Craig Foster

NSL Career: Sydney United, Sunshine, Adelaide City, Marconi, Northern Spirit 193 (24) / 1988 - 2001/02

Socceroos Career: 29 (9) A Internationals

After following a similar path to Australian football icon Johnny Warren, Craig 'Fozzy' Foster proved that the sport belonged to all Australians - being a "dinky-di Aussie" who fell in love with the game and became one of it's classiest midfielders during the 1990s.

Foster grew up in the largely Rugby League-inspired city of Lismore where he played his junior football at clubs such as Goonellabah before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program in 1986, where he joined his brother Paul. Following his time at the AIS, Foster joined NSL club Sydney Croatia where he made his NSL debut at the age of 18. 

In his debut season, Foster came on as a substitute in the Croatia's grand final loss to Marconi and spent another season at the club before joining brother Paul at Sunshine. After an injury-interrupted first season at Sunshine, Foster became a regular the following season and following the club's relegation to the Victorian Premier League, the midfielder joined fellow Australian Warren Spink at Malaysian club Singapore Lions.

After a season in Malaysia, Foster had a short stint at NSW Super League club Avala before moving back to Asia with Hong Kong side Ernest Borel. Foster became one of the club's greatest signings: where his work rate and vision earned him selection in the Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Season and played a big part in the club's Viceroy Cup Final (provided the assists for both goals) and Hong Kong FA Cup Final victories in the 1991/92 season.

After two seasons with the club Foster returned to Australia and joined Adelaide City, but missed the entire 1993/94 season due to recurring injuries. With the aim of breaking in to the national team, Foster returned to full fitness and became a key member of the City side that reached the 1994/95 NSL Grand Final, where they lost two-nil to Melbourne Knights.

Foster continued to provide an attacking threat for City during the 1995/96 season as the club reached the preliminary final, and after scoring 16 goals in 50 league games for club, Foster signed for Marconi and made his Socceroos debut in a two-nil win against Ghana. The creative goalscoring midfielder helped Marconi reach the 1996/97 NSL Finals Series and NSL Cup Final before making a move to Europe - joining fellow NSL players Hamilton Thorp, Robert Enes and Paul Harries at English First Division side Portsmouth.

Foster played in both legs of Australia's losing 1998 World Cup qualifying play-off against Iran before making 16 First Division appearances for Portsmouth, as well as scoring a brace against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. After a season with Portsmouth, Foster moved to Crystal Palace, joining fellow Australians Craig Moore and Nick Rizzo and became a regular for the First Division club over two seasons.

Following the end of his Socceroos career, Foster returned to the NSL and joined Northern Spirit where he spent two seasons before hanging up his boots at the age of 33. Following his retirement, Foster became an outspoken football commentator and analyst - principally working alongside Australian broadcasting icon Les Murray. Foster's experiences in football have led him to become an advocate for multiculturalism and human rights in Australia.