Ben Foster reveals what made him rejoin Wrexham as he gives his first interview since signing

Ben Foster reveals what made him rejoin his former club Wrexham as he gives his first interview since signing for them on Thursday.

The former Premier League goalkeeper, will again wear the Wrexham shirt ready to play a big part with eight crucial games remaining and promotion at stake.

Foster signed a temporary deal in the hope of getting back in the Football League for the first time since 2008/09.

INTERVIEW:

BF: Yeah, really, really good. I gotta say, I did, I’d settled in so quickly, so easily. It’s always, I think it doesn’t matter who you are or what, what you’ve done in your career. I think going into a new dressing room, a new change room full of 25 different blokes yeah, that you’ve probably never met before, it’s always a bit of a daunting prospect. So, yeah, this morning, the drive in a little bit sort of apprehensive nervous, but I’ve got to say, from the second I walked through the door, the reception, the welcoming, everybody just real good people, just made it really easy to settle in. So I’ve had a day’s training session already. It was absolutely brilliant, honestly. Like I said, I’ve been nine months retired now. You always worry that your hands might not be quite up to speed or something like that,  but I felt good. I did, I felt good and I’m looking forward to it.

Interviewer: So you’ve mentioned that nine months of time and what was it that tended you back into football as a player?

BF: So, obviously I’ve had some offers. You always get offers, obviously. You wouldn’t believe how many offers actually, it’s mad, you get some mad, far flung ones from all over the world. But even in the last sort of four or five weeks, I’ve had a few really interesting ones, ones that have really sparked my interest to the point of going, yeah, maybe I might consider something, actually. And then, like I say, yesterday morning, I was out of my bike, had a nice little 40 legs, I was cooking, like, brilliant, earning a day, and then got home, my phone was just blowing up, text messages from thinking, what the heck’s going on here? Anyway? Wrexahm interested goalie got injured, unfortunately for Rob. Would you be interested in short term deal to the end of the season? There’s eight games left, what do you think? Straight away, the fact that it was Wrexham is just a massive, massive plus. The fact that I’ve been here before obviously won something, won the LDV Vans in 2005, real good memories of the club. It was genuinely was the springboard to the rest of my career, pretty much. So I left on really good terms with the Wrexham fans and it was a very easy decision to make. Like, say, I got the call yesterday morning, pondered about it for maybe half an hour. With regards to any kind of negotiations and terms, it’s nothing that worries me too much. I don’t even really need to be paid too much, to be perfectly honest here. Just the fact that I could do it and now I’m looking forward to it because I think just speaking to the manager as well, Phil is just one of the most down to earth blokes you can meet, honestly. He’s proper, proper old school proper. And that’s the bit of that I like the most. When you talk to somebody like Phil Parkinson and he’s got a very important rule for signing for one of his football clubs, and that is just don’t be a plonker. Like, if you’re not a plonker, you’ve got a chance. If you’re not bad at football and you’re not a plonker, you could come and play for Phil Parkinson. And that was what sort of ranks all the way through. And that’s exactly what I found whenI walked through the door this morning.

Interviewer: So you mentioned coming back here. I’ve changed a lot, obviously, in the not least last couple of years. But is this feeling as you’re pulling onto the car park, bringing those memories back?

BF: If you like, yeah, it’s nice. You remember all the little streets and little roads, andI ‘m down the motorway and I see Mold, and as soon as I see Mold, I think I’m close. I’ve got to be close. Is that you say it Mold? Yeah, as soon as I see it, I think I’m close then. So, yeah, then you get off and you drive him up to the stadium. And I must admit, I totally forgot what the stadium like, the inner workings are, the change rooms, I forgot the layout, all that. But as soon as you walk through the door again, it’s like, I remember this. They still eat food in the canteen in the same place that we used to eat. It’s nice, it’s fantastic. And just going out on the pitch as well. I know it’s a lot different where the stands are here and then it’s all changed, but it’s still the Racecourse. And that’s the bit that I remember.

Interviewer: What does Wrexham mean to you, as I said, having effectively launched your career from your own story?

BF: Exactly that. They’ll always have a special place in my heart. I was moving house last week, last Thursday, actually, so I’ve had a busy couple of weeks. Don’t move house, by the way. Moving houses, don’t do that. But I had a load of stuff in storage, load of my football memorabilia, stuff that I’ve collected over the years. And it’s been in storage for the best part of ten years now, until we moved into a bigger house where we’ve got the room for it.So they basically re delivered everything to the house.I ‘m unpacking all sorts of stuff and framed pictures of shirts and this and that.And then I’ve stumbled across the LDV Vans final shirt. I’ve got my medal in there, load of pictures, ticket stubbed, the program from the day. And it’s just nice. As soon as I see that, I just think, oh yeah, that’s class. So I’ll get a picture for you guys. You can see it, but it looks lovely. We’re even just reminiscing with some people that remember that team and some of the players in the team that was my start of my career. That was what gave me the springboard for the rest of my career.

Interviewer: What are your memories of that first spell here, especially the final at down in Cardiff?

BF: Yeah, the first game was against Hereford in the LDV Vans away at Hereford. And Hereford, actually, I remember, because Hereford is not actually too far from where I live, on Midlands based anyway, so Hereford is in a million miles away and I never really got a chance to go and train with the lads too much. I think I have one training session, maybe before the game, and manager Dennis Smith was like, Listen, the game’s tomorrow night, but you can go home and then just meet us at the stadium if you want. And I remember that way thinking quite like, he trusts me to just go and meet the lads. Do you know what I mean? But that’s how it was and it’s still that same way now, where it’s just a real down to earth club, like a proper club. He trusted me and that’s the bit that made me feel like a proper first team player, an important first team player, part of the team. And that’s something I’ve never felt before as a 20 year old, I’ve never felt it before. So that was my very first taste of not only first team football, but being and feeling an integral member of a team.

Interviewer: Now, right back up to the modern day, how do you approach these final eight games on a personal level?

BF: Oh, personally, it’s business as usual, genuinely is for me, always. The best part of being a footballer is that 3 o’clock kickoff. As soon as that whistle blows on a 3 o’clock, that’s when you get all the adrenaline and the buzz and the bits. That’s when you can do stuff that you can’t normally do. You can’t do it on the training pitch, you can’t replicate that feeling. And that’s, for me, that’s a bit that I’ve always just found really easy to just go into autopilot mode. And I think if you’re in autopilot mode, you’re cooking. So, yeah, I have my first training session today. Hands felt fine, to be honest. Diving around, all good. I’ll probably say something different when I wakeup tomorrow morning, I’m peeling myself off the bedsheets, but now I felt good. But, yeah, like I said, the last eight games, it’s very much just try and not rock the boat too much. Just keep it steady, keep it going. And if we can get a nice little run together for the Notts County game and then put it to bed by beating them as well, then we’re cooking. 

HIS CAREER

The ex-England stopper began his career with Racing Club Warwick in Division One South of the Southern League Division One South.

Foster’s strong performances at Step 8 made him a popular choice for the Championship team Stoke City after being scouted.

Unfortunately for him, injury problems stopped his progress, going on to be loaned out to the likes of Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers and Kidderminster Harriers. 

By his own admission, it was his spell with at the Racecourse Ground which shaped the future of his career, arriving in North Wales in January 2005. He made his debut in the LDV Vans Northern Semi-Final against Hereford, was present 23 times in all competition, the last appearance in the Welsh Cup Final defeat to Swansea City.

Foster was part the same Wrexham side as Darren Ferguson, who is the son of Sir Alex Ferguson. The manager was impressed by Foster’s performances and offered him a four-year contract at Old Trafford.

While with the Red Devils he enjoyed his first stint with Watford in Championship, though on loan.

His first professional promotion was earned when he beat Leeds United 3-0 in Wembley Stadium’s play-off final.

Aidy Boothroyd, then his Manager, heaped praise upon him after his year playing for the Hertfordshire team, saying that he was going to be “the best goalkeeper in the whole world.”

Foster made his debut on the international stage in 2005, when he played at Old Trafford against Spain.

He was awarded Man of the Match in 2008/09’s Carling Cup final. United won the match 4-1 with penalties after a game that ended in a draw.

United won the competition in the next year. However, Foster joined Birmingham City at the end 2009/10 season to search for first team football.

Foster was in impressive form with them by winning the Carling Cup against Arsenal.

He was also awarded the Player of Birmingham City Season and Player’s Players of the Season.

A year later, he was at West Brom as a loanee, keeping ten clean sheets and then signing permanently.

The keeper spent six more years with the Baggies and won both Players’ Player of Year and Fans’ Player Of The Season in the following three years.

Foster was part the England team that traveled to Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. Foster kept a clean record in a draw against Costa Rica, despite it not being a memorable tournament.

Foster made over 180 appearances at all Hawthorns competitions before returning to Vicarage Road.

He man spent four years with Hornets before retiring in the summer 2022.

These days, he is often seen on his YouTube channel, ‘The Cycling GK,’ and his top-rated podcast, ‘The Fozcast.

Wrexham AFC welcomes Ben Foster back to the Club on a contract that will last until the end the current season.

This is what fans said as Ben Foster reveals what made him rejoin Wrexham as he gives his first interview since signing…

@iconic_ironic_: There’s no way this guy’s been signed to just sit on the bench. Enthusiasm, experience and energy. Can’t wait to see him on Saturday.

@jonathon_hogg: I couldn’t love this bloke any more. Great to see the Dennis Smith era still having an impact on the club as it is today.

@dezroberts1: You’ve got to love him like, you can see how genuinely excited he is 🙌

@LykeStuart: I first thought he’d be on the bench for Saturday but after seeing this and his podcast I reckon he’ll start!!!

@gkt_wales: He’s just brilliant – you couldn’t ask for more positivity – what a signing to close out the season 😁

@karlembo: How can you not listen to him and just smile? This is amazing 😂

@sasajones: I can’t stop smiling at this news. What a day.

@djevs74: Respect both ways the lads come back to finish where he started 👏🔴⚪️

@Jonoblfc9: The Racecourse will be rocking if he starts Saturday. The reception he’ll get will be amazing and deservedly so. Now let’s go win this league UP THE TOWN 🙏🏼🙌🏻

@DarrenObsesses: Love it. Phil’s one rule “Don’t be a plonker” This should definitely be a meme.

@ashley_stringer: Great interview

@DarthPunk69: Seems a top bloke. 👍🙂

@JayBex8391: Jesus he can talk 😂😂😂

@Pickanasty: What a bloody brilliant signing for Perky, absolute class man. Incredible how much influence the club has.

@SeanyPrince: Smiled all the way through that! Top bloke. I may or may not have had a little nostalgic tear in my eyes as he was talking 🥲🤣🤦🏻‍♂️ I need to go see the GP 🤣🤣🤣