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30 April 2024
 
 

Tip Foster

Oxford University AFC, Old Malvernians AFC & Corinthians FC

5 appearances, 2 goals

P 5 W 2 D 3 L 0 F 12: A 3
70% successful

1900-02

captain: none
minutes played:
450

Timeline

  Reginald Erskine Foster
Birth Tuesday, 16 April 1878 at 5 The College Grounds, Woodshears Road, in the grounds of Malvern College, Great Malvern, Malvern, Worcestershire
  registered in Upton-on-Severn April-June 1878
"FOSTER.On the 16th ult., at 5, College-grounds, Malvern, the wife of the Rev. H. Foster, jun., of a son." - The Morning Post, Tuesday, 23 April 1878/Northern Whig, Wednesday, 24 April 1878/The Worcester Journal/Worcestershire Chronicle, Saturday, 27 April 1878.
Baptised 24 May 1878 in Great Malvern, address stated as 5 College Grounds

According to the 1881 census, Reginald E. is the fourth of six children to Henry and Sophia. Mary (née Harper) His father is the clergyman and school master of the Malvern College, where they also live.

According to the 1891 census, Reginald is to be found as a pupil in Alnmouth. He is in the Sea Bank House in Chapel Lane.

According to the 1901 census, Reginald is back at Malvern College as a tutor, where his father is still the schoolmaster and CofE clergyman.
According to Stock Exchange Membership Applications, Reginald Erskine was a member from 23 December 1901 until his death. And in 1901-03, he is living at 190 Lauderdale Mansions in Maida Vale.

  "Mr. Reginald E. Foster, the international footballer and Worcestershire cricketer, has been appointed to a mastership at Winchester School" - Evening Telegraph, Saturday, 13 April 1901
Marriage to Mary Diana Muriel Cammell, on Thursday, 30 July 1903 in Hutton Ambos, near Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire. Tip's address stated as St. Saviour's in Maida Vale.
  registered in Malton July-September 1903
"MARRIAGE OF MR. R. E. FOSTER AND MISS CAMMELL.
"The marriage took place at the church of St. Margaret's, Huttons Ambo, Yorkshire, on Thursday, of Mr. R. E. Foster, third son of the Rev. H. Foster, of the College, Malvern, and Miss Diana Cammell, daughter of Mr. Charles Cammell, of the Hall, Huttons Ambo, the happy event having an interest for a much wider circle than the friends of the two families The church was prettily decorated. There were arches of ivy in the aisle, and the chancel and body of the church were profusely adorned with palms and white flowers.
"The ceremony was performed by the bridegroom's father and the Rev. J. Griffiths (Vicar of the parish), and the service was choral, the hymns being 'Thine for ever. God of love.' and 'O Father, all creating.' The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress of white satin with hanging cape and panels of Brussels applique lace. She had a wreath of orange blossom, and tulle veil
; her bouquet, a sheaf of white roses, the bridegroom's gift, and her ornaments were a diamond star, the gift of her mother, and a diamond heart pendant, the gift of the bridegroom. Her bridesmaids were Miss Meta Cammell and Miss Eila Cammell (sisters), and Miss Cicey Foster (sister of the bridegroom). They wore dresses of Indian tussore silk, arranged with capes and cuffs of guipure lace, hats of Leghorn straw with wreaths of shamrock; and cap frills and loops of pale green satin ribbon. Their bouquets were of white Harrisii lilies. Their green enamel and pearl four-leaf clover safety pin brooches were the gift of the bridegroom.
"The bridegroom's brother, Captain W. L. Foster, Royal Horse Artillery, now at home after service in South Africa and Somaliland, was best man.
"After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Cammell held a reception at the Hall, which was attended by about 150 relatives and friends of the two families, and later Mr. and Mrs. Foster left for the South of England. The bride's travelling dress was of cream, embroidered lawn, pink sash, and hat of lawn and lace, tied with pink ribbon to match."
- The Worcestershire Chronicle, Saturday, 1 August 1903.
Children Tip and Mary Foster had one daughter together. Joyce Mabel Gwendolen (b.29 March 1906)
"BIRTHS ...FOSTER.On March 29th, at 11, Charles-street, Knightsbridge, S.W., the wife of the R. E. Foster, of a daughter." - The Morning Post, Friday, 30 March 1906
 

According to the 1906 baptismal records of their daughter, the Foster's are living at 11 Charles Street in Knightsbridge, verified by Stock Exchange applications, and Electoral registers.
According to the 1911 census, Reginald Erskine is now married to Mary, with a daughter, Joyce. With five servants, they live at 2 Ovington Square in Kensington. Reginald is a memebr of the stock exchange.
According to Chelsea & Kensington Electoral registers, they had occupied 2 Ovington Square since 1907.

Death Wednesday, 13 May 1914 at 2 Ovington Square, Kensington, Middlesex, of diabetes.
aged 36 years 27 days registered in Kensington April-June 1914
"FOSTER.May 13, at 2 Ovington square, S.W., Reginald Erskine Foster, third son of the Rev. Henry Foster, aged 36." - The Daily Express, Saturday, 16 May 1918.

Obituary

"R. E. Foster Dead
"It is with great regret that we learn of the death of Mr. Reginald Erskine Foster, the famous cricketer, who died in London yesterday after a long illness. Foster was one of the greatest batsmen in English cricket, and had the distinction of making the highest individual score ever made against Australia. This was 287 in the first Test Match of the 1903-4 tour, which was played at Sydney. The Foster family, of whom there were seven brothers, made history for Worcestershire; in fact, the sauce county was often called 'Fostershire' He also played for England in Association football, and gained four Blues at Oxford, viz., cricket, football, golf, and racquets. Space will not permit the publishing of his long list of successes. Briefly, in 1900 he scored 171 against Cambridge in the inter-'Varsity match; obtained two separate hundreds in one match on three occasions, two of the centuries being scored on his first appearance for the Gentlemen v. Players' match, at Lord's, in 1900; captained England v. South Africa at Lord's, July, 1907, in the first Test game."
- Daily Herald, Thursday, 14 May 1914.
"DEATH OF MR. R. E. FOSTER
"We much regret to announce the death of Mr. R. E. Foster, the famous cricketer, which occurred on Wednesday at his home in Ovington-square, aged 36. He was taken ill about a year ago and he went to South Africa for a voyage in the early part of last summer. After his return he seemed to improve for a while, but then he grew worse, though there were hopes of a temporary improvement, at least until near the end. Reginald Erskine Foster, known to all the world of games as 'Tip,' was the third son of the Rev. H. Foster, of Malvern College. He was born on April 16, 1878, and, perhaps, as an all-round player of games he was the greatest of all the seven brothers, who were all born and bred to games and learned to play cricket and rackets almost as soon as they could walk. It will be, of course, as a cricketer that 'Tip' will be best remembered. Before the end of his undergraduate days he had established his fame as one of the great bastmen of the day, and in after years he established it as an England cricketer and as one of the most brilliant batsmen of the generation."
- The Mail, Friday, 15 May 1914
Funeral

cremated Friday, 15 May 1914, Golder's Green
interred Saturday, 16 May 1914
Great Malvern Cemetery


"The body of the Old Malvernian was cremated at Golder's Green, W., on Friday afternoon at five o'clock, and the remains were conveyed from London to Malvern at 9.50 on Saturday morning, arriving there at 1.24. Messrs. W. L. and H. K. Foster met the train, and placed the ashes, contained in a simple square oak casket, in a carriage, amongst a wealth of beautiful floral wreaths. The casket was taken to the Priory Church, and placed in the aisle preparatory to the service."
"At Malvern on Saturday, the funeral took place of Mr. Reginald Erskine Foster. The first portion of the service was conducted at the Priory Church. The service at Malvern Cemetery was conducted by the Rev. B. K. and Canon Herbert Foster of Groombridge (uncles) and the Vicar of Malvern. The family mourners included the Rev. H. and Mrs. Foster and five of their sons. Captain E. G. Wynyard represented the M.C.C.; Messrs. A. E. Lord and E. Bromley Martin the Worcestershire County C.C.; and Messrs. G. H. Cartland and H. W. Bainbridge Warwickshire County C.C. About 150 floral tributes were sent, including one from the Hon F. S. Jackson, from all the leading cricket bodies in the country, from the Stock Exchange, from the Princes Tennis and Racquets Club, the head master and masters of Malvern, and a large number of well-known cricketers. Mr. P. F. Warner sent a laurel wreath bearing the card—'To 'Tip,' from 'Plum,' Sydney, December 14, 1902,' a reference to Mr. Foster's record score against Australia. The wreath from the Worcestershire Club represented three cricket stumps with the centre one falling and the bails lying at the base" -
The Yorkshire Post, Monday, 18 May 1914.
Probate "FOSTER Reginald Erskine of 2 Ovington-square Brompton Middlesex died 13 May 1914 Probate London 17 June to Mary Diana Muriel Foster widow.
Effects £6318 10s." [2024 equivalent: £607,013]
Mary Foster remarried in 1920
 

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Anthony Collis, Julian Pugh &

Playing Career

Club(s) Attended an played for the Malvern College XI in 1896, moved onto Oxford University, earning his blue in 1898 and 1899. He became an Old Malvernian.
Corinthians 1899-1902
Club honours FA Amateur Cup winners 1901-02;
Individual honours None

Distinctions
At cricket "He was in the Malvern eleven from 1893 to 1896 inclusive, and leaving Malvern with a high reputation as a batsman, he went up to Oxford; but, though he gained his Blue in 1897, he did not at first make any great mark. It was in 1900 that he jumped into fame. As captain of Oxford eleven, played nine matches without defeat. He scored 930 runs with an average of 77. He made four 1000's in the trial games—two in one match—and he played a magnificent innings of 171 against Cambridge at Lord's. Ten days after he scored 102, not out, and 136 in the Gentlemen v. Players match at Lord's. For the whole season of 1900 Mr. Foster had an average of 51 in first-class cricket, with an aggregate of 1,807 runs. In 1901, he scored 2,128 runs with an average of 50. He played nearly all cricket that year for Worcestershire. The crowning point of his career was reached when in the winter of 1903-4 he went to Australia with the M.C.C.'s England team. In the first of the five Test Matches—at Sydney in December—he played an innings of 287. He captained England in three Test Matches against the South Africans in 1907. After that season he retired from public cricket, but in August, 1910, he reappeared for one match at Worcester and scored 133 against Yorkshire." 
Worcestershire CC (1899-1912), as were his six brothers. Also represented Oxford University and racket and golf.
Height/Weight 5' 11", 11st. 2lbs [1901].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career

Player number One of four who became the 252nd players (253) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-right/left
First match No. 69, 26 March 1900, Wales 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Cardiff Arms Park, Westgate Street, Temperance, Cardiff, aged 21 years 344 days.
Last match
1 year 342 days
No. 74, 3 March 1902, Wales 0 England 0, a British Championship match at Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 23 years 321 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1901-02;
Team honours British Championship winners 1900-01;
Individual honours The South (two appearances, 1ᵍ 1ᶜ February 1901-February 1902, withdrew twice in March 1900 and January 1903).
The Amateurs (one appearance, 6ᵍ, September 1901)
Distinctions An international cricketer for England (eight tests between 1903-07). Holds the record for the highest test debut, 287 against Australia in Sydney 1903.
Died eleven days after Alfred Stratford.

Beyond England

A stockbroker by profession, his early demise was due to diabetes. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.99/100.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
6 5 5 450 2 225 min 2 one
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 2 3 0 12 3 +9 1 3 2.4 0.6 70 +2
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 2 1 0 11 2 +9 0 2 3.667 0.667 83.3 +2
Away 2 0 2 0 1 1 =0 1 1 0.50 0.50 50.0 =0

Captain Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Away 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0.0 0.0 50.0 =0
1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0 0 50 =0

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1899-1900 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC 1900-01 3 2 1 0 11 2 +9 0 2 3.667 0.667 83.3 +2
BC 1901-02 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0.00 0.00 50.0 =0
BC All 5 2 3 0 12 3 +9 1 3 2.40 0.60 70.0 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 2 3 0 12 3 +9 1 3 2.40 0.60 70.0 +2
5 2 3 0 12 3 +9 1 3 2.4 0.6 70 +2

Match History

 Club: Oxford University A.F.C., Old Malvernians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - one full appearance (90 min)  
  F.A. International Select Committee - five full appearances (450 min) 2ᵍ 1ᶜx

Age 21 trial  
withdrew  - The South vs. The North, 7 March 1900;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 69 26 March 1900 - Wales 1 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
BC AW   ir
 

one of four who became the 252nd player (253) to appear for England
the 21st Oxford University AFC player to represent England
the third player from Old Malvernians AFC to represent England
one of two players to become the 59th players from Corinthians FC to represent England

 Club: Old Malvernians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - four full appearances (360 min) 2ᵍ 1ᶜ  

Age 22 trial  
one appearance  - The South vs. The North, 25 February 1901;

2 71 9 March 1901 - England 3 Ireland 0
The Dell, Southampton
BC HW 84 ir
3 72 18 March 1901- England 6 Wales 0
St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
BC HW 82 il
4 73 30 March 1901 - England 2 Scotland 2
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace
BC HD   il

Age 23
Tour of FA 21 September 1901 - England 12 Germany 0, White Hart Lane, Tottenham tour HW
il

trial  
one appearance  - The Southᶜ vs. The North, 24 February 1902;

5 74 3 March 1902 - Wales 0 England 0
The Racecourse, Wrexham
BC AD   ᶜil

the 28th player to captain England

75 22 March 1902 - Ireland 0 England 1, Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast BC AW withdrew
 

Age 24 trial  
withdrew  - The South vs. The North, 26 January 1903;

     

 
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