John Oster

For the rugby league footballer of the 1920s and '30s, see John Oster (rugby league).

John Oster

Personal information
Full name	John Morgan Oster
Date of birth	8 December 1978 (1978-12-08)
Place of birth	Boston, England
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Winger, Central Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Doncaster Rovers
Number	16
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1994–1997	Grimsby Town	24	(3)
1997–1999	Everton	40	(1)
1999–2005	Sunderland	68	(5)
2001	→ Barnsley (loan)	2	(0)
2002	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	10	(5)
2003	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	7	(1)
2004–2005	→ Leeds United (loan)	8	(1)
2005	Burnley	15	(1)
2005–2008	Reading	76	(3)
2008–2009	Crystal Palace	31	(3)
2009–	Doncaster Rovers	89	(2)
National team‡
1997–2004	Wales	13	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:14, 24 September 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:44, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

John Morgan Oster (born 8 December 1978) is an English born Welsh international footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Football League Championship club Doncaster Rovers. Oster progressed through the youth ranks at Grimsby Town before moving on to Premier League Everton. He went on to feature for Sunderland and Barnsley before returning to Grimsby on loan, from there on he has also featured with Leeds United, Burnley, Reading and Crystal Palace.

Club career

Grimsby Town

Oster started his career at Grimsby Town and had progressed through the youth ranks at the club and was inducted into the first team in the same youth squad as players such as Danny Butterfield, Matthew Bloomer and Daryl Clare. He was promoted to the first team scene in the 1996-1997 season when the club were in the second tier of English football. Initially thrust into a relegation battle that was ultimately unsuccessfl and while in his only first team season at Blundell Park he was seemingly thrown in at the deep end by his manager Brian Laws, but managed to pull of some outstanding performances, netting 3 league goals in the process. He also managed to score a 30 yard drive in the FA Cup defeat against Sheffield Wednesday. Following Grimsby's relegation from the First Division, Oster was sold by The Mariners, for a fee of £1.5 million that saw him break the clubs record transfer sale that was initially held by Gary Croft following his move to Blackburn Rovers for £1 million a year earlier. Oster's transfer fee still remains the clubs record transfer fee received.

Everton

The Mariners sold Oster to Everton for £1.5 million in 1997, aged only 18 and having played only 25 matches. It transpired that he had made the wrong move though,^{[citation needed]} as he was rarely utilised in his favoured winger's role, in a 4–4–2 formation, but instead was asked to play as part of a midfield three, or in a Barmby/Beardsley style role alongside Duncan Ferguson. Everton's 3–5–2 formations under Walter Smith did not suit the fragile young winger, who was often caught in possession, and exposed in aerial battles.^{[citation needed]} Oster scored three times during his spell at Everton, once in the league against Barnsley, once in the League Cup against Scunthorpe United and once in the FA Cup against Coventry City.

Sunderland

Oster moved to Sunderland for a fee in excess of £1 million, but again failed to find regular form.^{[citation needed]} His low point at the club was when he was involved in an incident that ended the career of reserve player Mark Maley by accidentally shooting him in the eye with an air rifle. While at Sunderland, during the 2002–2003 season, he spent five months back on loan with his former club Grimsby Town. He enjoyed two fruitful and productive spells with the club during that season,^{[citation needed]} but despite this his goals and performances could not save The Mariners from relegation, as the club struggled to stop a slide down the Football League ladder. Oster was released by Sunderland in January 2005, shortly after returning to the Black Cats in disgrace from a loan at Leeds United, where he scored once against Millwall. There was little doubt that Grimsby would have liked Oster back^{[citation needed]} but could not afford him and their financial position and reduced league status made it an unattractive option for the player.^{[citation needed]}

Burnley

Following a short spell at Burnley, where he scored once against Coventry, Oster joined Reading on 2 August 2005.

Reading

Oster made his debut for Reading against Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 August 2005 as a substitute. In January 2007, he extended his contract at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2008. He notched his first Premier League goal in nearly 10 years against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium where the Royals were defeated for the first time in 2007, 2–1. After a couple of years as a squad player with the Royals, including a number of Premier League sub appearances, he was released by Reading following their relegation from the Premier League, on 16 May 2008.

Crystal Palace

Before Signing for Crystal Palace, Oster had a trial spell at Championship rivals Derby County. Oster signed an initial six month contract for Crystal Palace on 11 August 2008, which was extended by a further 18 months. He scored on his debut against Hereford United in the League Cup.

Doncaster Rovers

Oster left Crystal Palace in the summer and joined Doncaster Rovers on a six month contract. Oster made his Doncaster debut on 8 August 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute against Watford. He extended his contract in January 2010 to keep him at the club until the end of the 2009/10 season. He scored his first goal for Doncaster against Peterborough United on 16 March 2010.

Due to his impressive form in the 2009/10 season,^{[citation needed]} Rovers offered Oster the opportunity to renew his contract with the club. Oster agreed and committed to Doncaster for a further 2 years. Oster has been an ever present for Doncaster in the 2010/11 season after topping the Rovers' appearance chart in mid April with 38 starts. He produced one of his better performances for Doncaster in their impressive 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Preston North End, Oster later saying that staying up, Was in Doncaster's hands.

Club career statistics

(correct as of 21 March 2009)

Club	Season	League			Cup			Europe			Play-Offs			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Grimsby	1996–97	24	3	?	1	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	25	4	?
Total	1996–1997	24	3	?	1	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	25	4	?
Everton	1997–98	31	1	?	4	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	35	2	?
Everton	1998–99	9	0	?	5	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	1	?
Total	1997–2000	40	1	?	9	2	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	49	3	?
Sunderland	1999	10	0	?	3	0	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	13	0	?
Sunderland	2000–01	8	0	?	6	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	1	?
Total	2000–2001	18	0	?	9	1	?	-	-	-	-	-	-	27	1	?
Barnsley (loan)	2001–02	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	0	0
Total	2001–02	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	0	0
Grimsby (loan)	2002–03	17	6	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	6	0
Total	2002–03	17	6	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	6	0
Sunderland	2002–03	3	0	0	2	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	0	0
Sunderland	2003–04	38	5	6	8	0	0	-	-	-	2	0	0	48	5	6
Sunderland	2004–05	9	0	1	2	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	0	1
Total	2002–2005	50	5	7	12	0	0	-	-	-	2	0	0	61	5	7
Leeds (loan)	2004–05	8	1	1	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	0	1
Total	2004–2005	8	1	1	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	1	1
Burnley	2004–05	15	1	2	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	1	2
Total	2004–2005	15	1	2	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	1	2
Reading	2005–06	33	1	4	8	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	41	2	6
Reading	2006–07	25	1	1	6	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	31	1	2
Reading	2007–08	18	0	2	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	0	2
Total	2005–2008	76	2	7	14	1	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	90	3	10
Crystal Palace	2008–09	31	3	3	2	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	33	4	3
Total	2008–	31	3	3	2	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	33	4	3
Career totals		281	22	20	50	6	3	-	-	-	2	0	0	333	28	23

International career

Oster did not play in any games under John Toshack, his last cap for Wales being the 2–2 draw with Northern Ireland in 2004 under previous boss Mark Hughes.

Honours

Grimsby Town

• Supporters Young Player of the Year: 1997

Reading

• Football Championship Winner 2005–06

External links

• John Oster career stats at Soccerbase