Image: Matt Johnson
The Oakleigh Cannons have welcomed back Nate Foster to Jack Edwards Reserve for the 2017 NPL campaign with the forward re-joining the club on a four-year deal.
The popular Canadian forward netted 14 goals from 26 appearances in his last season at Jack Edwards Reserve in 2014, helping the Cannons to a second placed finish behind South Melbourne in the inaugural NPL Victoria campaign.
Blessed with searing pace and a keen eye for goal, Foster was introduced to the Victorian public in 2012, where his 13 goals in 23 appearances helped Dandenong Thunder to a VPL Grand Final berth, where his late goal sealed a famous 2-1 victory for the club.
He earned the Jimmy Rooney Medal for best on ground in the win, as he finished the season second in the Golden Boot standings to mercurial Welshman and teammate Luke Sherbon’s 20-goal haul.
Capable of playing both in a wide forward and central striker role, Foster netted six goals in his second season with the Thunder as they finished in a more modest seventh place in 2013, before making the move to the Cannons.
Foster departed for New Zealand’s Northern Region Football League at the end of the 2014 season, where he played with reigning NPL2 Gold Medallist Brandon Barnes, playing a large role in getting the Englishman to Victoria to play with the Thunder.
The 26-year-old enjoyed stints at both Waitakere United and Eastern Suburbs during his two-year-stint across the Tasman.
Speaking exclusively to TCF, Foster credited Cannons general manager Aki Ionnas for his return to Melbourne and is looking forward to featuring in the blue and white for Oakleigh.
“I owe a lot to Aki who has done everything he could to get me back to the club and I’m very appreciative of that,” Foster said.
“I’m very hungry to win and am very happy to be here as I know Oakleigh Cannons are a family-orientated club and am looking forward to being a part of that again.”
He joins former Thunder teammate Iqi Jawadi as new signings for the club with the 22 year-old midfielder joining the club last month from South Melbourne.