Welcome to Wrexham: Hero goalkeeper Ben Foster in profile

Welcome to Wrexham, the acclaimed collection documenting the beleaguered Welsh soccer membership’s shock takeover by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, is about to return to Disney+ for a second spherical.

This time recounting the rollercoaster occasions of the 2022/23 season, the most recent instalment options an all-important cameo from former England goalkeeper and Premier League veteran Ben Foster, who (spoiler alert) returns from retirement for one final hurrah with one in every of his outdated golf equipment.

Born in Leamington Spa in 1983, Foster, now 40, started his profession with Racing Membership Warwick of the Southern League Division One West, additionally coaching to be a chef at Cafe Rouge as a fallback in case his soccer profession didn’t pan out.

In 2001, he was taken on by Stoke Metropolis however by no means made a primary crew look. As a substitute, he was shipped out on mortgage to at least one facet after one other: Bristol Metropolis, Tiverton City, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and, most presciently, Wrexham.

Foster made 17 appearances for the Crimson Dragons in 2005, lifting his first silverware when the membership gained the Soccer League Trophy, earlier than discovering that his instant future lay with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Crimson Devils as an alternative.

The keeper solely really performed 12 occasions for Manchester United over the course of 5 years as he confronted stiff competitors from the good Edwin van der Sar and was twice loaned out to Watford, the place he made 73 appearances between 2005 and 2007 and earned his first England caps underneath Steve McClaren.

One in all his United video games, nevertheless, was the 2009 League Cup Remaining, through which Ferguson’s males beat Tottenham 4-1 on penalties, with Foster utilizing knowledge saved on an iPod to find out which method to dive for every taker – a beautiful interval element.

He was ultimately bought to Birmingham Metropolis in 2010 and appeared to profit from a interval of higher stability, firmly establishing himself as a dependable pair of arms on the Blues after which throughout lengthy spells with West Bromwich Albion and once more at Watford earlier than lastly asserting his retirement in September 2022 on the grand outdated age of 39, in a position to look again on a effective profession that noticed him make 390 Premier League appearances and go to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil with Roy Hodgson’s England.

However that was to not be the top of Ben Foster’s story.

Out of nowhere, he returned to the limelight by unexpectedly re-signing for McElhenney and Reynold’s Wrexham in March 2023 as emergency cowl for the facet’s common No.1, Rob Lainton, out injured.

Foster saved a clear sheet on his debut, a 3-0 win over York, earlier than, extremely, saving a 96th minute penalty in a prime of the desk conflict with Notts County to present Wrexham a 3-2 win over their nearest rivals and ship them three factors clear on the summit.

Afterwards, Foster revealed the house owners’ overjoyed response: “Rob kissed me totally on the lips and Ryan referred to as me a double good-looking b*****d. I’ll take that.

“I stated to them ‘Pay attention, you might as properly finish the documentary now. You’ll by no means get a greater second than what’s simply occurred’.”

Wrexham went on to safe the Nationwide League title and win promotion with a 3-1 win over Boreham Wooden, sending the revamped Racecourse Floor into raptures, because the present’s newest season will recount.

“At full-time I needed to get my GoPro fast in my purpose as a result of anyone tried to nick it,” Foster stated of the pitch invasion by euphoric Welsh followers that adopted the ultimate whistle.

“They rugby tackled me and I used to be on the ground pondering: ‘That is bonkers’. Then I used to be on shoulders. I used to be clinging on [to the camera] with expensive life… You can see how a lot it meant to everyone, folks had been on the pitch inside seconds.”

Foster signed a brand new one-year contract that summer season after which, in August, performed an element in one other outstanding sport, a 5-5 draw with Swindon, after which he abruptly introduced his retirement (once more), this time, presumably, for good.

As refreshingly candid as ever, the keeper instructed Wrexham’s followers: “The sincere fact is that my performances this season haven’t reached the extent I demand of myself, and I really feel that now could be the fitting time to retire.

“On the forefront of my thoughts, when making this determination, was not solely what was greatest for me but additionally the membership, and making the choice now provides the membership each alternative to evaluate their choices earlier than the [transfer] window closes.

“Wrexham will all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart.”

Responding on social media, Reynolds paid tribute to the outgoing shot-stopper by tweeting: “He constructed reminiscences I’ll by no means let go of for so long as I stay. I really like this man. Thanks for all the things, Ben.”

The 2 males had clearly turn out to be unlikely pals, as demonstrated by the Deadpool actor storming right into a press convention after the Boreham Wooden win to say Foster’s sweaty shirt as a memento.

Supervisor Phil Parkinson additionally hailed Foster as a “a mannequin skilled” and stated: “It takes an enormous particular person to make the choice he has and one who actually understands this soccer membership, with the timing of his determination.

“I’m certain I converse for everybody, when thanking him for his contribution that went far past that one magnificent penalty save towards Notts County to assist us achieve promotion final season.

“Wrexham AFC was a greater place for having Ben Foster across the membership.”

Outdoors of soccer, Foster is understood for the YouTube channel he began throughout the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, “Ben Foster – The Biking GK”, on which he posts movies of his adventures on two wheels, and for his podcast Fozcast – The Ben Foster Podcast.