Frank Foster (rugby league) explained

Frank Foster
Fullname:Frank Foster
Birth Place:Maryport, Cumbria, England
Death Date:[1]
Club1:Workington Town
Year1start:1960
Year1end:64
Appearances1:111
Year2start:1964
Year2end:69
Appearances2:135
Tries2:7
Goals2:7
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:35
Club3:Bradford Northern
Year3start:1968
Year3end:69
Appearances3:35
Club4:Barrow
Year4start:1969
Year4end:71
Appearances4:53
Club5:Oldham
Year5start:1971
Year5end:73
Appearances5:47
Tries5:2
Goals5:25
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:56
Teama:Cumberland
Yearastart:1959
Yearaend:73
Appearancesa:8
Teamb:Great Britain
Yearbstart:1967
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
Coachteam1:Barrow
Coachyear1start:1973
Coachyear1end:83
Coachteam2:Whitehaven
Coachyear2start:1983
Coachyear2end:85
Retired:yes
Updated:8 May 2012
Source:[2] [3]

Frank Foster (25 April 1940 – 20 December 2019) born in Maryport[4] was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, Hull Kingston Rovers, Bradford Northern, Barrow and Oldham, as a and coached at club level for Barrow and Whitehaven.[3]

Playing career

Workington Town

Foster started his professional career with Workington Town, who signed him in 1958.[5] He played for the club until 1965, when he was signed by Hull Kingston Rovers for a fee of £6,500.[6]

Hull Kingston Rovers

Frank Foster played at in Hull Kingston Rovers' 25–12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1966 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966, and played as an interchange replacing John Hickson) in the 8–7 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1967 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley on Saturday 14 October 1967.

Later career

In 1968, Foster was sold to Bradford Northern for a fee of £5,000, with Geoff Wriglesworth and Terry Clawson transferring from Bradford to Hull KR as part of the deal. A year later, Foster was signed by Barrow for a transfer fee of £6,000.[7] He finished his playing career with Oldham.

Representative honours

Frank Foster won a cap for Great Britain while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1967, against Australia.[2]

Frank Foster represented Cumberland on 8 occasions.[8]

Coaching career

1973 saw Barrow appoint their former player, Foster as coach. He built a side which won the Second Division championship in 1975/76, and reached a John Player Trophy Final in 1981, only to lose 5–12 to Warrington. Phil Hogan was transferred to Hull Kingston Rovers in 1978 for a then world record fee of £33,000. Barrow fluctuated between divisions and Foster was eventually replaced by Tommy Dawes in April 1983.[9] The same year Foster was appointed coach at Whitehaven where he remained in charge until the summer of 1985.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kemp . Dan . Sadness as Hull KR announce death of legendary former player . 22 December 2019 . Hull Daily Mail . 21 December 2019.
  2. Web site: Statistics: Frank Foster. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  3. Web site: Coach Statistics: Frank Foster . rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  4. Rugby Leaguer & League Express 30 December 2019
  5. Web site: Rugby league mourns death of hard man Frank Foster . News and Star . 27 May 2024 . 24 December 2019.
  6. Web site: Frank Foster: A Rugby League enforcer . Total Rugby League . 27 May 2024 . 29 December 2019.
  7. Web site: Bulls mourn loss of former Bradford Northern captain Frank Foster . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 27 May 2024 . 22 December 2019.
  8. Frank Foster - true leader . Rugby League Journal . 70 . Spring 2020 . 35.
  9. Book: Howes . David . Fletcher . Raymond . amp . Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1983–84 . 1983 . Queen Anne Press . 0-356-09729-3 . 22.
  10. Book: Howes . David . Fletcher . Raymond . amp . Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985–86 . 1985 . Queen Anne Press . 0-356-10944-5 . 88.