Wellington Phoenix have given former Liverpool goalkeeper Rylee Foster a second chance at playing professional football, two years after the Canadian was involved in a terrible car accident.
Foster was told by doctors she would never play football again after she was thrown through the windscreen of a car in Finland in October 2021.
The 25-year-old suffered several severe injuries including seven fractures in her neck. The young goalkeeper says it is incredible she is even here to tell the story.
"The fact that I'm alive is phenomenal," she said. "The injury that I sustained is known to kill you instantly, if not become a tetraplegic, which is what Christopher Reeve was."
Foster, who has signed with Wellington for the upcoming Liberty A-League season, was placed into a neck 'halo' device after the accident to prevent her movement and any further damage.
"I've been through a lot in the last two years, more than most people go through in their whole lives.
"There have been a lot of sacrifices and blood, sweat and tears to get to this point, and a lot of hurdles in regard to physical and mental health."
The former Canada age-group international was also quick to thank the Phoenix for showing faith in her ability to return to a professional level.
"Joining the Phoenix is very symbolic," she added. "It's a new becoming. It's an arising from something that was literally in ashes.
"I feel at home, and I feel ready to go and do what I need to do to pay back that trust."
Foster's signing rounds out new coach Paul Temple's squad for the season. Foster is also the fourth Visa signing for the club.
The retuning shot-stopper will compete with young Kiwi Brianna Edwards for the No.1 role after first-choice goalkeeper and captain Lily Alfeld was ruled out for the season with a back injury.
Temple says the difficult choice between the two players is a good problem to have.
"Those two can fight it out and there will be a really good competition for that place. I think that will bring the best out of both of them like it has everywhere else on the pitch."
Wellington Phoenix women's 2023/24 season kicks off at Sky Stadium on October 15 against Melbourne City.
