The Northern Premier League
Linnets Legends - Alan Foster

Older Runcorn fans will remember this Linnets Legend as part of a double act. It is always difficult to think of Alan Foster without reference to Eddie Moss, who was one of our earlier Legends. If Moss was the provider, then Foster was most definitely the goal scorer.

Foster was a 6′0″centre forward. He was born in the North East in South Shield in County Durham but lived in Warrington. He was a well known amateur player with Stockton Heath and Crook Town in his native North East, and had played for them in the old FA Amateur Cup. He played with Northwich before signing as a professional for Crewe, where he made 17 first-team appearances and scored 7 goals. By profession he was a surveyor and also enjoyed playing cricket.

Foster burst onto the Canal Street scene in season 1961/62, scoring an excellent 48 goals in his first season. Under Jack Boothway and with Eddie Moss at his side Foster scored almost 40 goals the next season as he helped the Linnets to their first post-war League title, the Cheshire League. Many records fell along the way, as we have mentioned in previous articles on Linnets Legends, the most notable being undefeated at home in the League.

The Supporters Club produced a Souvenir Programme in May 1963 to celebrate the winning of the title and the following was taken from that programme: “ Few will forget the memorable Monday evening in April (1963) when the then challengers Stalybridge Celtic came to Canal Street. With two reserves in the team, Runcorn’s task was redoubtable, but with a brilliant first half display and two goals from Alan Foster, Celtic’s threat was squashed before the end”. The away match at Bower Fold followed soon afterwards and again the Linnets proved victorious by 4 – 1 with Moss scoring 2 and Foster another, together with one by Fred Stewart.

The Linnets have had many great goal scorers over the years with Search, Ryan, Finnegan, Whitbread and Carter but Alan Foster would be right up there alongside them all. Foster moved on during the 1963/64 season, a bit of a shock as another Linnet to join Altrincham! (The reported fee was £500!). In truth Foster’s form had dipped at that time. He did return for a spell in 1966/67. In his time with us he won a championship medal and a Cheshire Senior Cup winners medal. His successor was Alan Ryan, so the goals didn’t dry up when Foster left for good!

For his goals and his contribution to that championship winning team, the fans quite rightly acknowledge Alan Foster as a Linnets Legend.


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