Stephen Foster (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Stephen Foster


fullname = Stephen John Foster
height = height|metres=1.85
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|9|18
cityofbirth = Warrington
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Barnsley
clubnumber = 6
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1997-2006
2006-2007
2007-
clubs = Crewe Alexandra
Burnley
Barnsley
caps(goals) = 217 (15)
017 0(0)
051 0(3)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 13:33, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

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

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 2007 Foster was transferred to Barnsley for the sum of £100,000 where he signed a two year contract. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/6960731.stm Tykes swoop for Anderson and Foster] ] He was a long term target for Barnsley and they had been trying to sign the player throughout the summer. [ [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=349691 Foster completes Barnsley move] ]

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.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10309~9713,00.html Stephen Foster profile] at barnsleyfc.co.uk
* [http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10413~9713,00.html Stephen Foster profile] at burnleyfootballclub.com
* [http://www.crewealex.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10414~9713,00.html Stephen Foster profile] at crewealex.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=13823|name=Stephen Foster

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 =