From Match Weekly:
Brighton defender Steve Foster wasn’t the club’s original choice as skipper… he was third in line!
Before the season started Brian Horton, who led ‘Seagulls’ to the First Division in 1979, was expected to carry on the captaincy.
But his surprise move to Second Division promotion favourites Luton created a chance for Eire international Mark Lawrenson and he took charge for a couple of pre-season friendlies.
Mark didn’t keep the job for long because he too fond his way from the Goldstone Ground when Liverpool manager Bob Paisley parted with £900,000 to take him to Anfield.
So new manager Mike Bailey found himself looking for another leader and he had no hesitation in choosing 23 year-old Steve.
‘Mike’s decision to make me skipper came right out of the blue – I’d never even thought about leading the team before,” said Steve. “But it’s a great honour and I’m really enjoying the job. I suppose I play in the ideal position for a captain. Being a defender means you can see more of the game and can tell where things are going right or wrong. I see my role as putting over what the manager wants on the field. It’s my job to make sure each player does what he has been told to do. I’m a bit of a moaner on the field. Part of my game is talking and if things go wrong I’m not scared of bullying my team-mates.
‘The lads have been tremendous. They’ve just knuckled down and done what I’ve told them. I think we can do really well this season. We’ve made a good start and I’m sure we can build on it.’
Foster did so well in 1981/82 that he found himself picked for the England World Cup squad in Spain that summer.
The Goldstone Wrap 