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Luke Foster
Foster playing for Oxford United
Personal information
Full name Luke James Foster[1]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Stevenage
Number 6
Youth career
2002–2004 Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
2004–2005 → Scarborough (loan) 7 (0)
2005 → Alfreton Town (loan) 18 (3)
2005–2007 Lincoln City 16 (1)
2006 → York City (loan) 5 (0)
2007 Stalybridge Celtic 4 (1)
2007–2010 Oxford United 101 (3)
2010 Mansfield Town 16 (0)
2010– Stevenage 1 (0)
International career‡
2008 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:07, 7 August 2010 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:02, 8 August 2010 (UTC)

Luke James Foster (born 8 September 1985) is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Stevenage as a defender.

Foster started his career as a trainee with Sheffield Wednesday, signing a professional contract with the club at the age of 18. He joined Scarborough on work experience in September 2004, and was also loaned out to Conference North side Alfreton Town in February 2005 until the end of the 2004–05 season. On returning to his parent club, Foster was released, and joined Lincoln City in June 2005. After failing to cement a first-team place at Lincoln, he was loaned out to York City the following season on a two-month loan, making a handful of appearances for the club.

In January 2007, Foster was released by Lincoln, and he joined Stalybridge Celtic on a short-term contract, making six appearances for the club. He left Stalybridge a month later, in order to join Oxford United on an initial six-month deal. Foster went on to play over 100 times for Oxford in just under three years at the club, winning two end of season awards in the process. However, he joined Mansfield Town in January 2010 for an undisclosed fee after he was told that his contract would not be extended at Oxford. He was made club captain at Mansfield and played regularly until the end of the 2009–10 season. Despite this, he left the club at the end of the season and joined Stevenage on a two-year contract in May 2010.

Club career

Early career

Born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, Foster began his career as a trainee with Sheffield Wednesday.[3] He joined Scarborough on work experience in September 2004.[4] Foster made his debut for Scarborough in a 1–0 defeat to Hereford United, coming on as a 76th minute substitute.[5] He started the following match in the club's 2–1 loss at Carlisle United,[6] and went on to make a total of eight appearances during his two month loan spell.[7] Foster returned to his parent club, but failed to make any first-team appearances, and was subsequently loaned out to Conference North outfit Alfreton Town in February 2005 until the end of the season.[8] He made his Alfreton debut in the club's 1–0 victory against Lancaster City at Giant Axe, playing the whole game in the centre of defence.[9] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 loss against Southport,[10] and scored again a week later in Alfreton's 2–1 defeat against Kettering Town.[11] His third goal for Alfreton came in the following game, scoring the first goal in the club's 3–0 win at Barrow.[12] He played his last game for the club in the final game of the 2004–05 season, in a 3–1 loss at Stafford Rangers.[13] Foster played a total of 18 games for the club, scoring three goals.[14]

On his return to Sheffield Wednesday in May 2005, Foster was released and later joined League Two side Lincoln City on a one-year contract ahead of the 2005–06 season.[15] Foster made his debut for Lincoln in the club's first game of the season, a 2–1 defeat to Notts County.[16] However, he failed to hold down a first-team place and had to wait a month to make another appearance for the club – coming on as a 73rd minute substitute in Lincoln's 2–0 win against Stockport County.[17] However, he was unable to string a series of appearances together throughout the campaign, and made a total of 17 appearances, scoring once in a 5–0 win against Grimsby Town towards the latter stages of the season.[18] Despite a lack of first-team appearances, Foster signed an extended one-year contract at the end of the season.[19] However, Foster did not feature again for Lincoln during the 2006–07 campaign and subsequently joined Conference National team York City on a month's loan in October 2006, making his debut for the club in a 1–0 win against Aldershot Town.[20][21] This loan deal was extended for another month,[22] but was curtailed after Foster suffered an ankle injury. He made his last appearance for York in the club's 1–0 loss to Bristol City in the FA Cup.[23] In total, he made six appearances for York during a two month loan spell with the club.[24]

Foster returned to Lincoln in December, and a month later was told by the club that he was free to find another club after being deemed surplus to requirements at Sincil Bank.[25] Shortly after, in January 2007, he mutually agreed to cancel his contract with Lincoln, enabling him to join Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic.[26] He made his debut for Stalybridge in the FA Trophy, starting in a 1–1 draw against Kettering Town, scoring an own-goal just before half-time.[27] He scored his first goal for the club against one of his former employers, Alfreton, netting the winner in a 2–1 victory.[28] He made a total of six appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring once.[29]

Oxford United

After just a month at Stalybridge, Foster returned to the highest tier in non-league football, joining Oxford United in February 2007.[30] He made his Oxford debut two weeks after signing for the club, starting in a 1–0 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.[31] He played a total of nine games during the club's 2006–07 campaign, scoring once in a 2–0 win over St Albans City at Clarence Park.[32] At the end of the season, he signed a new one-year deal with Oxford keeping him contracted to the club throughout the 2007–08 season.[33] Foster featured off the bench in the club's first two fixtures of the season, but only made one further appearance during September 2007[34] – with Oxford manager Jim Smith stating that Foster needed to "improve the way he leads his life" in order to "stand a chance" of getting back into the Oxford first-team.[35] After this, Foster witnessed an upturn in form, featuring regularly until the end of the season, although he was given a one match suspension following his sending off against Northwich Victoria in March 2008.[36] At the end of the 2007–08 season, during which he made 37 appearances,[37] he won Oxford's Supporters Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards.[38] As a result of his impressive form, he signed a new two-year contract with the club in July 2008.[39]

During the 2008–09 season, Foster continued to feature regularly for Oxford, starting in both of the club's two defeats at the start of the season – a 3–0 defeat to newly-promoted Barrow, followed by a 1–0 loss to Weymouth at the Kassam Stadium. He assisted one of the goals in the following game, a 6–3 win against Eastbourne Borough. However, in Oxford's next game against Wrexham, Foster was sent off after just 11 minutes for "denying Wrexham's Shaun Whalley a clear goalscoring opportunity".[40] As a result, he missed the next two games, returning to first-team action against Ebbsfleet United in late August 2008, but was again sent off in the first-half for violent conduct.[41] Foster did not feature again in the first-team for another month, playing in a 3–1 win against Cambridge United.[42] He consequently regained his place in Oxford's defence, and played regularly until the end of the season. He scored his only goal of the season in a 2–1 victory over Lewes in February 2009.[43] Foster made a total of 41 appearances for the club during the season, scoring one goal as Oxford narrowly missed out on a place in the Conference National play-offs.[44][45] The following campaign, Foster was again a regular under manager Chris Wilder, starting in all of Oxford's games up until October 2009 as Oxford started the season well.[46] He scored in Oxford's 1–1 draw against Barrow during the same month.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). A month later, Foster was sent off in a 1–1 draw against Barrow in the FA Cup, resulting in Barrow being awarded a penalty and subsequently scoring.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). After Oxford's 3–1 loss to Barrow in the replay ten days later, Foster did not feature again until the end of December,Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). starting in a 1–1 draw against Salisbury City.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). However, this turned out to be Foster's last game for Oxford, as manager Chris Wilder revealed that Oxford would not be extending Foster's contract in the summer, stating "we were not going to extend Luke's contract after the summer. He wanted that option to pursue offers from other clubs and he has done that".[47]

Mansfield Town

He subsequently entered talks with Cambridge United in January 2010, although nothing materialised.[48][47] Mansfield Town also enquired about signing Foster, although they initially decided against making a bid, citing Foster's "high wages as the main stumbling block".[49] However, a week later, Mansfield signed Foster on a one-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee and he was instantly appointed the club captain.[50][51] He made his debut in Mansfield's 4–0 victory over Chester City,[52] but was sent off in a 1–0 defeat to York in March,[53] which resulted in him receiving a two-match suspension.[54] He made a total of 16 appearances for Mansfield during the second half of the 2009–10 season.[55] At the end of the season, Foster made a comment on his Facebook page, calling the club a "shambles", but later apologised to both the club and its fans.[56] He was released in May 2010, with Mansfield boss David Holdsworth saying "it's a practical decision for both the club and Luke".[57]

Stevenage

Foster joined newly-promoted League Two side Stevenage on a two-year contract on 31 May 2010.[58] He was assigned the number 6 shirt ahead of the 2010–11 season.[59] Foster made his Stevenage debut in the club's first ever Football League fixture, a 2–2 draw against Macclesfield Town, playing the whole game in the centre of defence.[60]

International career

Foster was named on standby for the England C team in November 2007 for a game against Finland C,[61] but did not receive a call-up.[62] He was called up again to represent England C in a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo in September 2009.[63][64] Foster played the whole match as England C lost 6–2 to Bosnia, assisting Luke Moore's goal.[65]

Personal life

Foster grew up in South Yorkshire.[66] He has described himself as a "family man",[66] but admits to making bad lifestyle choices in his "younger years".[66] He has one son, whom his partner gave birth to in January 2010.[66]

Career statistics

As of 7 August 2010.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sheffield Wednesday
2004–05[67]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Scarborough (loan)
2004–05[7]
7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
Total 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
Alfreton Town (loan)
2004–05[68]
16 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 3
Total 16 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 3
Lincoln City
2005–06[69]
16 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 1
2006–07[70]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 1
York City (loan)
2006–07[24]
5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Total 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Stalybridge Celtic
2006–07[71]
4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 1
Total 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 1
Oxford United
2006–07[72]
9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
2007–08[37]
32 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 37 0
2008–09[44]
39 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 1
2009–10[73]
21 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 25 1
Total 101 3 8 0 0 0 3 0 112 3
Mansfield Town
2009–10[55]
16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Total 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Stevenage
2010–11[74]
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career totals 166 8 9 0 0 0 7 0 182 8

Footnotes

A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference North, Football League, and Football Conference.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ^ Rollin, Glenda and Jack (2004). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2004–2005. Headline Book Publishing. p. 483. ISBN 0755313119.
  2. ^ a b "First Team". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  3. ^ "Luke Foster". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  4. ^ "Scarborough sign up Foster". BBC Sport. 2004-09-20. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  5. ^ "Hereford 1-0 Scarborough". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  6. ^ "Carlisle United 2-1 Scarborough". BBC Sport. 2004-09-24. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  7. ^ a b "Scarborough 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-18. Cite error: The named reference "Scarborough 2004/2005 player appearances" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Luke Foster - All time playing career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  9. ^ "Lancaster City 0-1 Alfreton Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  10. ^ "Southport 3-1 Alfreton Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  11. ^ "Alfreton Town 1-2 Kettering Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  12. ^ "Barrow 0-3 Alfreton Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  13. ^ "Stafford Rangers 3-1 Alfreton Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  14. ^ "2004-05 season - Appearances for Luke Foster". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  15. ^ "Foster agrees deal with Lincoln". BBC Sport. 2005-06-18. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  16. ^ "Notts County 2-1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 2005-08-13. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  17. ^ "Lincoln City 2-0 Stockport". BBC Sport. 2005-09-27. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  18. ^ "Lincoln 5-0 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 2006-03-25. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  19. ^ "Foster signs new deal at Lincoln". BBC Sport. 2006-05-11. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  20. ^ "York 1-0 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  21. ^ "York complete Foster loan swoop". BBC Sport. 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  22. ^ "York extend Foster's loan spell". BBC Sport. 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  23. ^ "York 0-1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  24. ^ a b "York 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19. Cite error: The named reference "York 2006/2007 player appearances" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  25. ^ "A window of opportunity". Lincoln City F.C. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  26. ^ "Centre-back Foster leaves Lincoln". BBC Sport. 2007-01-12. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  27. ^ "Stalybridge 1-1 Kettering Town". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  28. ^ "Alfreton Town 1-2 Stalybridge". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  29. ^ "Luke Foster - 2005-06 Playing Career". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  30. ^ "Defender Foster makes Oxford move". BBC Sport. 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  31. ^ "Oxford Utd 0-1 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  32. ^ "St Albans 0-2 Oxford". BBC Sport. 2007-04-14. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  33. ^ "Foster extends stay with Oxford". BBC Sport. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  34. ^ "Oxford Utd 1-1 Halifax". BBC Sport. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  35. ^ "Foster gets a warning". Oxford Mail. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2007-09-25. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ "Oxford frustrated by Foster ban". BBC Sport. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  37. ^ a b "Oxford 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2008-07-29. Cite error: The named reference "Oxford 2007/2008 player appearances" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  38. ^ "Fozzy: One of the highlights of my career". Oxford United F.C. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  39. ^ "Foster signs new Oxford contract". BBC Sport. 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  40. ^ "Wrexham 2-0 Oxford". BBC Sport. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  41. ^ "Ebbsfleet 1-1 Oxford". BBC Sport. 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  42. ^ "Oxford Utd 3-1 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  43. ^ "Oxford Utd 2-1 Lewes". BBC Sport. 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  44. ^ a b "Oxford 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19. Cite error: The named reference "Oxford 2008/2009 player appearances" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  45. ^ "English Conference Premier 2008-2009 - Table". Non-League Football. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  46. ^ "English Conference Premier 2009-2010 - Table". Non-League Football. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  47. ^ a b "Oxford chairman back Chris Wilder transfer policy". BBC Sport. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  48. ^ Murray, Jon (2010-01-07). "Oxford United defender Foster in Cambridge talks". Witney Gazette. Retrieved 2010-01-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ "Stags boss rules out move for Foster". Nottingham Evening Post. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  50. ^ "Mansfield Town sign Oxford United defender Foster". BBC Sport. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  51. ^ "Defender Luke Foster looks for Mansfield aggression". BBC Sport. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  52. ^ "Mansfield Town 4-0 Chester City". BBC Sport. 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  53. ^ "Mansfield 0-1 York". BBC Sport. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  54. ^ "Stags' Foster handed two-game ban". Nottingham Evening Post. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-26. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  55. ^ a b "Mansfield 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  56. ^ "No budget mystery here says Stags chairman". Mansfield Chad. 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-14. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  57. ^ "Luke Foster leaves". Mansfield Town F.C. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  58. ^ "Stevenage boss Graham Westley signs two-year deal". BBC Sport. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  59. ^ "Squad numbers assigned". Stevenage F.C. 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  60. ^ "Stevenage 2-2 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  61. ^ "Cool-hand Luke gets England call-up". Oxford Mail. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  62. ^ "Finland C 0-2 England C". BBC Sport. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  63. ^ "C squad for Bosnia". TheFA.com. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  64. ^ "C team touch down". TheFA.com. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  65. ^ "England C taste defeat". TheFA.com. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  66. ^ a b c d "Stags centre half Luke Foster at home already". Chad. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2010-09-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  67. ^ "Sheffield Wed 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  68. ^ "Alfreton 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  69. ^ "Lincoln 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  70. ^ "Lincoln 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  71. ^ "Stalybridge 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerfactsuk. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  72. ^ "Oxford 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  73. ^ "Oxford 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  74. ^ "Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
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