Ben Foster says he is considering whether to continue his playing career at Wrexham next season – a month after retiring to end a 15-year wait for the Hollywood-owned side to return to the English Football League (EFL). .
The former Manchester United and England goalkeeper, who retired at the end of last season following relegation from the Premier League with Watford, signed a short-term deal with the National League club in March, following first- and second-choice goalkeepers Mark Howard and Rob Lenton. Out due to injury.
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Phil Parkinson, 40, has been a key figure in the side, saving a 97th-minute penalty in a 3-2 win over nearest rivals Notts County last month that put Wrexham on course for promotion as National League champions.
And while initially suggesting a return to Wrexham – Foster made his senior debut for the club in 2005 – was a short-term move, Foster said he would now consider whether to continue next season at the Racecourse Ground.
“I still don’t have a clue [what I will do]I don’t really know,” Foster said. “It’s great to be a person of leisure and freedom and I’ve really enjoyed my time [in retirement]. I had a great time — I really did.
“But what I will say is that I’ve enjoyed it very much. It’s a special club – Wrexham is a really special club and everyone who plays for it can see that.
“There are no big-timers. There are a lot of big-timers in football and we don’t have any of them in the dressing-room, and that’s something for me that made me go: ‘I really enjoyed it a lot. ,’ so I have to think about it.
“You have to. You have to think about it, because it’s a special thing to be part of this team and Wrexham.”
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Wrexham manager Parkinson said he was yet to discuss next season with Foster, but added that signing him was as important as signing a top striker.
“Goalkeepers are like strikers,” Parkinson said. “There can be moments that define a season — a striker taking a chance or a goalkeeper making a big save and the Notts County save for Ben Forster will go down in history at Wrexham Football Club.
“When we were signing him, I was thinking — ‘Bringing an England international into that group. How would that fit?’
“But I want to say that he was outstanding as a person. His standards in training are amazing and this is the biggest thing for me because there is already an element of gambling because we have a very grounded group, despite the exposure we had Ben has been just amazing.
“I just want to enjoy that we’ve got Ben Foster for these games. I don’t want to discuss anything else at this stage, but for him being at Wrexham as a youngster and his move to Man United and coming back. And getting promoted, his family. For and for what he has done in the game, I imagine it will rank among his greatest achievements in his career.”
