GEORGE FOSTER

Full Name: George Walter Foster

Born: 26 September 1956

Came from: Apprentice   Went to: Derby County

First game: 20 February 1974   Last game: 20 October 1981

Appearances: 248 (234/14)   Goals: 6

Plymouth-born Foster was a prolific goalscorer in schoolboy football and seemed destined for stardom.

He progressed through Argyle's youth and reserve sides, initially playing as a forward before converting to central defence. He made his first team debut under Tony Waiters in February 1974 and would spend eight years with his home town club, helping Argyle win promotion from the Third Division in 1974-75.

A short loan spell with Torquay United in 1976, during which he scored three goals in six appearances, provided a valuable confidence boost, although opportunities in attack remained limited at Home Park. A fortuitous switch to centre-back following an injury to John Peddelty proved career-defining, and Foster established himself as a first-team regular during the 1977-78 season.

Although relatively small for a central defender, he was fiercely competitive and rarely allowed opposing forwards either time or space. Apart from a spell out with a broken leg, he was virtually ever-present over the next four seasons. He was rewarded with Argyle's Player of the Season award twice, in 1977-78 and 1979-80. In total, he made 248 appearances and scored six goals for his hometown club.

Towards the end of his time at Home Park, Foster joined Exeter City on loan during the 1981-82 campaign, becoming one of a select group of players to represent all three Devon clubs in the Football League. He made 28 appearances for the Grecians and remarkably won their Player of the Season award, becoming the first loanee to receive the honour.

He left Argyle in June 1982 after Derby County paid a reported £40,000 for his services. He made 30 appearances during the 1982-83 season before joining Mansfield Town the following year.

The move proved an inspired one. Foster spent the next decade with the Stags and, after being named the club's Player of the Year in 1983-84, was selected in the PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year in 1985-86 as Mansfield secured promotion. He also helped the club win the Football League Trophy at Wembley in 1987 before being appointed player-manager in February 1989. He guided Mansfield to another promotion from the Fourth Division in 1991-92, although he was dismissed after the club failed to retain their Third Division status. In total, he made 449 appearances and scored three goals during his ten seasons at Field Mill.

Foster retired having made 768 appearances and scored 12 goals in all competitions during a distinguished 20-year Football League career.

He later became player-manager of non-league Telford United between 1993 and 1995 before moving into scouting. After a spell as assistant manager at Lincoln City, he then worked under Glenn Hoddle as a scout at Wolverhampton Wanderers and later at Hoddle's football academy in Spain. He subsequently held scouting and recruitment roles with Stoke City, Hull City, Port Vale, Swansea City and Cardiff City.

Returning briefly to coaching at the age of 63, Foster became assistant manager of Gloucester City in December 2019 before following manager James Rowe to Chesterfield in the same role in November 2020. After stepping aside a few months later, he remained with the Derbyshire club as a scout until June 2022.