Jambos and Whites

Last updated : 17 July 2015 By @pnemad

Wayne Foster was born on 11 September 1963 in Tyldesley.

An English youth internationalist, Foster started his career at Bolton s, signing his first professional contract in August 1981. He made his debut  in a 2-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury  on 15 August 1981 in a Group Cup Round One match. Foster’s first goal came on his eighth appearance in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Derby on 2 January. His first league goal came in his next match two weeks later in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

However, after 105 appearances for the Wanderers  and 13 goals he left for Preston in 1985. His Lilywhite debut was a 4-2 home defeat to Peterborough on 17 August. Three days later he scored his first goal in a 2-1 League Cup victory over Blackpool. Further goals were scored in a 6-3 home defeat to Chester  on 12 October and a 2-1 win at home to Hartlepool on 22 October. In between that Foster was red carded in a 1-1 draw at Rochdale on 19 October. His final PNE goal was a 3-2 win at Mansfield on 29 March . His final North End match was a 4-0 defeat at Aldershot on 3 May in a season which saw PNE having to apply for re-election.

For the 1986/87 season Alex MacDonald signed him for Heart of Midlothian on a free transfer. His Hearts debut was a 1-0 defeat at Dundee United on 23 August, the first goal came in a 2-1 home win over Clydebank on 6 September.

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 scoring 7 goals in all competitions in both seasons.

Foster scored a brace twice, with both coming in the 1990/91 season with a 2-1 win against Airdrie on 17 August and a 3-1 UEFA Cup win against Bologna.

Whilst never regarded as anything more than a squad player, the Scottish Cup 4th Round tie on 20 February 1994 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. Hearts who opened the scoring inside the first three minutes, Hibs equalised before half time, But 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. In total he made 160 league appearances for Hearts netting 12 goals.

Foster returned to England and joined Hartlepool on loan, scoring on debut in a 3-1 win against former club Preston on 15 October 1994.

Foster left Hearts in 2 December to join Partick and later had spells with Falkirk, St.Mirren and Livingston. His last match was a 2-0 win at Clydebank on 14 March 1998.

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

He now works as a postman and is an accomplished golfer with a handicap of 5 playing at Dalmahoy on the outskirts of Edinburgh.