Brian Dear
Encyclopedia
Brian Dear is an English
former footballer
who played as a striker
.
Dear, nicknamed Stag, started his career with West Ham United
, joining the club at the age of 15. He made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 29 August 1962, and went on to make 69 league appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals. He was a member of the 1964-65 European Cup Winners' Cup
winning side.
He holds the record for the quickest ever five goals in an English game, 20 minutes either side of half time, in a home tie against West Brom
on 16 April 1965.
Out on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion
, Dear managed to score five goals in seven games. He moved to Fulham
for £20,000 in 1969 but, after a short spell at Millwall
, moved back to West Ham in October 1970.
His second spell at Upton Park
was short-lived and Dear featured in only four games during the 1970-71
season. Dear played his last game for the club on 19 December 1970, wearing the number 9 shirt against Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge
. The following month, he and three West Ham team-mates - Bobby Moore
, Jimmy Greaves
and Clyde Best
, along with the club's trainer - were all fined a week's wages and banned for two games by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood after going out drinking in a nightclub until the early hours of the morning prior to an FA Cup
third-round tie against Blackpool
. "The game was played on an awful pitch and we lost 4–0. Blackpool had a lad called Tony Green
, who probably had the game of his life." The directors wanted to sack all five individuals. "I never played very much after that, and at the end of the season I was given a free transfer. I went into non-League with Woodford Town
. Jimmy only had another year's contract and he too ended in non-League. Bobby played on, but they never made it easy for him and he moved to Fulham."
After hanging up his boots and working as a publican
for some years, he joined Southend United
as catering manager.
Dear is a Freeman of the City of London
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Dear, nicknamed Stag, started his career with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, joining the club at the age of 15. He made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 29 August 1962, and went on to make 69 league appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals. He was a member of the 1964-65 European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1964-65
The season 1964-65 of the European Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by West Ham United in a final at Wembley Stadium against 1860 Munich.-First round:-First leg:-Second leg:Torino won 5–3 on aggregate.-Second round:...
winning side.
He holds the record for the quickest ever five goals in an English game, 20 minutes either side of half time, in a home tie against West Brom
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 16 April 1965.
Out on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, Dear managed to score five goals in seven games. He moved to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
for £20,000 in 1969 but, after a short spell at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, moved back to West Ham in October 1970.
His second spell at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
was short-lived and Dear featured in only four games during the 1970-71
1970-71 in English football
The 1970–71 season was the 91st season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. Arsenal secured the league title at White Hart Lane, the home of bitter rivals...
season. Dear played his last game for the club on 19 December 1970, wearing the number 9 shirt against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
. The following month, he and three West Ham team-mates - Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
, Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves
James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -...
and Clyde Best
Clyde Best
Clyde Cyril Best MBE is a Bermudian former football player who most notably played as a striker for West Ham United, and was one of the first black players in British football...
, along with the club's trainer - were all fined a week's wages and banned for two games by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood after going out drinking in a nightclub until the early hours of the morning prior to an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third-round tie against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. "The game was played on an awful pitch and we lost 4–0. Blackpool had a lad called Tony Green
Tony Green (footballer)
Anthony "Tony" Green is a Scottish former professional footballer.-Club career:Glasgow-born Green began his career at Albion Rovers in his native Scotland.-Blackpool:...
, who probably had the game of his life." The directors wanted to sack all five individuals. "I never played very much after that, and at the end of the season I was given a free transfer. I went into non-League with Woodford Town
Woodford Town F.C.
Woodford Town F.C. was an English football club based in Woodford, Greater London.-History:The club was established in 1937, and were founder members of the Delphian League in 1951. In 1961 they switched to the Metropolitan League, before joining Division One of the Greater London League in 1967...
. Jimmy only had another year's contract and he too ended in non-League. Bobby played on, but they never made it easy for him and he moved to Fulham."
After hanging up his boots and working as a publican
Publican
In antiquity, publicans were public contractors, in which role they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects...
for some years, he joined Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
as catering manager.
Dear is a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.