View source for Trevor Foster

{{Short description|Former GB & Wales international rugby league footballer}}
{{for|the British drummer (Albion Band)|Trevor Foster (drummer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|first              = RU
|name               = Trevor Foster<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}}}</small>
|fullname           = Trevor John French Foster<ref name="hadfield">{{cite web|last1=Hadfield|first1=Dave|title=Trevor Foster - Bradford rugby league 'legend'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/trevor-foster-6148874.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120015850/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/trevor-foster-6148874.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2014|website=The Independent|access-date=2 November 2014|date=6 April 2005}}</ref>
|image              = Trevor Foster - Bradford Northern.jpeg
|imagesize          = 192
|caption            = 
|birth_date         = {{birth date|1914|12|3|df=y}}
|birth_place        = [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Monmouthshire]], Wales<ref name="hadfield" />
|death_date         = {{death date and age|2005|4|2|1914|12|3|df=y}}
|death_place        = [[Bradford]], England
|height             = 
|weight             = 
|ru_position        = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]]
|ru_club1           = [[Newport RFC|Newport]]
|ru_year1start      = 1937
|ru_year1end        = 38
|ru_appearances1    = 35
|ru_tries1          = 12
|ru_goals1          = 
|ru_fieldgoals1     = 
|ru_points1         = 
|position           = {{rlp|SR|LF}}
|club1              = [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]]
|year1start         = 1938
|year1end           = 55
|appearances1       = 428
|tries1             = 128
|goals1             = 1
|fieldgoals1        = 0
|points1            = 386
|teamA              = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
|yearAstart         = 1939
|yearAend           = 51
|appearancesA       = 16
|triesA             = 5
|goalsA             = 1
|fieldgoalsA        = 0
|pointsA            = 17
|teamB              = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
|yearBstart         = 1946
|yearBend           = 48
|appearancesB       = 3
|triesB             = 2
|goalsB             = 0
|fieldgoalsB        = 0
|pointsB            = 6
|teamC              = {{nowrap|[[Northern Command rugby league team|Northern Command]]}}
|yearCstart         = 1942
|yearCend           = 44
|appearancesC       = 3
|triesC             = 2
|goalsC             = 0
|fieldgoalsC        = 0
|pointsC            = 6
|teamD              = [[Army XIII rugby league team|Army XIII]]
|yearDstart         = 1943
|yearDend           = 
|appearancesD       = 1
|triesD             = 0
|goalsD             = 0
|fieldgoalsD        = 0
|pointsD            = 0
|coachteam1         = [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]]
|coachyear1start    = 1960
|coachyear1end      = 61
|coachgames1        = 
|coachwins1         = 
|coachdraws1        = 
|coachlosses1       = 
|retired            = yes
|updated            = 29 September 2020
|source             = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/trevor-foster--bn-/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Foster|first1=Simon|last2=Gate|first2=Robert|last3=Lush|first3=Peter|title=Trevor Foster: The Life of a Rugby League Legend|url=https://archive.org/details/trevorfosterlife0000fost|date=2005|publisher=London League Publications|location=London|isbn=978-1903659182}}</ref><ref>Gone North Volume 1 by Robert Gate page 63 {{ISBN|0951119001}}</ref><ref>{{Rugby league records |id=8889 |title=Trevor Foster |access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Trevor John French Foster''' [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (3 December 1914 – 2 April 2005) was a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[rugby football|rugby]] footballer, and [[Coach (sport)|coach]]. He played [[rugby union]] for [[Newport RFC|Newport]] and [[rugby league]] for [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]].<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)"/> Trevor Foster was a [[Sergeant]] [[Physical Training Instructor]] in the [[British Army]] during [[World War II]].<ref name="inside programme">{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk/gallery-images/86-large.jpg|title=inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942|publisher=rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk|date=31 December 2010|access-date=1 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223013/http://rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk/gallery-images/86-large.jpg|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early years==
Trevor Foster was born on 3 December 1914 in [[Newport, Monmouthshire]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Trevor Foster|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1490349/Trevor-Foster.html|work=The Telegraph|access-date=24 January 2014|date=20 May 2005}}</ref> but is best known for his association with the [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]] [[rugby league]] club having joined them as a player in 1938 for £400 from [[Newport RFC]], his home town's [[rugby union]] club.

He made a name for himself playing for Newport Schoolboys and [[Pill Harriers RFC|Pill Harriers]] as a teenager, before joining Newport. He was also chosen to play for invitational team [[Crawshays RFC|Crawshays]].<ref>[http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=177397 Newport RFC player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617025017/http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=177397 |date=17 June 2011 }} blackandambers.co.uk</ref>

== Bradford Northern career ==

In all he played 428 games for Bradford Northern, usually as a {{rlp|sr}} and occasionally a {{rlp|lf}}. During this time he scored 140 tries (an incredible return for a forward) including 24 in the 1947–48 season and 6 in 1 game.(It could have been 7 but the ball was knocked from his hands as he crossed the line.) Trevor was the key forward of an outstanding Bradford Northern side in the post war period which won the Rugby League [[Challenge Cup]] in 1947 and 1949 with Trevor scoring in both games. The Northern side at this time had some great Welsh players including mercurial {{rlp|so}} [[Willie Davies (rugby)|Willie Davies]], {{rlp|wg}}s [[Des Case]] and [[Alan Edwards (rugby)|Alan Edwards]], and of course [[Frank Whitcombe]] at {{rlp|pr}}.

Trevor Foster played at {{rlp|sr}} in [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]]'s 3–8 defeat by [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the [[1947–48 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1947–48 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1947–48 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 1 May 1948.<ref name="1947-1948 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=428|title=1947-1948 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref>

Trevor Foster played at {{rlp|sr}} in [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]]'s 6–13 defeat by [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] Final during the [[1951–52 Northern Rugby Football League season#Play-offs|1951–52 season]] at [[Leeds Road]], [[Huddersfield]] on Saturday 10 May 1952.<ref name="1951-1952 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=435|title=1951-1952 Championship Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref>

== Representative honours ==
Trevor Foster won [[Cap (sport)|cap]]s for [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] while at Bradford Northern 1939...1951 16-caps, including 7 as captain, and won [[Cap (sport)|cap]]s for [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] while at Bradford Northern in 1946 against New Zealand, and in 1948 against Australia (2 matches)

It is certain he would have won more caps had it not been for [[World War II]].

Foster was selected for the [[1946 Great Britain Lions tour]] of Australia, but was injured before being able to play a game.

Trevor Foster played at {{rlp|sr}} and was [[Captain (sports)|captain]] for [[Northern Command XIII]] against a [[Rugby League XIII]] at [[Thrum Hall]], [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]] on Saturday 21 March 1942.<ref name="inside programme 2">{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueoralhistory.hud.ac.uk/gallery-images/86-large.jpg|title=inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942|publisher=rugbyleagueoralhistory.hud.ac.uk|date=31 December 2010|access-date=1 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826111406/http://rugbyleagueoralhistory.hud.ac.uk/gallery-images/86-large.jpg|archive-date=26 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Unblemished disciplinary record ==
Remarkably for a forward of the time Trevor was never sent from the field of play or even cautioned during his 17 years of top flight rugby.

== Retirement and coaching ==
After his retirement in 1955 he remained a servant of the Bradford club successively as Coach, Director and Chairman of the Supporters Club and timekeeper for [[Super League]] home games.

== Club saviour ==
It was in 1963 when he secured his place in Bradford and Rugby League history when he was the central figure in a campaign to save his beloved Bradford Northern club who had disbanded due to financial problems. He led efforts to reconstitute the club which was then able to rejoin the league the following season. Without his work it is unlikely that the club would exist today.

== Honours ==
In the [[2001 New Year Honours]], Trevor Foster was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) "for services to the community in Bradford, West Yorkshire."<ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=56070 |date=30 December 2000 |supp=y |pages=17 }}</ref> In 2004 he was inducted into [[Welsh Sports Hall of Fame]].

Trevor Foster, has been included in Bradford's; 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team of the Century'. Only six players have been included in all three lists, they are; [[Karl Fairbank]], Trevor Foster, [[James Lowes]], [[Keith Mumby]], [[Robbie Paul]] and [[Ernest Ward]].

[[Arriva Yorkshire]] honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at [[The Jungle (Wheldon Road)|The Jungle]], the home of the [[Castleford Tigers]]. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; [[BBC Radio Leeds#Sports coverage|James Deighton]] from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of [[Rugby League World]]. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Neil Fox (rugby league)|Neil Fox]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Albert Goldthorpe]], [[Alan Hardisty]], [[Stan Kielty]], [[Lewis Jones (rugby, born 1931)|Lewis Jones]], [[Roger Millward]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Mal Reilly|Malcolm Reilly]], [[Garry Schofield]], [[Keith Senior]], [[David Topliss]], [[Dave Valentine]] and [[Adrian Vowles]].<ref name="Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team">{{cite web|url=http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/content.aspx?id=7044|title=Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team|publisher=Arriva Yorkshire|date=20 August 2009|access-date=20 August 2009}}</ref>

==Death==
Following a heart attack, Foster died on 2 April 2005 in [[Bradford Royal Infirmary]] at the age of 90.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20061006051241/http://www.bisa.co.uk/pages/Trevor/trevor_1.htm BISA's tribute to Trevor Foster]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063211/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=1603 The press release announcing Trevor Foster's death]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20050415043324/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=1624 A gallery showing images of Trevor Foster's life]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081221225029/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/content/History/3566/The%20Millennium%20Masters%20-%20Forwards The Millennium Masters - Forwards]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081221225036/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/content/History/3570/Bull%20Masters%20-%20Trevor%20Foster%20MBE Bull Masters - Trevor Foster]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081221225627/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/content/History/3583/TEAM%20OF%20THE%20CENTURY Team Of The Century]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20091028021356/http://web.me.com/steve.newcombe/Rugby_League_Hall_of_fame/Trevor_Foster_MBE.html Book of condolence]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20030627063848/http://wales.rleague.com/profiles/trevor.php Trevor Foster at wales.rleague.com]
*[http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Pain-of-defeat-serves-Dewsbury.3782205.jp Pain of defeat serves Dewsbury well to prevent any repeat performance]
{{navboxes|list1=
{{Bradford Northern - 1939–40 Championship Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1940–41 Championship Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1940–41 Yorkshire Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1941–42 Yorkshire Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1943–44 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1943–44 Yorkshire Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1946–47 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1948–49 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Northern - 1948–49 Yorkshire Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls Millenium Masters}}
{{Bradford Bulls Bull Masters}}
{{Bradford Bulls Team Of The Century}}
{{Bradford Bulls Coaches}}
}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1946 Australia & New Zealand Tourists "The Indomitables"}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Trevor}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Army rugby union players]]
[[Category:Army XIII rugby league players]]
[[Category:Bradford Bulls coaches]]
[[Category:Bradford Bulls players]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Crawshays RFC players]]
[[Category:Footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Monmouthshire]]
[[Category:Newport RFC players]]
[[Category:Northern Command XIII rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Pill Harriers RFC players]]
[[Category:Royal Army Physical Training Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:Rugby league locks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Rugby league second-rows]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league administrators]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]