Freddie Sears
Encyclopedia
Frederick David "Freddie" Sears (born 27 November 1989) is an English
professional footballer who plays as a forward for West Ham United
.
, Havering, London
, and has lived there for his entire life. He attended Hacton
Primary school and was signed by West Ham United Academy at the age of 11. He attended Sanders Draper School
playing for the successful school football team winning every cup available including the ESFA Under 13 National Cup
played at Anfield
beating Aylestone High School 5–1 with Sears scoring a hat-trick.
After a run of 20 goals in 15 games, Sears made the jump from youth to reserve squad in the 2007–08 season and impressed youth team coach Tony Carr
sufficiently for Carr to predict that a first team appearance was a possibility. Sears has also been called up for England under 19 squad and made his international debut in England's under 19 squad in a 4–0 win over Belarus on 11 September 2007.
Sears had scored 25 goals in 24 matches for the youths and reserves in the 2007–08 campaign, and just signed a new deal with the club before he played his debut game for West Ham United against Blackburn Rovers
in the Premier League on 15 March 2008, aged 18. With both sides deadlocked at 1–1, he came on for Nolberto Solano
in the 75th minute and scored the winner, also his debut goal, just five minutes and 16 seconds into his first team career, heading in the rebound from his first attempt at goal.
The 2008–09 season began with Sears in the reserves. He was joint top scorer with five goals in the 2008-09 Premier Reserve League. Gianfranco Zola
, impressed with the youngster, decided to loan him out to further his development and rewarded him with a new five-year contract in November 2008.
neighbours Crystal Palace
on loan for the 2009–10
season. He rejected moves to Queens Park Rangers
, Peterborough United
and Sheffield Wednesday
.
Sears appeared to have scored his first goal for Crystal Palace on 15 August 2009 against Bristol City
, but the ball bounced off the stanchion below the net and came back out. Referee, Rob Shoebridge then caused even more controversy by failing to spot the "goal" and thus not awarding it to the Eagles. The incident caused a public verbal disagreement between Palace manager Neil Warnock
and the FA over whether Sears should be awarded the goal and the use of video replays as evidence. On 29 December 2009, Sears was recalled by West Ham due to injuries to Carlton Cole
, Luis Boa Morte, and Zavon Hines
plus suspension to Guillermo Franco
. He played nineteen times in all competitions for Palace without scoring.
On 11 February 2010, Sears signed on loan at Coventry City for the rest of the season. Sears returned to West Ham for the start of the 2010–11 season but found his playing opportunities limited, playing only twice in their first ten games. On 19 October 2010, he joined Scunthorpe United
on a one-month loan, making his debut the same day in a 3–2 away win against Preston North End
. In November, the loan was extended until 3 January 2011.
. Sears went on to score his third senior goal for the Hammers when he struck the fifth goal against Burnley
in West Ham's 5–1 FA Cup win on the 21 February.
alongside clubmate James Tomkins
. Stuart Pearce named him in the squad list for the August 2009 friendly against the Netherlands
. The nineteen-year-old made his debut in the 0–0 draw with the Jong Oranje, coming on as a second-half substitute for club mate Junior Stanislas
.
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...
professional footballer who plays as a forward for 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...
.
Background
Sears was born in HornchurchHornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
, Havering, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and has lived there for his entire life. He attended Hacton
Hacton
Hacton is a small dispersed settlement surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt, located between the suburbs of Upminster and Rainham in the London Borough of Havering in London, England. It was historically a hamlet in the ancient parish of Upminster and is within the Upminster post town...
Primary school and was signed by West Ham United Academy at the age of 11. He attended Sanders Draper School
Sanders Draper School
The Sanders Draper School is a mixed-gender secondary school for students aged between 11 and 16 located in Hornchurch, London Borough of Havering, UK. It was a specialist science schooluntil recent and it shares its grounds with Sutton's Junior & Infant school, just off Suttons Lane...
playing for the successful school football team winning every cup available including the ESFA Under 13 National Cup
ESFA Under 13 National Cup
The ESFA Under 13 National Cup is a British schools football cup for year 8 students. It is now the largest Schools Football Competition in Europe with over 2000 individual schools registered and over 1000 girls and 1700 boys teams entering the competition. Since 2001, when the tournament began,...
played at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
beating Aylestone High School 5–1 with Sears scoring a hat-trick.
West Ham United
Sears joined the club as a schoolboy at the age of eleven. After beginning the 2006–07 campaign as a regular substitute for the U-18s he soon forced his way into contention with his goals earning him a starting berth. His chances of realising his hopes took a major leap forward in the 2007–08 campaign with a prolific run for the U-18s – including a hat-trick against Millwall in October 2007.After a run of 20 goals in 15 games, Sears made the jump from youth to reserve squad in the 2007–08 season and impressed youth team coach Tony Carr
Tony Carr
Anthony Carr MBE is an English sports coach, the current Director of Youth Development at the West Ham United football club's youth academy and is recognised as one of the most influential figures in English football. A former graduate of the academy himself, whose footballing career was cut short...
sufficiently for Carr to predict that a first team appearance was a possibility. Sears has also been called up for England under 19 squad and made his international debut in England's under 19 squad in a 4–0 win over Belarus on 11 September 2007.
Sears had scored 25 goals in 24 matches for the youths and reserves in the 2007–08 campaign, and just signed a new deal with the club before he played his debut game for West Ham United against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in the Premier League on 15 March 2008, aged 18. With both sides deadlocked at 1–1, he came on for Nolberto Solano
Nolberto Solano
Nolberto Albino "Nobby" Solano Todco is a Peruvian footballer who plays for Hartlepool United. He has spent much of his career in the English Premier League and also played 95 times for Peru between 1994 and 2009...
in the 75th minute and scored the winner, also his debut goal, just five minutes and 16 seconds into his first team career, heading in the rebound from his first attempt at goal.
The 2008–09 season began with Sears in the reserves. He was joint top scorer with five goals in the 2008-09 Premier Reserve League. Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, OBE, Ufficiale OMRI is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi...
, impressed with the youngster, decided to loan him out to further his development and rewarded him with a new five-year contract in November 2008.
Loan spells at Crystal Palace, Coventry and Scunthorpe
In June 2009, Sears joined West Ham's LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
neighbours Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on loan for the 2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season. He rejected moves to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
.
Sears appeared to have scored his first goal for Crystal Palace on 15 August 2009 against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, but the ball bounced off the stanchion below the net and came back out. Referee, Rob Shoebridge then caused even more controversy by failing to spot the "goal" and thus not awarding it to the Eagles. The incident caused a public verbal disagreement between Palace manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
and the FA over whether Sears should be awarded the goal and the use of video replays as evidence. On 29 December 2009, Sears was recalled by West Ham due to injuries to Carlton Cole
Carlton Cole
Carlton Michael Cole Okirie is an English footballer who plays as a striker for West Ham United in the Npower Championship....
, Luis Boa Morte, and Zavon Hines
Zavon Hines
Zavon Hines is a Jamaican-born, English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Burnley as a striker. Hines was born in Jamaica but has played for England's under-21 team.-West Ham United:...
plus suspension to Guillermo Franco
Guillermo Franco
Guillermo Luis Franco Farquarson is an Argentine-born Mexican football striker who plays for Vélez Sársfield. He also played for the Mexico national team, until his international retirement in September 2010.-Early life:...
. He played nineteen times in all competitions for Palace without scoring.
On 11 February 2010, Sears signed on loan at Coventry City for the rest of the season. Sears returned to West Ham for the start of the 2010–11 season but found his playing opportunities limited, playing only twice in their first ten games. On 19 October 2010, he joined Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on a one-month loan, making his debut the same day in a 3–2 away win against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. In November, the loan was extended until 3 January 2011.
Return to West Ham
On 21 December, Sears was recalled by West Ham from his loan. Sears scored his second senior goal for West Ham on New Year's Day 2011 against Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton 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...
. Sears went on to score his third senior goal for the Hammers when he struck the fifth goal against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in West Ham's 5–1 FA Cup win on the 21 February.
International career
Sears had represented England at various youth levels prior to being called up for the U-21 squad. He also played for the U-19's at the 2008 European Championships2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The final tournament of the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was the 24th UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, UEFA's premier competition for players under the age of 19. The tournament was held in the Czech Republic with matches played from 14 July to 26 July 2008. Players born...
alongside clubmate James Tomkins
James Tomkins (footballer)
James Oliver Charles Tomkins is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team...
. Stuart Pearce named him in the squad list for the August 2009 friendly against the Netherlands
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
. The nineteen-year-old made his debut in the 0–0 draw with the Jong Oranje, coming on as a second-half substitute for club mate Junior Stanislas
Junior Stanislas
Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...
.
Career statistics
| Discipline |
|---|
| West Ham United | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 6 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | ! 7 !! 0 | 0 |
| Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
Loan | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 9 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ! 9 !! 0 | 0 |
| West Ham United | > 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | ! 9 !! 2 | 0 |
| Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
Loan | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 10 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ! 10 !! 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
Loan | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 18 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | ! 19 !! 0 | 0 |
| West Ham United | > 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ! 2 !! 0 | 0 |
| > 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | ! 22 !! 0 | 0 |
| > 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ! 7 !! 1 | 0 |
