Profile

Frank Foster came to Oldham from Barrow in January 1972 and immediately transformed the playing fortunes of the club.

Already a veteran, having previously played for Workington, Hull K.R. and Bradford, he came to Oldham when the club were struggling, having won only six and drawn one of the 21 league matches played in the 1971-72 season. After Frank arrived, the club lost just one more league game out of thirteen and that was in the very last minute at Warrington.

A ball playing prop forward, who had won Cumberland county and full international honours, he had the knack of committing several defenders to the tackle and then releasing the ball from almost impossible situations. Also possessing a tremendous field kicking game, he was an awesome all- round talent who led from the front with never a backward step. Frank was that strange enigma of being as tricky and skilful as any half back, while remaining the toughest and most uncompromising of prop forwards and a good goal kicker to boot. More the pity that the club only had a year and a half of service out of Frank before he retired at the end of the 1972-73 season. In over 35 years of watching the club, I would say that no player has ever made the same immediate and positive impression on the club as did Frank Foster.