Richard Foster (Scottish footballer)

Scottish footballer

Richard Martyn Foster (born 31 July 1985) is a retired Scottish footballer. He played for Aberdeen, Rangers, Bristol City, St Johnstone, Ross County, Partick Thistle, and Detroit City. Foster primarily played as a right back, although he is a versatile player; goalkeeper is the only position in which he never played. In May 2018, Foster married Scottish singer Amy Macdonald.

Foster was born in Elgin, Moray to Martyn and Carol Foster (née Cruickshank). He was a Rangers fan as a boy.

Foster made his debut for Aberdeen aged 17 on 10 May 2003 in a Scottish Premier League match against Partick Thistle, coming on as a substitute for Darren Mackie. He scored his first goal for the club almost exactly a year later during a 2–1 league defeat to Dundee on 15 May 2004. Foster became a first team regular under Jimmy Calderwood and signed a two year contract extension on 31 July 2007. Although naturally a right winger, Foster made significant progress playing in the left back position during the 2007–08 season, impressing with his man marking performances when Aberdeen's first choice left back Richie Byrne was injured. On 20 September 2007, he made his European debut in the first leg of Aberdeen's UEFA Cup first round tie against Dnipro, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute for Jackie McNamara as the game ended 0–0. Foster started at left back in the return match in Ukraine on 4 October and provided the assist for Darren Mackie's opening goal, sending in the cross for the striker to head home from close range. Despite Dnipro salvaging a 1–1 draw, Aberdeen progressed to the group stages of the tournament on away goals. On 20 December, Foster scored the first European goal of his career in Aberdeen's 4–0 UEFA Cup group stage win over Copenhagen. The result put the Dons through to the last 32, where they lost 7–3 on aggregate to Bayern Munich (drawing the first leg 2–2 at Pittodrie and losing 5–1 in the second leg at the Allianz Arena). In February 2009, Foster was involved in a training ground bust up with Calderwood which led to him being omitted from the Aberdeen squad to face Dundee United on 21 February, after he called the then Dons manager "stupid". Despite criticism from some supporters, upon Foster's return to Aberdeen he was appointed as Paul Hartley's successor as Aberdeen captain for the 2011–12 season.

On 31 August 2010, Foster moved on a season long loan to SPL champions Rangers, with Gers striker Andrius Velička moving in the opposite direction. He was given the number 12 shirt and made his Rangers debut on 11 September, coming on as a substitute for Kirk Broadfoot in a 2–1 victory over Hamilton Accies. Foster made his first Rangers start on 20 October in a Champions League group stage match against Valencia at Ibrox, where he was selected as man of the match despite missing an open goal. Many of Foster's Rangers appearances came in the Champions League and Europa League. He played at right back in a 2–2 draw with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the second leg of the Europa League last 32, as Rangers won with the away goal rule coming into play. He was involved in a Glasgow derby match against Celtic on 2 March 2011, where the 1–0 defeat was overshadowed by scenes at the conclusion of the match. Foster's European run continued in the last 16 first leg against PSV Eindhoven on 10 March, which ended 0–0. He finished the SPL season with a winner's medal, having made enough appearances to contribute to Rangers' title success. However he was cup tied for their victorious 2010–11 Scottish League Cup campaign after being an unused substitute for Aberdeen against Alloa Athletic earlier in the season.

On 6 January 2012 he signed for Championship side Bristol City on a two and a half year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Foster signed for Rangers on a two year contract in June 2013.

After being released by Rangers, Foster signed a two year contract with Scottish Premiership club Ross County in June 2015. He picked up a winners' medal in the 2015–16 Scottish League Cup as Ross County beat Hibernian 2–1. He scored his first goal for St Johnstone against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 27 August 2016. In April 2017, Foster brought St Johnstone in to disrepute after becoming involved in an on pitch brawl with teammate Danny Swanson. Both players were suspended by the club and were subsequently fined four weeks' wages. In February 2019, Foster signed an extension to his contract with St Johnstone, which was due to run until the summer of 2020. In August 2019 Foster was involved in an incident with manager Tommy Wright on the training pitch and was dropped from the first team.

Foster left St Johnstone in August 2019 and returned to Ross County on a one year contract. On 25 May 2020, Foster was released from his contract criticising the chairman for not taking advantage of the government's furlough scheme, calling it "morally shocking".

After leaving Ross County, Foster signed a one year deal with then Scottish League One side Partick Thistle. After winning the League One title with Thistle, Foster signed a one year contract extension with the club.

In August 2022, Foster signed as a player coach with USL Championship side Detroit City FC. On 4 February 2023, Detroit City announced that Foster would not be returning to the club for the 2023 season.

Foster was selected by the Scotland national under 21 football team. He was selected for the full Scotland squad in February 2012, but he did not play in the friendly with Slovenia.

Foster began dating Scottish singer Amy Macdonald in 2015 and the couple were engaged on New Year's Eve that year. They got married in Las Vegas on 4 June 2018. Foster did a psychology degree at the Open University and has also written a crime novel.