FRASER JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

Who said the top flight game does nothing for the rest? Today Fraser Forster, the Southampton and occasional England goalkeeper, is persuaded to part with £100,000 as part of the FIFA ruling concerning Solidarity Payments. This means that any player transferred internationally, should pay 5% of the fee to the clubs that have nurtured him through his informative age, from 12-23 years old. 

Forster, born at Hexham, first played at Stocksfield FC in the North-east near Newcastle and was registered there between 1999-2003. There is reference to him being at the famous Wallsend Boys Club too.

He had brief loans at Stockport County and Bristol Rovers, followed by a season at Norwich City (Player of the Season) where he helped them gain promotion to the Championship. At Celtic he holds the Scottish top division record of 1,256 minutes without conceding a goal. 13 games.

His education was at the Independent School, The Royal Grammar School Newcastle, where he represented the Independent Schools Football Association XI.

The Stocksfield club became aware of this potential FIFA ruling and the likely windfall so enthusiastically investigated through local coaches and the local newspapers, to gain evidence of his existence. It took 6 months of research. 

Forster was at Newcastle Utd from U7-11, signing a contract in 2008. He then went to Celtic and that is where the international bit kicks in! In the SPL he won Save of the year in 2013.

An outstanding display against Messi and Barcelona in a Champions League tie raised his value, when he was named La Gran Muralla (The Great Wall) by the Spanish media.

He was given his international cap in 2013 against Chile and then signed for Southampton in August 2014.

Stocksfield FC have lost their senior section but do run Junior sides, so this money will help improve their volunteer coaches by investing in FA Coaches courses and hopefully buy a 4G pitch to counter the dreadful weather that the NEast suffers in the football season.