Foster relishing Railwaymen return

Barnsley star Stephen Foster is ready to face his former club as the Reds take on Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup tomorrow.

Foster told barnsleyfc.co.uk:

“Every game is important but going back to Crewe is something that will be very enjoyable. I still keep in touch with a couple of the lads there who were in the same youth teams as me and it will be a good night.”

A product of Crewe`s fantastic academy, Stephen enjoyed an extremley successful start to his footballing career, making 242 appearances whilst bagging 16 goals from the heart of the Alex`s defence. One of Foster`s 16 goals came against Barnsley on the 14th Decemer 2002, the Railywaymen beating Barnsley by two goals to nill:

“It was a long history which was a good time for me. I was at Crewe from being 12-years-old and had 13 good years there. I have some great memories and will always be grateful for that time. They did a lot for me.”

‘Fozzy` still speaks fondly of his former coach, Dario Gradi, who is now the Technical Director of Crewe:

“Dario is a great coach. I cannot stress enough just how good a coach he is and he is probably the hardest working man in football. He would spend time with the first team in the morning and do the rest of his work in the afternoon before going back out in the evening with the Under 12`s or U14`s. That was the same every week and he would be in on a Sunday taking one of the youth teams.”

Having scored against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup last season, Stephen is hoping the Reds will treat the League Cup just the same:

“The Cup is important for us. We got a lot of attention last season for what we did in the FA Cup and we brought some money into our club because of our run. It is important that we do well in the cups again this season because no one can take last year away from us.

“We have a very international squad here and that cup run brought us all together because there were a lot of things around the games that took some getting used to.

“Crewe will never change. They will come out tomorrow and play their football. It will be a test and it will be difficult but if we play anywhere near to our potential then I would fancy us against anyone. The Cup is all about upsets and we have to make sure that we are not on the receiving end of one tomorrow. We will be up for it.”

So the pressure is mounted on Barnsley as they face lower league opposition yet again in the League Cup. A small army of diehard faithfuls will make the journey to Gresty Road, where hopefully they will witness the beginning of another magical journey into yet another domestic trophy.

Come On You Reds.