club, leaving in October 2012. Preston North End After a month without a club, Foster went on trial at League One club Preston North End in November 2012, managed by former Stevenage manager Graham Westley. The trial proved successful, and he signed on non-contract terms with the club on 18 December 2012. He made his debut on the same day in a 3–3 draw against Bury in the Football League Trophy, with Preston progressing following a penalty shoot-out. After impressing Westley in his first four matches for the club, Foster signed a permanent contract, keeping him at Preston for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. In the club's next match, on 10 January 2013, a televised 3–2 defeat to Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena in the Football League Trophy, Foster scored his only goal for Preston, briefly restoring parity in the match as Coventry scored two injury-time goals to win the match. Foster made eight appearances in all competitions during his time with the club, and at the end of the season, new Preston manager Simon Grayson told him that his contract would not be renewed when it expired in June 2013. Return to Non-League Foster rejoined Conference Premier club Lincoln City on 1 August 2013, signing a one-year deal with the club he had previously played for from 2005 to 2007. He made his second debut for the club ten days after signing, on the opening day of the 2013–14 season, playing the whole match in central defence as Lincoln drew 0–0 away at Woking. Both of Foster's goals for the season came in away fixtures at Braintree Town. The first was scored in an FA Trophy match on 14 December 2013, netting in the 91st minute to give Lincoln the lead in an eventual 3–1 win. His second came in the same fixture, but in the league, three months later; courtesy of a header from a Sean Newton corner in a 2–0 away victory on 18 March 2014. He played regularly throughout the campaign, making 37 appearances in a season where Lincoln struggled for consistency and finished 14th in Conference Premier. Foster left Lincoln when his contract expired at the end of the season. Shortly after becoming a free agent, Foster signed for another Conference Premier team in the form of Southport on 18 June 2014. He was made club captain ahead of the 2014–15 season. Foster