Foster was born in
Rawmarsh,
West Riding of Yorkshire, but started his professional career as an
inside-forward at
Blackpool of the
Football League Second Division, where, during the
1901–02 season, he scored six goals from 28 league appearances. He then dropped down to the
Midland League where he spent several seasons back in
Yorkshire with
Rotherham Town before moving to
Southern League Watford in 1906. At Watford, he developed a reputation as a "dashing leader of attacking football". He returned to
the Football League when he joined
Sunderland of the
First Division in December 1907 for a
fee of £800. Foster retained his place for the next six matches, scoring twice in a 5–2 victory over
Woolwich Arsenal on New Year's Day, before losing his place to
Angus McIntosh. His time at
Roker Park coincided with a decline in his health, and his doctor advised him to move to a milder climate in the south. including a
hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over
Portsmouth on 10 October 1908. In March 1909, he moved again, to join
Southampton in an exchange deal with
Frank Costello. At the end of the season, he was on the move again to join
Huddersfield Town, playing their last season in the
Midland League and was their top goal scorer with 25 goals. Foster left Huddersfield in the 1910 close season, and dropped down to non-league football with
Castleford and Morley, while working as a
chimney sweep, before returning to Huddersfield as assistant trainer in 1912. ==Managerial career==