BEN FOSTER rediscovered “the buzz” for playing football after joining Wrexham for a second time and says signing a new contract at The Racecourse was a “no brainer”.

The 40-year-old announced last September that he was hanging up his gloves but joined the title-chasing Reds in March on a deal until the end of the campaign as a replacement for the injured Rob Lainton.

It proved to be a successful move as Foster played the final eight games of a record-breaking campaign, helping Wrexham clinch the National League title and a return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.

The former England international, who played for Manchester United, Watford twice, Birmingham and West Brom following a successful loan spell with the Reds in 2005, admits playing in front of bumper crowds at The Racecourse during the run-in helped make football enjoyable again.

“The reason I probably retired in the first case was I lost the buzz a little bit,” said Foster.

“I remember playing in the Premier League for Watford, looking round and thinking ‘I am not getting the same feelings any more’, and that is a shame.

“But I got it straight back when I came here.

“It was only eight games, five of them were at home and the buzz I got playing here with the crowd, the atmosphere around the place in general, the team I was playing with, was just phenomenal.

“That gives you an extra 10-15 per cent on a Saturday afternoon for sure.”

Following the promotion celebrations, Reds’ boss Phil Parkinson held talks with Foster to see if he intended to return to retirement or continue playing.

The rest is history with the stopper signing a one-year deal, and he said: “It was a very easy decision.

“I knew I was going to stay - I think everybody knew really!

“I knew it was only six weeks and eight games when I signed last season but after the first few weeks, I felt so at home.

“I enjoyed it so much and everybody welcomed me so much, it was a no brainer.

“Obviously getting promotion helps but I think it would probably have happened anyway.”

Foster, who kept three clean sheets in his eight games after answering Parkinson’s SOS call, was happy with his form but the goalkeeper believes he will be even better in 2023-24 following a full pre-season.

“I think I will find this season easier than what I did for those six weeks,” he added.

“When you have got eight games left, you get by on pure adrenaline.

“When you have had such a long time off and you have got it in your head that you are no longer going to be playing football, but then start playing again after two days of training, it took some doing.

“I was really happy with my form to be honest with you but when you have got a whole pre-season behind you of solid goalkeeper training, hopefully you will see a bit more next season as well.

“I have only been in training last week and I feel back to normal already, I have got it in my head mentally that I am a footballer again. I am looking forward to this season.”

CALLING ALL REDS FANS: Don’t miss our 64-page souvenir special on Reds return to the Football League in Thursday's Leader.