He has applied to the Forestry Commission for consent to construct 20 pitches, together with a changing pavilion, outdoor store and car parking at Newbottle.
The move comes less than a year after a High Court judge showed Durham Estates, headed by Mr Foster, the red card over its proposal to fell 7,000 trees to make way for the ambitious scheme.
In June last year villagers living near Newbottle Wood, Houghton, celebrated after the High Court ruling in their favour after a lengthy battle under the banner of Tree and Wildlife Action Group (Twag).
But Mr Foster believes Twag does not have as wide support as it claims and this time the league will have its way.
“It’s actually happening,” he said. “The injunction was based on the fact that the Forestry Commission hadn’t carried out an environmental impact assessment.
“Now, at great expense, we’ve carried out an environmental impact assessment that there are no great-crested newts there, no red squirrels and no environmental things that have to be kept.
“They have delayed the project and caused the league and 16,000 children a delay and a lot of expense.
“It will be starting very shortly after the statutory period. We’ve seen the objections that are in and none of them are valid.”
He said the chairman of Twag, Paul Bennett, had “won a battle, but he hasn’t won the war.”
The land in Newbottle is owned by Durham Estates, who want to create the pitches for teams playing in the Russell Foster Youth Football league.
In the High Court last year, Mr Justice Collins ruled that Newbottle Wood and its 7,000 trees should remain untouched, preventing Durham Estates from going ahead with its plans.
The judge came down on the side of Twag after the Forestry Commission had decided no environmental impact assessment was necessary.
The Russell Foster Youth League is the biggest in the region, attracting teams from all over Sunderland, Newcastle and Durham.
In the past it has helped nurture the talents of players such as Michael Gray, Martin Smith, Michael Proctor and Ben Alnwick.
Twag chairman Paul Bennett said: “Ninety-five per cent of people in the Newbottle community have responded in a survey to say they are against the developer’s proposal.
“To get part of the Great North Forest in the Newbottle area at the taxpayers’ expense and for it to be removed at the taxpayers’ expense is not acceptable.
“The people of Newbottle will not sit back and watch the 7,000 trees and the wildlife habitats vanish before our eyes.”
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The plans can be viewed at Sunderland Civic Centre and Shiney Row library until Wednesday, June 11. Written representations about the application must be sent to the Forestry Commission by the same date.