LDV games can get players noticed

He only played one game at Edgar Street, but that game probably started Ben Foster on his way to Old Trafford.

It was only last January that Foster joined Wrexham on loan and on the very evening of him joining the North Wales side he was in goal for his new team against Hereford United in the LDV Cup. Now he is with Manchester United.

Wrexham were in desperate straits at the time with their only goalkeeper Andy Dibble out injured and Matt Baker, the ex-Hereford United stopper, transferred to MK Dons.

Bulls News had two reports on the Foster loan deal at the time:

Wrexham have signed 21 year-old goalkeeper Ben Foster on a month's loan from Stoke reports BBC Sport. He has only played twice this season whilst on loan at Kidderminster and according to the Stoke manager needs first-team games.

Foster will make his debut in tomorrow's LDV Vans Trophy northern section semi-final against Hereford United if the club can complete the paperwork in time.

Meanwhile Ben Foster, who signed a loan deal yesterday at the Racecourse, and could be in goal tonight for Wrexham commented: "I've been playing mostly reserve team football but I've just signed an extension to my contract at Stoke and this is a big chance for me. I'm looking forward to playing at Hereford because it's a massive game for Wrexham, given what is at stake."

Wrexham won the game 2-1 and went on to the LDV final against Southend. Foster was in goal that day as well. One of his team-mates was Darren Ferguson and his Father Sir Alex was in the crowd at the Millenium Stadium.

"Perhaps it was fate - Sir Alex was there to watch his son Darren playing for us but if he hadn't been there, he might never have known about me," said Foster in a Football League article.

"He later asked Darren about me and thankfully Darren said a few nice things, then Sir Alex asked the club's goalkeeping coach, Tony Coton, to watch me.

"The club had me watched for the rest of the season so I knew they were interested, but then I had a horrible summer wondering whether or not they'd come in for me.

"I reported back to Stoke for pre-season training, but as third-choice keeper last season my prospects for getting into the team this time round didn't look great."

But Manchester United did come back and Foster joined the world famous club. He is out on loan at Watford for this season.

Foster's rise just shows that players from the lower divisions can make the step up to a top club. He started his career at Racing Club Warwick.

And if Foster ever plays for Manchester United's first team, Daniel Carey-Bertram, the young Hereford United striker, might just remember putting the ball in the net the evening Foster played for Wrexham last January at Edgar Street.

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