Richard Foster (Scottish footballer)

Richard Martyn Foster (born 31 July 1985) is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for Scottish League One side Partick Thistle. Foster has previously played for Aberdeen, Rangers , Bristol City, St Johnstone and most recently Ross County.

Richard Foster
Personal information
Full name Richard Martyn Foster[1]
Date of birth (1985-07-31) 31 July 1985
Place of birth Elgin, Scotland
Position(s) Right back
Club information
Current team
 Partick Thistle
Number 22
Youth career
Elgin Boys Club[2]
2001–2003 Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2012 Aberdeen 234 (8)
2010–2011 → Rangers (loan) 15 (0)
2012–2013 Bristol City 50 (0)
2013–2015 Rangers 38 (0)
2015–2016 Ross County 33 (0)
2016–2019 St Johnstone 96 (1)
2019–2020 Ross County 20 (0)
2020– Partick Thistle 9 (0)
National team
2004–2006 Scotland U21 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:37, 27 December 2020 (UTC)

Foster primarily plays as a right back, although he is a versatile player; goalkeeper is the only position in which he has never played.

In May 2018, Foster married Scottish singer Amy Macdonald.[3]

Club career

Aberdeen

Foster made his debut for Aberdeen aged 17 on 10 May 2003 in a Scottish Premier League match against Partick Thistle, coming on as a substitute for Darren Mackie. He scored his first goal for the club almost exactly a year later during a 2–1 league win over Dundee on 15 May 2004.[4] Foster became a first team regular under Jimmy Calderwood and signed a two-year contract extension on 31 July 2007.[5]

Although naturally a right winger, Foster made significant progress by playing in the left back position during the 2007–08 season, impressing with his man-marking performances when Aberdeen's first-choice left back Richie Byrne was injured. On 20 September 2007, he made his European debut in the first leg of Aberdeen's UEFA Cup first round tie against Dnipro, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Jackie McNamara as the game ended 0–0.[6] Foster started at left back in the return match in Ukraine on 4 October and provided the assist for Darren Mackie's opening goal, sending in the cross for the striker to head home from close range. Despite Dnipro salvaging a 1–1 draw,[7] Aberdeen progressed to the group stages of the tournament on away goals. On 20 December, Foster scored the first European goal of his career in Aberdeen's 4–0 UEFA Cup group stage win over Copenhagen.[8] The result put the Dons through to the last 32, where they lost 7–3 on aggregate to Bayern Munich; drawing the first leg 2–2 at Pittodrie and losing 5–1 in the second leg at the Allianz Arena.[9][10]

In February 2009, Foster was involved in a training ground bust up with Calderwood which led to him being omitted from the Aberdeen squad to face Dundee United on 21 February, after he called the then Dons manager "stupid".[11][12]

On Foster's return to Aberdeen, he was appointed as Paul Hartley's successor as Aberdeen captain for the 2011–12 season.[13][14]

Rangers (loan)

On 31 August 2010, Foster moved on a season-long loan to SPL champions Rangers, with Gers striker Andrius Velička moving in the opposite direction.[15] He was given the number 12 shirt[16] and made his Rangers debut on 11 September, coming on as a substitute for Kirk Broadfoot in a 2–1 victory over Hamilton Accies.[17] Foster made his first Rangers start on 20 October in a Champions League group stage match against Valencia at Ibrox, where he was selected as man of the match despite missing an open goal.[18]

Many of Foster's Rangers appearances came in the Champions League and Europa League. He played at right back in a 2–2 draw with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the second leg of the Europa League last 32, as Rangers won with the away goal rule coming into play. He was involved in an Old Firm match against Celtic on 2 March 2011, where the 1–0 defeat was overshadowed by scenes at the conclusion of the match.[19] Foster's European run continued in the last 16 first leg against PSV Eindhoven on 10 March, which ended 0–0.[20] He finished the SPL season with a winner's medal, having made enough appearances to contribute to Rangers title success. However he was cup-tied for their victorious 2010–11 Scottish League Cup campaign after being an unused substitute for Aberdeen against Alloa Athletic earlier in the season.[21][22][23]

Bristol City

On 6 January 2012 he signed for Championship side Bristol City on a two and a half-year contract[24] for an undisclosed fee.[25]

Rangers

Foster signed for Rangers on a two-year contract in June 2013.[26]

Ross County

After being released from Rangers,[27] Foster signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Ross County.[28] He picked up a winners' medal in the 2015–16 Scottish League Cup as Ross County beat Hibernian 2–1.[29]

St Johnstone

On 19 August 2016, Foster signed for St Johnstone, agreeing a contract until the end of the 2016–17 season.[30] He scored his first goal for St Johnstone against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 27 August 2016.[31] In April 2017, Foster brought St Johnstone in to disrepute after becoming involved in an on-pitch brawl with teammate Danny Swanson. Both players were suspended by the club[32] and were subsequently fined four weeks' wages.[33]

In February 2019, Foster signed an extension to his contract with St Johnstone, which was due to run until the summer of 2020.[34] In August 2019 Foster was involved in an incident with manager Tommy Wright on the training pitch and was dropped from the first-team.[35]

Return to Ross County

Foster left St Johnstone in August 2019 and signed a one-year contract with Ross County.[36] On 25 May 2020, Foster was released from his contract criticising the chairman for not taking advantage of the governments furlough scheme calling it "morally shocking".[37]

Partick Thistle

After leaving Ross County, Foster signed a one year deal with Scottish League One side Partick Thistle.[38]

International career

Foster was selected by the Scotland national under-21 football team.[39] He was selected for the full Scotland squad in February 2012,[40] but he did not play in the friendly with Slovenia.[39] Foster said in November 2018 that he was disappointed that he had not been recalled, given the lack of options in his preferred position.[41]

Career statistics
As of match played 9 March 2020 [42]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen 2002–03[43] Scottish Premier League 2000000020
2003–04[44] 1813000—211
2004–05[45] 2511010—271
2005–06[46] 2512010—281
2006–07[47] 3732010—403
2007–08[48] 33150307[lower-alpha 1]1482
2008–09[49] 3404020—400
2009–10[50] 37020102[lower-alpha 2]0420
2010–11[51] 100000—10
2011–12[52] 2210020—241
Total 2348190110912739
Rangers (loan) 2010–11[51] Scottish Premier League 15020007[lower-alpha 3]0240
Bristol City 2011–12[52] Championship 2000000—200
2012–13[53] 3000010—310
Total 500001000510
Rangers 2013–14[54] Scottish League One 23040003[lower-alpha 4]0300
2014–15[55] Scottish Championship 15030209[lower-alpha 5]0290
Total 3807020120590
Ross County 2015–16[56] Scottish Premiership 3204040—400
2016–17[57] 100020—30
Total 330406000430
St Johnstone 2016–17[57] Scottish Premiership 3311000—341
2017–18[58] 24010102[lower-alpha 2]0280
2018–19[59] 3702060—450
2019–20[60] 200030—50
Total 96140100201121
Ross County 2019–20[60] Scottish Premiership 2001000—210
Career total 486937030030158310
  1. Appearances in the UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in the Europa League
  3. Three appearances in the Champions League and four in the UEFA Cup
  4. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. Three appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and six in the Premiership play-offs

Honours
Rangers
Ross County

References
  1. The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2005.06. Cre8 Publishing. 2005. p. 16. ISBN 9-780954-855611.
  2. Richard Foster, AFC Heritage Trust
  3. Amy Macdonald and St Johnstone star Richard Foster tie the knot in Las Vegas wedding, Daily Record, 4 June 2018
  4. "Aberdeen 1–2 Dundee". BBC Sport. 15 May 2004.
  5. "Foster agrees new Dons extension". BBC Sport. 31 July 2007.
  6. "Aberdeen 0–0 Dnipro". BBC Sport. 20 September 2007.
  7. "Dnipro 1–1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 4 October 2007.
  8. "Aberdeen 4–0 Copenhagen". BBC Sport. 20 December 2007.
  9. "Aberdeen 2–2 Bayern Munich" BBC Sport. 14 February 2008.
  10. "Bayern Munich 5–1 Aberdeen" BBC Sport. 21 February 2008.
  11. "Foster feud over says Calderwood". BBC Sport. 25 February 2009.
  12. "Aberdeen will play football the right way with Mark McGhee in charge" Daily Record. 30 July 2009.
  13. "Foster under fire after being handed captain's armband". Press and journal. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. "Richard Foster shocked by Aberdeen captaincy". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. "Aberdeen agree swap with Rangers for Velicka and Foster". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010.
  16. "Rangers make deadline day bid for Aberdeen ace Richard Foster with Velicka offered in return". The Daily Record. 31 August 2010.
  17. "Hamilton Accies 1–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010.
  18. "Rangers 1–1 Valencia". BBC Sport. 20 October 2010.
  19. "Celtic 1–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 2 March 2011.
  20. "PSV Eindhoven 0 – 0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 10 March 2011.
  21. "Celtic 1 – 2 Rangers". BBC. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  22. "Alloa 0-3 Aberdeen". BBC. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  23. "Richard Foster: I played for two of Scotland's biggest clubs and failed to win the League Cup.. now is my chance". Daily Record. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  24. "CITY SNAP UP DONS SKIP RICKY". Bristol City F.C. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  25. "Bristol City agree fee for Aberdeen captain Ricky Foster". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  26. "Richard Foster agrees move to Rangers after Bristol City exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  27. Jack, Christopher (22 June 2015). "Richard Foster unhappy at manner of Rangers exit". Evening Times.
  28. "Ross County sign full-back Richard Foster". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  29. Wilson, Richard (13 March 2016). "Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  30. "Richard Foster: St Johnstone sign defender from Ross County". BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  31. "Inverness 2–1 St Johnstone". BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  32. "St Johnstone: Red card pair Swanson & Foster set for 'severe' punishments". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  33. "St Johnstone: Richard Foster & Danny Swanson fined for on-field bust-up". BBC Sport. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  34. "Richard Foster: Experienced right-back signs new St Johnstone deal until 2020". BBC Sport. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  35. "St Johnstone: Richard Foster unlikely to play for club again after training incident". BBC Sport. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  36. "Richard Foster: Ross County resign right-back after St Johnstone fallout". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  37. "Richard Foster: Out-of-contract defender says not furloughing players morally shocking". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  38. https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/its-firhill-for-foster/
  39. "Richard Foster wins call-up for Scotland". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  40. "Scotland team: Caldwell to lead team out for first time in Slovenia". The Scotsman. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  41. "St Johnstone's Richard Foster says he and Zander Clark merited Scotland call". BBC Sport. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  42. Richard Foster at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  43. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  44. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  45. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  46. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  47. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  48. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  49. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  50. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  51. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  52. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  53. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  54. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  55. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  56. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  57. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  58. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  59. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  60. "Games played by Richard Foster in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
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