Ex-England goalkeeper Foster comes out of retirement to join Wrexham

The 39-year-old retired after last season with Watford

For Wrexham, it was nice to have Ben Foster’s name in the club’s rolodex.

With first-choice goalkeeper Rob Lainton out for six weeks due to a knee injury, the National League leaders have brought Foster out of retirement, signing the 39-year-old to a contract through the end of the season.

Foster returns to a club where he starred on loan 18 years ago, before he went on to a stellar career that included stops at Manchester United, Birmingham City, West Brom and Watford. He also earned eight caps for England, including an appearance at the 2014 World Cup.

“I’m over the moon. I’ve been at the club an hour this morning and it seems a really nice place. Everyone is down to earth and the manager’s top class,” Foster said in a club statement.

“It’s changed a lot since I was last here, but it’s nice to be back and it’s nice to be back as a player too. It will be interesting to see how my body feels after training today! I’m looking forward to getting started.

“If you’d told me 18 years ago that I’d have gone on to have the career that I have had, I probably wouldn’t have believed you to be honest so I do owe a lot to Wrexham.”

Wrexham, who have of course risen to fame after being taken over by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are currently three points ahead of second-place Notts County in the National League table with a game in hand.

Only the champion gains automatic promotion to League Two, with teams in second through seventh place entering a playoff to determine the second promoted team.

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