By Jonathan Brown
Newcastle Town’s 2011 squad came together at Donard Park recently to send strength and support to Mark Foster, a former Newcastle FC player and Newcastle native. Mark is currently undergoing chemotherapy for Myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer. Now living in Texas with his wife Jesse and children Campbell and Blake, Mark is head coach of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley women’s football team.
Former St Malachy’s High School student Mark has been living and working in the United States for over 20 years, after joining Trevecca Nazarene’s scholarship program in 2005. As a player, Foster proved to be a Trevecca legend, finishing his career as the Nashville school’s leading goal scorer with 41 goals, while also being named the TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2008 and Freshman of the Year in 2005. Mark is the only player in the history of Trevecca’s soccer programme to have his number retired.
After graduating from Trevecca Nazarene in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, Mark took up a position as head coach of Brentwood Soccer Club before joining Donelson Christian Academy as an assistant coach in 2010. In 2011, he re-joined Trevecca as assistant coach of the university’s women’s team, eventually progressing to head coach in 2013. The UEFA A Licence coach enjoyed six successful years back at Trevecca, winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference title in 2016.
South Alabama University was Mark’s next destination, as assistant coach of their women’s team, followed by a four-year spell as head coach at Little Rock (University of Arkansas), guiding their women’s side to its first-ever Sun Belt Tournament Championship, the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, and a single-season record of 13 wins in 2018. He was appointed the head coach of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s women’s soccer programme in March 2022.
Mark played locally for Newcastle and Kilmore Rec, even enjoying a brief spell at Irish League side Glenavon, before he made the move to America. Mark is the uncle of Newcastle Town 2011 squad player, Owen.
A Newcastle Town FC statement read: “Everyone at Newcastle Town FC is behind Mark. The club have watched his incredible coaching journey with pride, and know the same determination and resilience that brought him success will carry him through this challenge. From Newcastle to Texas, we’re with you, Mark.”
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