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Post by alansuddick on Jun 30, 2011 18:17:08 GMT
was in the same class as his brother at school,and was in the same 27th north staffs boys brigade in tunstall,years later after reading she stood there laughing it dawned on me who it was,and made me feel proud to have known him.not many people from chell high get published god bless and rip
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Post by loz115 on Jun 30, 2011 18:17:20 GMT
RIP Winger, cant believe it
Sincere condolences to all his friends and family xxx
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Post by Murdoc Niccals on Jun 30, 2011 18:23:34 GMT
R.I.P. Winger.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Jun 30, 2011 18:26:24 GMT
R.I.P.
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Post by knype on Jun 30, 2011 18:43:01 GMT
R.I.P Winger, enjoyed reading your books and your posts on here. Condolences to all Family and close friends.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jun 30, 2011 18:47:21 GMT
Art Rules! Pulis Out!
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Post by lancashirelad on Jun 30, 2011 18:54:38 GMT
R.I.P Stephen Foster - thanks for the brilliant books. Thoughts go out to your family and friends.
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Post by sandnesstokie on Jun 30, 2011 18:59:17 GMT
Many condolences to the family - especially his lad. Never met Stephen but reading "She stood there...." bought back memories of both me and my dad (and my early days as a Stokie) and me and my lad now. No doubt arrived at those (Red and White strewn) Pearly Gates, Wrights Pie in hand, screaming 'Go on Stoke!"
Jack, hard times I know, but remember that your dad loved Stoke (as you do) but, I'm sure, he loved you more! Be proud of him, not only because he introduced you to everything we love, but because he was the man he was!
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Post by Trouserdog on Jun 30, 2011 19:04:24 GMT
My jaw just dropped open when I saw the story in the Sentinel. Stephen had a great message board persona and was a fantastic author. He was really helpful and didn't hesitate to offer advice when I was attempting to get something I'd written published. He just seemed a top, top bloke. I'm stunned. RIP Stephen, you'll be sadly missed.
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Post by Davef on Jun 30, 2011 19:18:45 GMT
Like everyone else, I was shocked and extremely saddened by the news of Stephen's tragically untimely death.
I can't say that I knew him that well, but whenever we did meet he was always extremely good company; a really nice man who, despite his talent and success, displayed no airs or graces.
I hope the touching tributes made to winger in this thread give his family and friends some comfort, however small, in what must be a truly awful time for them.
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Post by fauntleroyesq on Jun 30, 2011 19:21:13 GMT
I would just like to thank all the great people of Stoke for all of the lovely comments about my brother's sad passing. Although I am Stephen's sister I didn't share his love (or understanding) of football, but I do share his love of Stoke and reading through all of your comments today makes me understand why. You have all given me strength today and made me so proud of him. It's amazing to see all of the great comments about what a lovely person he was, and you are all right - he was. He was funny, nearly as funny as me! And kind and smart, I have so many happy memories of him, mostly giving me the crummy jobs, when he was a chef, and a decorator. He once had me doing the pointing on his house!! Oh and cleaning his cars..that's what you get for being the little sis, but I never minded because I love him to pieces.
You may have a new football fan here. Diane
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Post by knype on Jun 30, 2011 19:38:47 GMT
Diane, he was one of us, he was part of our big family.
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Post by madnellie on Jun 30, 2011 19:42:36 GMT
So sorry to hear this, have never had the priviledge of meeting Stephen but enjoyed reading his posts on here as Winger and absolutely love his books. Thoughts and prayers with his family. God bless, we'll be with you xx
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Post by DansViews on Jun 30, 2011 19:44:17 GMT
Correct Knype, he will always be one of us, never forgotten.
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Post by apb1 on Jun 30, 2011 19:44:42 GMT
I never met him, but read the books, and enjoyed his erudite (often ironically so) posts on here. Very sad day and such a loss to his family, to whom I would like to add my own condolences.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 19:48:35 GMT
I would just like to thank all the great people of Stoke for all of the lovely comments about my brother's sad passing. Although I am Stephen's sister I didn't share his love (or understanding) of football, but I do share his love of Stoke and reading through all of your comments today makes me understand why. You have all given me strength today and made me so proud of him. It's amazing to see all of the great comments about what a lovely person he was, and you are all right - he was. He was funny, nearly as funny as me! And kind and smart, I have so many happy memories of him, mostly giving me the crummy jobs, when he was a chef, and a decorator. He once had me doing the pointing on his house!! Oh and cleaning his cars..that's what you get for being the little sis, but I never minded because I love him to pieces. You may have a new football fan here. Diane He was part of the Stokie family, Diane. I didn't know him personally but plenty on here did. He was certainly one of the wittiest posters on here. Its a sad day. My thoughts go out to you and the rest of Stephen's family and friends. I hope you find strength from the love and warmth from all the messages on here from those who knew him best. Its horrible to lose a loved one, it always seems the best are taken too soon. We lost one of our own. Be strong Diane, you'll always be welcome on here for a word of comfort. The Stoke City Family RIP winger
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Post by id on Jun 30, 2011 20:05:20 GMT
Genuniely stunned by the sad news i recived by text from another poster this morning. Like many, I've known winger since the "old days" not as well as some on here, but well enough that he sent me a pre-sale copy of "and she laughed no more" , and i once sold him an old race bicycle. He really was one of the "good guys", who seemed to be able to get on with just about anyone. My thoughts go out to all his family and friends
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Post by goal_poster on Jun 30, 2011 20:18:25 GMT
Very, very sad news.
Rest in peace Winger/Stephen. You'll be greatly missed by us all.
All our thoughts go out to Diane and the rest of her family.
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Post by StokeOnTour on Jun 30, 2011 20:23:09 GMT
RIP Winger
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Post by Huddysleftfoot on Jun 30, 2011 20:27:49 GMT
I just read the story on the sentinel site and realised I actually worked with him when he was a butcher's boy at Tunstall market, he was then a thoroughly decent bloke then and I'm sure he would have remained so, as I had no contact with him after 1980 when he left the stall to train as a chef.
Shocked and saddened by the news, RIP Steve.
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Post by MrDBrent on Jun 30, 2011 20:29:17 GMT
RIP Steve
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Post by banburypotter on Jun 30, 2011 20:30:42 GMT
the world of stoke city is a sadder place today
RIP Stephen
condolences from the banbury stokies
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Post by scottsdalestokie on Jun 30, 2011 20:30:56 GMT
Very sad news, really enjoyed his writings, and his posts on here over the years. Thoughts and condolences to his family.
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Post by lew86 on Jun 30, 2011 20:34:56 GMT
May you rest in peace mara. Thoughts with you and your loved ones.
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Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Jun 30, 2011 20:40:01 GMT
Admin, is their any chance that we could do something to remember Stephen by during the season with one of the Norwich games? Through his books he really opened up our Club to people who wouldn't have given Stoke City a 2nd thought, and those who love the Club as he did will surely miss Stephen.
Just a thought
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Post by worcsstokie15 on Jun 30, 2011 21:04:39 GMT
Being the same age as his son Jack, my father himself a proud Stokie who moved away from the area for work purposes, like Stephen, and the both of us still doing our utmost to watch SCFC play wherever, whenever, I've always felt a strong affiliation to the Foster family, all through my reading of 'She stood there laughing'... one of my all time favourite books. I am deeply saddened to hear about Stephen's death and my thoughts and condolences are with the rest of his family.
RIP Stephen.
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Post by NorwichStokie on Jun 30, 2011 21:09:54 GMT
It’s great to see so many lovely words said about Steve. Along with his son Jack, Steve and I have travelled to Stoke games together for the past 10 years (and more recently with my son Matty), making the long trek from Norwich to Stoke (or wherever we would be playing). After my partner Angela and my son Matty, Steve was the person with whom I spent more time with than anyone else. I’ve spent much of the past week in tears and still find it very hard just writing this. Steve and I have been on a terrific journey, from the depths of Grimsby-away at the bottom of the third division to the final of The FA Cup. Steve wasn’t just someone I watched football with. The sight of his silver BMW rolling up outside my house (always fashionably late) filled me with happiness, knowing that whatever the score, I was going to have a good day because I was about to spend the next 10 hours with the most dignified, cultured, clever, generous, friendly and funny person I’d ever had the pleasure to call a friend. As he pointed out in one of his books “If it wasn’t for football, Graham and I would never have been friends”. I am a scientist who spends most of his spare time birding. Steve was a writer who spent most of his spare time with his dogs. We were very different, but our love for Stoke City brought us together and made us the best of friends. I now look forward to the forthcoming season with a heavy heart. I'll never jump for joy and have that human embrace that two grown men can only really have whist celebrating a goal. I'll never be able to laugh with him over the funny chants and the daft callers on praise-and-grumble and the 606 phone-in. I'll never be able to send him a text knowing I'm going to get the most wittiest reply imaginable. But what I do have is some fantastic memories and I'll treasure those forever. They say you should enjoy life before it's too late and Steve certainly did this, living a full and successful one. However great my grief, I know it can't be comparable to those of his family. Carol, Diane, Bumble, Arthur, Jack, Trezza – my most sincere condolences. Steve was a very special person. I'll miss you terribly Steve.
Your friend forever, Graham
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Post by redhot on Jun 30, 2011 21:21:06 GMT
Very sad and tragic news, read "She stood there laughing" end of last year and loved it. My thoughts go out to his partner and Jack xx
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Post by offthewall on Jun 30, 2011 21:23:05 GMT
NorwichStokie - Beautiful post, truly touching.
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Post by nostrilsmoffat on Jun 30, 2011 21:24:10 GMT
RIP mate, condolences to family and friends.
The passage in his first Stoke book when he speaks of Stoke conceding a last minute goal at Preston in one of the funniest things I have ever, ever read and encapsulated the feelings of a Stokie on just one paragraph. Laugh out loud funny.
God bless mate. S.C.F.C
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