnsley 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  15. "Barnsley 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  16. "Barnsley 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  17. "Barnsley 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  18. "Barnsley 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  19. "Tranmere 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

External links