Image: Smile for Peter
The Springvale White Eagles have pulled off a massive mid-season transfer coup by signing former Dandenong Thunder Championship winning striker Nate Foster from the Oakleigh Cannons.
The 27 year-old makes the move to White Eagles Stadium after struggling to fire in his 11 league appearances for the Cannons this term, which has seen him fail to score.
The Canadian first moved to Melbourne in 2012, joining the Thunder whom he helped claim an unprecedented treble success while scoring 13 goals in 23 league appearances.
His strike partnership with Welshman Luke Sherbon became one of the most feared in the league as the fan favourite scored Thunder’s winner in the decider against Oakleigh to be crowned Jimmy Rooney Medallist for a best on ground performance.
A more modest tally of 5 goals in 22 appearances the year after followed as the Thunder failed to replicate their success due to a number of departures in personnel including coach Chris Taylor.
He joined the Oakleigh Cannons in 2014 and netted 14 times in 26 league games under Miron Bleiberg as the Jack Edwards Reserve-based outfit finished the campaign second behind South Melbourne.
Two years across the Tasman in New Zealand with the likes of Waitakere United and Eastern Suburbs followed before Foster returned to the Cannons late last year as a marquee summer signing.
Hampered by an injury early on in the campaign, he struggled to reach his best form and has promptly joined Springvale who hover in seventh in the NPL2 East standings.
Coincidentally enough Foster is set to make his debut for the White Eagles in Saturday night’s blockbuster derby clash against Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve.
Meanwhile their opponents for that encounter have also confirmed the acquisition of defender Adam Centofanti from the Whittlesea Ranges.
The 25-year-old has prior VPL experience with Hume City and spent three seasons with the Moreland Zebras (2013-15) under Danny Gnjidic before taking a hiatus from the NPL in 2016.
He returned this term and has been a pillar of consistency at left-back for Vinko Buljubasic’s men, featuring 14 times in the league prior to his departure from Epping Stadium last weekend.