{{short description|Welsh footballer and referee}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Cheryl Foster<br><small>{{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}</small> | image = Cheryl Foster 20181101.jpg | fullname = Cheryl Foster | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|10|04}} | birth_place = Bangor, Wales | height = 1.68 m | position = Forward | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Conwy Devils | years1 = {{0|0000}}–2003 | years2 = 2003–2012 | years3 = 2010 | years4 = 2013 | clubs1 = Bangor City | clubs2 = Liverpool | clubs3 = → St Francis ''(loan)'' | clubs4 = Doncaster Rovers Belles | caps1 = | goals1 = | caps2 = | goals2 = | caps3 = | goals3 = | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 1997–2011 | nationalteam1 = Wales | nationalcaps1 = 63 | nationalgoals1 = 9 | pcupdate = 4 May 2010 (UTC) | ntupdate = 4 May 2010 (UTC) }} '''Cheryl Foster''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 4 October 1980) is a Welsh football referee and former player. She became the all-time record appearance holder for the Wales women's national football team in 2009, after making her senior international debut in 1997.<ref name=chester>{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/cheshire-football/2009/11/12/ladies-football-chester-schoolteacher-cheryl-foster-become-most-capped-player-in-welsh-women-s-football-history-59067-25147178/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312092917/http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/cheshire-football/2009/11/12/ladies-football-chester-schoolteacher-cheryl-foster-become-most-capped-player-in-welsh-women-s-football-history-59067-25147178/|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 March 2012|title=Ladies football: Chester schoolteacher Cheryl Foster become most capped player in Welsh women's football history|publisher=The Chester Chronicle|access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref> At club level Foster spent nine years with Liverpool, playing in the first two seasons of the FA WSL in 2011 and 2012. She signed for Liverpool's FA WSL rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles in January 2013, before retiring later that season.
==Playing career==
===Club career=== After starting her career at Conwy Devils,<ref name=pool>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolladiesfc.co.uk/Pages/ContactsDirectory.aspx?id=139|title=Players|publisher=Liverpool Ladies FC|access-date=4 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328080156/http://www.liverpoolladiesfc.co.uk/Pages/ContactsDirectory.aspx?id=139|archive-date=28 March 2010}}</ref> Foster moved to Bangor City and was the club's Northern Division top-scorer in every season from 1999–00 to 2002–03.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freespace.virgin.net/gillsmith.gillsmith/score2.htm|title=Bangor City Girls Football Club|publisher=Bangor City Girls Football Club|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706075354/http://freespace.virgin.net/gillsmith.gillsmith/score2.htm|archive-date=6 July 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also represented the club in the UEFA Women's Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/womensworldcup/teams/player=43285/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626034345/http://www.uefa.com/womensworldcup/teams/player=43285/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2010|title=Cheryl Foster|publisher=UEFA|access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref>
In summer 2003 Foster joined an exodus of players leaving Bangor City for Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freespace.virgin.net/gillsmith.gillsmith/bcgnews.htm |title=Bangor City Girls Football Club |publisher=Bangor City Girls Football Club |access-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514211732/http://freespace.virgin.net/gillsmith.gillsmith/bcgnews.htm |archive-date=14 May 2008 }}</ref> By season 2009–10, she was Liverpool Ladies' longest serving player.<ref name="pool"/> That season she was the Northern Division top goalscorer with 16 goals as Liverpool romped to the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball/Players/PlayersPages/WomensAndGirls/NewsandFeatures/2010/FAWFA10|title=Key figures honoured at Women's awards|publisher=TheFA.com|access-date=5 September 2010}}</ref> Foster and Liverpool teammate Kelly Jones joined FAI Women's Cup winners St Francis on loan for a 2010–11 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying tournament in August 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/1460|title=St Francis overhaul three-goal deficit|publisher=She Kicks|access-date=26 August 2010|date=10 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010132910/http://shekicks.net/news/view/1460|archive-date=10 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Foster had planned to retire at the age of 30 years, but changed her mind in order to play in the FA WSL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/no-longer-in-it-for-kicks-womens-football-turns-pro-2077570.html|title=No longer in it for kicks: women's football turns pro|work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=15 September 2010|date=13 September 2010}}</ref> She then scored Liverpool's first goal in the new competition, helping them to a 3–3 opening day draw against local rivals Everton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2011/liverpool-everton-reaction-150411|title=Reds boss praises battling spirit|publisher=TheFA.com|access-date=16 April 2011|date=15 April 2011|author=Liam Chronnell}}</ref>
In October 2012 Foster was amongst ten players to be released by Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolladiesfc.com/news/ladies_release_10_players.html|title=Ladies release 10 players|publisher=Liverpool Ladies FC|date=17 October 2012|access-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720001557/http://www.liverpoolladiesfc.com/news/ladies_release_10_players.html|archive-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> She signed for Doncaster Rovers Belles in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/belles-snap-up-talented-duo-1-5296661|title=Belles snap up talented duo|publisher=Doncaster Free Press|date=10 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013|first=Hayley|last=Paterson|archive-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420004750/http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/belles-snap-up-talented-duo-1-5296661|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 2013 mid-season break Foster left Doncaster after struggling to balance the demands of travel and training with her career outside football. She announced her intention to start coaching and that she would consider whether to continue playing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doncasterroversbelles.co.uk/news/fozzy_leaves_the_belles.html|title=Fozzy leaves the Belles|publisher=Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|access-date=14 August 2011|date=11 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221213659/http://www.doncasterroversbelles.co.uk/news/fozzy_leaves_the_belles.html|archive-date=21 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===International career=== Foster represented Wales at youth level, winning five U16 caps, four U18 caps and scoring one goal in a single U20 appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/5/64 |title=Women – A Squad – Cheryl Foster |publisher=FAW.org.uk |access-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321111455/http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/5/64 |archive-date=21 March 2009 }}</ref>
Her full debut was in 1997<ref name="chester"/> and she captained the side on her 50th appearance, a 3–0 friendly win over Slovenia in Llanelli in August 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Match Report – Wales 3 – 0 Slovenia |publisher=FAW.org.uk }}</ref> Foster won a record 52nd cap in Wales's 2–1 defeat in Azerbaijan in October 2009.<ref name="chester"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=Match Report – Azerbaijan 2 – 1 Wales|publisher=FAW.org.uk}}</ref>
In May 2014, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) recognised Foster's 63 appearances with the award of a golden cap at half-time of Wales' 4–0 win over Montenegro in Bangor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wales v Montenegro - Wales Win With Ease|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/Wales-v-Montenegro-Wales-Win-With-Ease/96533/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221214208/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/Wales-v-Montenegro-Wales-Win-With-Ease/96533/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 February 2015|access-date=21 February 2015|publisher=Football Association of Wales|date=8 May 2014}}</ref>
==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 25 May 2002 || Ottensheim, Austria || {{fbw|AUT}} || align=center|'''1'''–? || align=center| 1–1 || 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 2. || 14 March 2003 || Lagoa, Portugal || {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 || 2003 Algarve Cup |- | 3. || rowspan=2| 16 March 2004 || rowspan=2| Albufeira, Portugal || rowspan=2| {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–2 || rowspan=2| 2004 Algarve Cup |- | 4. || align=center|'''?'''–? |- | 5. || 26 March 2006 || Newtown, Wales || {{fbw|MDA}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || rowspan=2| 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 6. || 20 August 2006 || Waalwijk, Netherlands || {{fbw|ISR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 |- | 7. || 18 November 2006 || rowspan=3| Strumica, North Macedonia || {{fbw|FRO}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan=3| UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying |- | 8. || rowspan=2| 21 November 2006 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|MKD}} || align=center|'''4'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 |- | 9. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- |}
==Refereeing== After deciding not to extend her career as a player in 2013, Foster instead started training as a referee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Golden girl Foster will train as ref and coach|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Golden+girl+Foster+will+train+as+ref+and+coach.-a0368036027|access-date=21 February 2015|work=North Wales Daily Post|date=14 May 2014}}</ref> She was an assistant referee at the 2013–14 Welsh Women's Cup final.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brown fires Cardiff Met to Women's Cup Glory|publisher=Football Association of Wales|date=13 April 2014}}</ref> In December 2015, during her third season as a referee, Foster was named on the FIFA international list.<ref>{{cite news|title=Welsh referees make FIFA international list|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/WELSH-REFEREES-MAKE-FIFA-INTERNATIONAL-LIST/102070/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206013916/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/WELSH-REFEREES-MAKE-FIFA-INTERNATIONAL-LIST/102070|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 December 2015|access-date=13 December 2015|publisher=Football Association of Wales|date=3 December 2015}}</ref>
On 18 August 2018, she became the first female referee to take charge of a Welsh Premier League game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressreader.com/uk/wales-on-sunday/20180819/282192241831441|via=PressReader|date=19 August 2018|access-date=19 August 2018|title=WELSH PREMIER}}</ref> In May 2023, she was named as the referee for the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg on 3 June 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheryl Foster to referee 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/0281-1812ce40e28d-051b295fdffc-1000--cheryl-foster-to-referee-final/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=26 May 2023 }}</ref> On 9 January 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="fifa-2023">{{Cite press release |date=9 January 2023 |title=Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ |publisher=FIFA |url=https://www.fifa.com/technical/refereeing/news/match-officials-appointed-for-fifa-womens-world-cup-australia-and-new |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== From Llandudno, North Wales. Her parents Stephen and Christina Foster continue to be her biggest supporters alongside her two sisters. Foster is a Liverpool FC supporter<ref name="pool"/> and works as a P.E. teacher at Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School, Chester.<ref name="chester"/>
She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours "for services to association football and to women's sport".<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64423|supp=y|page=B18|date=15 June 2024}}</ref>
==Honours== ===Club=== ;Liverpool * FA Women's Premier League Northern Division: 2003–04, 2006–07, 2009–10
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717140537/http://www1.sv.uefa.com/womensworldcup/teams/player%3D43285/index.html Cheryl Foster] at UEFA * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090321111455/http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/5/64 Cheryl Foster]}} at FAW
{{UEFA Women's Euro 2022 referees}} {{2023 FIFA Women's World Cup referees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Cheryl}} Category:Living people Category:1980 births Category:Footballers from Bangor, Gwynedd Category:Welsh women's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen Category:Wales women's international footballers Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players Category:Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. players Category:Expatriate women's footballers in England Category:Women's Super League players Category:FA Women's National League players Category:St Francis L.F.C. players Category:Welsh football referees Category:Women association football referees Category:Women's association football forwards Category:British women referees and umpires Category:Expatriate women's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland Category:UEFA Women's Euro 2022 referees Category:2023 FIFA Women's World Cup referees Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire