Dave "Fozzie" Foston

August 76 - August 88

A Brief History

From Bourne, South Lincolnshire - Born in a neighbouring village at a very early age on a Sunday morning mid-December 1951. Played mainly soccer and cricket at School, for the local clubs and at College in Cheshire. Played some hockey for the local Bourne club and continued to do so whenever back in the area until I stopped playing.

Started playing full time hockey with Fareham, Hampshire. Had just moved to the area to begin teaching there. Mainly for the 2nd team throughout the 3 years I was there. Played a lot of matches for the Sunday social team and the midweek floodlit league team. (1973-76)

In 1976 I got a job in Cwmbran of all places! I met Rod Wildblood at the Llanishen Hockey Festival. We had played against each other and ended up chatting after the match. It was he who persuaded me to join Cardiff.

I knew Peter Mills played in goals - I'd seen him playing for England in a Home Nations Tournament in Southampton. I’d seen Sparksey playing in a mixed indoor tournament on the tele. So I was somewhat nervous when selected for my debut for the firsts away at Swansea. The first of many matches on a windswept red gras pitch in a dubious part of the city. Rod McKerlick was captain that year. Mike Cornish was running the indoor setup and invited me to join in. Over the next 12 years I enjoyed playing alongside the likes of Steve Sparkes, Nunny Sohanpal, Andy Gowman, Rod Wildblood, Geoff Medlow and of course Bryn and Howie Williams; and countless others all of whom are very special. One person deserves particular mention - Tony Rhys-Jones. What a wonderful person. He had a hand in everything the club was doing.

Cardiff Hockey Club gave me so much, the chance to play in Europe and against full international sides, playing for county and regional teams and for that I will always be grateful. But in spite of all of that, it was the members of the club that made it for me. That is why I contacted Bill Hunt last year. I am delighted to see the club doing so well these days - something we could have only dreamed about - so hats off to the current players and administrators.

So why did I leave Cardiff?

I’d had a year off from working in Cwmbran and swapped jobs with an Aussie (1986). In 1988 I decided I needed another change so I got a job in Paris. Geoff Medlow was the manager of the Welsh Ladies at the time and his French counterpart was an English lady called Muriel Langle with whom he put me in touch. So I joined her club, The Racing Club de France and spent another 4 good years there. I got into coaching the youngsters and we ended up winning the French Championship with the under 16s. We’d hosted the Welsh under 16s early on in my tenure. Dave Pedwell of Penarth brought them over and later that year we came to Cardiff for a wonderful weekend. I believe Terry Jones’ son Reece? Was playing for the Welsh side. I think that weekend had a lot to do with us winning the latter stages of the French Championship. It was a really good preparation for the boys.

It was also great to meet up in Paris with Howie, Gows, Geoff and Martin Galavan during the Euros. Jeremy and Howie with their wives also came over for a weekend on another occasion.

Workwise, it was my first experience teaching in the private sector for an International School but it was the start of what would be the happiest period of my life. It was there I met my wife of 30 something years. Geoff Medlow was my best man when we got married. I had been his when he married Margaret Rainbow. My wife and I immediately moved to Singapore for 12 years and then back to near Geneva in 2004. In 2011 I retired and my wife followed in 2018.

During our time in Singapore we entertained Mike Giddy who was out on business one time. Geoff and Margaret stayed with us on their way to Australia. I also ran into Dave Marsh of Pilkingtons HC. It was he that told me the sad news of Howie’s illness. However, thoughts of Howie always bring a smile to my face. He was a piece of work!

Nowadays we live in what is known as la France Profond (The deepest part of the French countryside). We bought our house way back in 1993 and have spent the years knocking it about. We love it here in our tiny village. We have both become French and shout for les Bleus almost about as hard as we do our native countries. We are both fully involved in the life of the village and as you might imagine, the Troisème mi-Temps is exceptional so good that we don’t bother with the first 2. I’m even teaching our friends from the village to say “iechyd da”! They get a lot of practice !