FORMER ENGLAND GOALKEEPER Ben Foster has announced his retirement.
The 39-year-old left Watford at the end of last season and has decided to bring an end to a career spanning almost two decades.
Foster was capped eight times by England having joined Manchester United from Stoke as a youngster.
He made 23 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the League Cup twice after impressing on successive loan spells at Watford.
Foster went on to play for Birmingham and West Brom and returned to Vicarage Road in 2018.
He announced his retirement on his YouTube channel, also revealing he turned down a move to Newcastle last week before making the decision.
“Welcome back to a very special edition of the FozCast because today I’ve got an announcement to make – it is a big one,” he said on his Cycling GK series.
“The time has finally come for me to announce my retirement. I have got a belting story for you and it will explain my reasons why I know finally that it is time to hang the gloves up and enter retirement.”
Foster then explained how he had been approached by Newcastle after Karl Darlow had suffered an injury but that “deep down I didn’t want to do it” as contract talks progressed.
He revealed an agreement was reached and a medical was booked, adding: “I was just eating my dinner and I thought ‘no, I’m not doing it’,” as the idea of living away from his family turned him off the move.
“I’ve got to be happy and comfortable and I wouldn’t be able to do that so far away from my family. It would kill me.”
Let’s cal him Rowan Van Der Osborne
@Stanley: …Jesus!…why waste the energy?
Good signing all round, he probably needs game time and with Murray and Casey going to be away with the Irish for a good chunk of next season, himself and Cronin should get plenty of games
@Patrick O Connell: cronin is still not fit after his acl operation, so another 9 is needed
@Chris Tobin: Probably just make do with short term signings during international windows, barring a long term injury to anyone. I really think the move like the Patterson one should be utilized more. One province gets emergency cover without a big outlay, while the the other gets valuable gametime into an unused player.
@Patrick O Connell: I wouldn’t be so sure about Casey and Murray both being away on international duty next season. Murray yes, Casey still a lot to do.
@David Finn: Casey will be in the squads, Cooney is out of favour, McGrath is behind JGP so they won’t be picked
Bit random is it not.
One Leinster guy out and then one in.
Maybe we thought he was south African.
@Paddy Waggon: change the record
@Tom Murphy: I don’t play record s
No big money older South African players available???
@Reg: priceless. That’s just so funny. How do you come up with comedy gold like that?
@michael o farrell: by , buying South Africans for every position.
@Reg: nope, Ulster have the NIQ spot taken regarding the scrum half position
Best of luck to him I hope it works out very well for him.
Patterson better than this guy, no need for it
@Sole Trader: Thanks for letting us know; perhaps you could give JVG a bell and let him know that too?
@Sole Trader: Patterson is just short term injury cover. He’s still on Leinster’s books.
@Richard James: I could do a better job than jvg mate, wouldn’t waste my voice.
@Richard James: infairness Sole probably knows more about rugby the Jvg .
@Paddy Waggon: thank you paddy wouldn’t be too difficult !
@Sole Trader: in that case I’d love to read your CV
@Richard James: So I’m guessing you’ve never once questioned a single decision made by a referee, or selection or substitution call made by a manager, or an on field decision made by a player etc? Not once?