David Foster took charge of his first Football League game at Spotland on the opening day of the 2006/07 season when Dale faced Walsall. It was a drab affair for Mr Foster and for us as well as the Saddlers won 1-0.

His first season at league level was very low key and he only refereed matches in the bottom two divisions, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and the FA Cup.

That FA Cup tie was memorable for all Dale fans as it saw bury win 3-1 at Chester before being chucked out of the competition.

David then missed the first month of the 2007/08 season through injury, but appeared at Spotland at the start of November for our 1-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.

He was then injured again at the start of last term and didn’t referee a game until the first week of October.

Two months later, on Boxing Day, he was back at Spotland for Dale’s 2-1 defeat of Shrewsbury in which Lee McEvilly scored twice after Grant Holt had put the visitors ahead with League Two’s Goal of the Season.

We again met Mr Foster three months ago, when he was in the middle for Dale’s magnificent 3-0 win at Bradford.

Last Monday he refereed the live Sky match between Rotherham and Shrewsbury, while his most recent Lincoln match was in February 2009 when they drew 1-1 at Morecambe.

REFWORLD PROFILE: http://www.refworld.com/referee/168/1

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Fo(r)ster Square Station