Not much has come easy in football for Wes Foderingham.
West Ham United’s new goalkeeper looked destined for the Premier League as a youngster, only to be released by Fulham at the age of 19 in 2010.
Foderingham earned a contract with Crystal Palace – then in the EFL Championship – and went out on loan to three non-league clubs to gain valuable experience.
A fourth loan, to Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town, saw the stopper concede six goals in 15 games and led to a permanent transfer and an EFL League Two winner’s medal in 2011/12. Even then, Foderingham had further challenges to overcome, most notably when the enigmatic Italian substituted him just 21 minutes into a 4-1 defeat by Preston North End a few months later, and Foderingham’s angry reaction led to a public dressing down from Di Canio.
The two made up and Foderingham starred for Swindon until completing a move to Scottish giants Rangers – managed by future West Ham coach Mark Warburton – in 2015. The Londoner started for three seasons, helping Rangers win promotion back to the Premiership, only to lose his place to Allan McGregor following Steven Gerrard’s appointment as manager in 2018.
For two seasons, Foderingham bided his time, then moved back south of the border to Sheffield United in 2020, only to find future England international Aaron Ramsdale blocking his path to a place in Chris Wilder’s side.
Foderingham’s patience and persistence were rewarded as, following Ramsdale’s transfer to Arsenal in 2021, he established himself as the Blades’ No1 and, in 2023, helped the South Yorkshire club win promotion to the Premier League.
Returning to the English top-flight 13 years after being released by Fulham marked a sweet moment for the stopper, who featured 30 times in the Premier League last term, albeit in a season that ultimately ended in relegation for the Bramall Lane club.
“I’d say I've done it the hard way,” he observed. “I grew up in a Premier League Academy but ultimately got released, played in non-league on loan at Bromley, Boreham Wood and Histon, went to Swindon and played in League Two and League One and worked my way up through the pyramid.
“Then obviously, last season, was back in the Premier League. So, for me, it was always a dream to play in the Premier League.
“At points in my career, I was wondering if it was ever going happen but I think, especially as a goalkeeper, you've got to stay strong, believe in yourself and your quality and keep working. Albeit it was disappointing in terms of the team perspective, last season was a dream come true for me.”
For Foderingham, the disappointment of relegation was tempered by the sense of achievement at working his way back from the sixth tier of English football, where he spent time on loan with Bromley and Boreham Wood in 2010/11, via a five-year detour to Scotland, to arguably the best league in the world.
“As much as it was a difficult season, ultimately I wanted to play in the Premier League, so it's one of those things,” he explained. “I think I built up my resilience quite early in my career, having come from a club like Rangers where their fan base is very demanding and you find out quite quickly that you need to have a thick skin and to be resilient.
“So, I think I was set up perfectly to have that season last year in the Premier League whereby, when things didn't go right or things were going against us or we were losing games, to go out there and believe in your quality, believe in your ability and to be able to do your job to the best of your ability.”
Foderingham will have his next opportunity to do his job to the best of his ability in Saturday's pre-season match at Dagenham & Redbridge. Kick-off at Chigwell Construction Stadium is at 3pm and you can buy tickets HERE, or find details of how to stream the game live for £4.99 HERE.
