Wayne Foster

Wayne Paul Foster
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-09-11) 11 September 1963
Place of birth Tyldesley, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1985 Bolton Wanderers 105 (13)
1985–1986 Preston North End 31 (3)
1986–1994 Heart of Midlothian 160 (12)
1994 → Hartlepool United (loan) 4 (1)
1994–1996 Partick Thistle 35 (8)
1996 Falkirk 1 (1)
1996–1997 St Mirren 2 (2)
1997–1998 Livingston 14 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Wayne Foster (born 11 September 1963 in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker in England and Scotland during the 1980s and 1990s.

Career

An English youth internationalist, Foster started his career at Bolton Wanderers, signing his first professional contract in August 1981. However, after over 100 appearances for the Wanderers he left for Preston North End in 1985 after losing his place at Burnden Park. He lasted less than a year at Deepdale before Alex MacDonald signed him for Heart of Midlothian on a free transfer.

Foster spent 7 seasons at Tynecastle. He was initially regarded to as a first team regular in his first 2 seasons but in a total of 65 starts he only amassed 14 goals. He was used sparingly in later seasons as he still struggled to get the goals, failing to score a single goal from 17 appearances in the 1992–93 season.

Whilst never regarded as anything more than a squad player, it was this game that put Foster into Heart of Midlothian folklore. Hearts had gone on a run of games undefeated against arch-rivals Hibernian which had risen to 20 games before the sides were drawn together in the 4th Round of the Scottish Cup at Hibs' ground, Easter Road. With Hearts struggling in the league under Sandy Clark, and having the 'away disadvantage', Hibs were considered favourites for the tie - a result which would give them their first win since 4 January 1989 and end their jinx.

However, it was Hearts who opened the scoring inside the first three minutes, when John Robertson scored, one of 27 goals he scored against Hibs in his career. Hibs equalised before half time when Keith Wright headed home and dominated the second half, almost taking the lead when Hearts defender Craig Levein hit his own post. In an attempt to reverse the tide, Hearts replaced the tiring Robertson with Foster. With just four minutes remaining, Gary Mackay played a long ball over the top of the Hibs defence for Foster to run on for. Using his pace, he controlled the ball and fired the ball through the legs of advancing Hibs goalkeeper Jim Leighton and into the net, right in front of the jubilant Hearts support.

Foster has the distinction of having a short story named after him in Irvine Welsh's 1994 collection The Acid House.

Personal life

Foster now works as a postie, Foster is an accomplished golfer with a handicap of 5 playing at Dalmahoy on the outskirts of Edinburgh. He also lays in his back garden in a pair of speedos.

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