Fraser Forster, born on 17th March 1988, in the heartland of England, stood tall and strong as a goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur. Standing at a lofty 6ft 7in (2.01m), and tipping the scales at 14st 9lb (93kg), his physique was as daunting as his skill was intimidating. His journey began as a trainee with Newcastle United in the Premier League, joining in July 2004.
Then, in October 2008, he was kindly lent to Stockport County in League One. His debut season saw him make six first-team appearances in their league matches. Months later, in July 2009, he found himself transferred on loan to Bristol Rovers in League One, where he graced the pitch in four league matches.
A mere month after his transfer to Bristol Rovers, Forster found himself loaned out to Norwich City in the Championship League, where he made an impressive 38 appearances in his 2009 - 2010 season.
In August 2010, Forster walked onto the Celtic pitch for the first time. It appeared to be a match made in heaven. In his debut season, he made a remarkable 36 appearances, proving to be a solid addition to the team. His second season was no less admirable, with 33 appearances, followed by a truncated, yet fruitful, appearance in the 2012 - 2013 season, with 34 matches under his belt. The 2013 - 2014 season was the climax of his time in Hoops – a lofty 37 matches.
Officially this time, he transferred from Newcastle United to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in July 2012, for a fee of around £2m.
In August 2014, Forster embarked on a new journey, transferring from Celtic to Southampton in England, for a handsome sum of £10m. He had shown his impeccable form over the seasons, where he represented the club in numerous league matches with admirable dedication, ranging from 30 matches in the 2014 - 2015 season to just one in the 2018 – 2019 season.
In August 2019, he reprised his role at Celtic in the Premiership in Scotland, where he triumphed in 28 first team appearances in the 2019 - 2020 season. It was short-lived, as by June 2020, he returned to Southampton in the Premier League on completion of his loan.
In July 2022, Forster transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, where he has shown his prowess in 14 first team appearances in the 2022 - 2023 season, and seven in the current 2024 - 2025 season. He got two starts in the League Cup 2024 - 2025 and four starts in the Europa League 2024 - 2025.
Forster's career, moulded with dedication and skill, has shaped him into the Celtic hero we revere. His performances in Hoops don’t just add up to statistics, they form the fabric of our fond memories from those seasons. Frase, as affectionately called by his fans, has truly cast a long shadow across the goal line, not just with his imposing height, but also with his towering presence and command in matches.
