Ben Foster (footballer)
Ben Anthony Foster (born 3 April 1983) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also runs a YouTube channel, "The Cycling GK", and The Fozcast podcast.
|
Foster playing for West Bromwich Albion in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Anthony Foster | ||
| Date of birth | 3 April 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Leamington Spa, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2000 | Racing Club Warwick | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | Racing Club Warwick | ||
| 2001–2005 | Stoke City | 0 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Bristol City (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | → Tiverton Town (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Stafford Rangers (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2005 | → Wrexham (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2005–2010 | Manchester United | 12 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | → Watford (loan) | 44 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Watford (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Birmingham City | 38 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 37 | (0) |
| 2012–2018 | West Bromwich Albion | 172 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Watford | 125 | (0) |
| 2023 | Wrexham | 12 | (0) |
| Total | 505 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2014 | England | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Foster began his professional career in 2001 with Stoke City, having joined from Racing Club Warwick. However, he never made an appearance for Stoke, and spent time on loan with Bristol City, Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham. He switched permanently to Manchester United in July 2005, but again struggled to break into the first team, and spent two successive seasons on loan to Watford from August 2005 until the end of the 2006–07 season.
Having played just 23 times for Manchester United (although he also played in the League Cup-winning teams of 2009 and 2010), Foster switched to Birmingham City in May 2010. An ever-present in the league for Birmingham, he was also part of the Birmingham team that won the 2011 League Cup. Following Birmingham's relegation to the Championship at the end of the season, he was loaned to West Bromwich Albion, and moved there permanently in June 2012. He returned to Watford in July 2018. He announced his retirement from football in September 2022 before returning to Wrexham in March 2023. He again retired in August 2023 after helping Wrexham to the National League title.
Foster made his international debut for England in February 2007 against Spain. Although he announced his retirement from international football in May 2011, he returned in February 2013, and was selected in England's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.