According to reports, Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster was turned away from a San Diego bar over his ‘attitude’ less than 24 hours before the Manchester United game.
Wrexham‘s tour of the US has been a mixed bag. The club has undoubtedly raised its profile overseas, and has recorded impressive wins, particularly against Manchester United. However, the tour has come at a heavy cost as superstar striker Paul Mullin suffered a punctured lung in the game against United and is expected to miss the start of the season. Now, details have emerged about an alleged incident less than 24 hours before Wrexham’s match against United that manager Phil Parkinson will no doubt be unhappy about.
- MORE: ‘Nice to see’: Ben Foster explains what pleased him during Wrexham’s win over Manchester United
Ben Foster reportedly turned away from San Diego bar over ‘attitude’
According to sources, veteran goalkeeper Foster and three other people were reportedly turned away from a San Diego bar in the city’s popular Gaslamp district.
The quartet allegedly tried to get into the Barley Mash bar but were refused entry by a doorman, who said they were asked for ID and were turned away because of their “attitude”.
The alleged incident occurred around 9.30pm local time on Monday, less than 24 hours before Foster appeared in the first half of Wrexham’s 3-1 win over Manchester United.
Phil Parkinson previously told players not to go into bars on tour
The alleged incident came hours after manager Phil Parkinson said that his players were not allowed to sample the local nightlife and should stay out of bars on tour.
“We’ve tried to give the lads an experience everywhere we’ve been,” the Wrexham manager said. “They had a coach trip around Hollywood and Beverly Hills. We don’t want the lads to come on this trip, be in the hotel and say ‘lads, you’ve just got to sleep’.
“We’ve tried to let them go out into the local area – not the bars, I hasten to add – but the local areas, to get a feel for everything.”
The manager has spoken very highly of Foster since he joined the club
Foster has been somewhat of a revelation since joining the club last season. The 40-year-old former England goalkeeper immediately became a value dressing room presence and example to the younger players.
Parkinson said of Foster: “He’s top-class, but more importantly, he epitomises what we want. He’s got off the pitch things going on with his podcast, but when he trains, he’s incredible.
“His professionalism, day-to-day, is incredible. We wouldn’t have brought Ben in if he thought it was just going to enhance his media career. He adds to the group, in the way he conducts himself as a professional, so that’s very important for us.
“We’ve got a lot of younger players in the building and so anyone of that ilk who comes in has got to set the right example and be a good role model, and Ben’s definitely that.”
Wrexham conclude their US tour against Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park, Pennsylvania, on July 28 at 7:30pm local time (00:30am, 29 July, UK time).