Ben Foster (footballer)

Ben Foster (born 3 April 1983) is an English footballer. He is a former England national team goalkeeper who has now retired . He holds the record for having done the most number of saves (1178) in premier league history.

Foster started his football career at Racing Club Warwick and in 2001, secured his first transfer to Stoke City. Although considered promising, Foster struggled and could not get regular game-time in his youth days.

In 2005, he departed, without playing a single match, from Stoke City after a series of loan spells and joined Manchester United where he played as a back-up to Edwin van der Sar. He was loaned twice, consecutively, for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 to Watford before spending three more seasons at Manchester United as a substitute goalkeeper. He finally left Manchester United for Birmingham City in 2010.

It was from this time that Foster started to get regular starts in all the teams he played till now. At Birmingham City, he instantly established himself in the main eleven for the 2010-11 season. The next season, West Bromwich Albion successfully managed to seal a loan deal with Birmingham City for Foster before finalising the transfer in 2012. He spent a total of seasons at West Brom before leaving the club for Watford in 2018. Since joining Watford, he has been praised several times by analysts for his calm presence in the goal behind a considerably weak Watford defense and has won back-to-back Premier league goalkeeper of the year awards at the London Football Awards.

Personal life
Born in Leamington Spa, Ben Foster used to work as a chef before he started his career as a footballer. He is currently married to Kate Foster with whom he has 2 children. The family lives in a self-designed house at Tiddington, Warwickshire. Besides football, Foster has deep interest in cycling and has taken part in various cycling tours.

Career statistics
Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke City2001–02Second Division000000—00002002–03First Division00—00——002003–04First Division000000——002004–05Championship000000——00Total000000—0000Bristol City (loan)2002–03Second Division0000——0000Tiverton Town (loan)2002–03Southern League Premier Division160————160Stafford Rangers (loan)2003–04Southern League Premier Division10————10Kidderminster Harriers (loan)2004–05League Two20————20Wrexham (loan)2004–05League One170———40210Manchester United2007–08Premier League1000000000102008–09Premier League2030301000902009–10Premier League9000102010130Total12030403010230Watford (loan)2005–06Championship4401000—304802006–07Premier League2903010——330Total7304010—30810Birmingham City2010–11Premier League3801040——430West Bromwich Albion (loan)2011–12Premier League3702000——390West Bromwich Albion2012–13Premier League3000010——3102013–14Premier League2401000——2502014–15Premier League2802000——3002015–16Premier League1504000——1902016–17Premier League3800000——3802017–18Premier League3703010——410Total209013020——2240Watford2018–19Premier League3800000——3802019–20Premier League3800000——380Total7600000——760Career total444020011030804860

International

Source:

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsEngland200710200930201010201310201420Total80

Honours
Wrexham
Football League Trophy: 2004–05

Watford
Football League Championship play-offs: 2006
FA Cup runner-up: 2018–19

Manchester United
Football League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10

Birmingham City
Football League Cup: 2010–11

Individual
Watford Player of the Season: 2006–07
Alan Hardaker Trophy: 2009, 2011
Birmingham City Player of the Season: 2010–11
Birmingham City Players' Player of the Season: 2010–11
West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Player of the Season: 2011–12, 2013–14
West Bromwich Albion Players' Player of the Season: 2011–12, 2013–14
London Football Awards Goalkeeper of the Year: 2018, 2019

References

Other websites

Profile  at the Watford F.C. website

Category:1983 births
Category:Living people
Category:English association football goalkeepers
Category:Sportspeople from Warwickshire
Category:Premier League players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Watford F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players