Richard James Pears is a former English

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. He was born in Exeter

Exeter

Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...

.

Pears began his career as a trainee with Exeter City

Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

, turning professional in July 1994, having made his league debut the previous season. He played 60 league games for Exeter before being released at the end of the 1996-97 season. He briefly joined local rivals Torquay United

Torquay United F.C.

Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

, but left without appearing for the Plainmoor

Plainmoor

Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...

 side.

Pears then began his career in non-league football, joining Cullompton Rangers

Cullompton Rangers A.F.C.

Cullompton Rangers Football Club is a football club based in Cullompton, Devon, England. As of the 2011–12 season, the club plays in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division.-History:...

 and subsequently playing for Heavitree United before joining Clyst Rovers

Clyst Rovers F.C.

Clyst Rovers F.C. are a football club based in Clyst Honiton, near Exeter, Devon, England. They joined the South Western League in 1981 and played there until the 1991-92 season, after which they joined the Western League. They were forced to resign from the league near the end of the 2000-01...

. He moved to Tiverton Town

Tiverton Town F.C.

Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...

 in October 1998, playing in the winning FA Vase

FA Vase

The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...

 side at the end of that season. He remained with Tiverton until January 2004 when he joined Mangotsfield United

Mangotsfield United F.C.

Mangotsfield United F.C. is an English football club based in Mangotsfield, in the Greater Bristol area, who currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA and Somerset County FA....

 in a player-exchange deal, Darren Edwards moving in the opposite direction.

In August 2004, Pears left Mangotsfield to join Exmouth Town

Exmouth Town F.C.

Exmouth Town F. C. are a football club, from Exmouth, Devon, England who play in the South West Peninsula League. They had started the 2005-06 season in the Western League, but financial problems led to their withdrawal bringing a 33-year association with the league to an end.-History:The club was...

 as player-assistant manager., leaving to join Willand Rovers

Willand Rovers F.C.

Willand Rovers Football Club is a football club based in Willand, near Exeter, in Devon, England who play in the Western League Premier Division...

 in the June 2005. In September 2005, Pears returned to Tiverton Town,

Pears rejoined Willand Rovers in June 2006, but left at the end of the 2006-07 season as he could not commit to the travelling involved, partly due to his work requirements with Exeter City Council.

In June 2007, despite being linked with a move to Elmore

Elmore F.C.

Elmore F.C. are a football club based in Tiverton, Devon, England. They currently play in the Western League Division One.-Club history:The club was founded in 1947 and joined the South Western League in 1974 and played there for four years before gaining admittance to the Western Football League...

, Pears was appointed as manager of Exmouth Town.

In May 2008 he was appointed as co-manager of Cullompton Rangers, alongside Lee Annunziata.

In February 2010 he returned to Tiverton Town

Tiverton Town F.C.

Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...

 for his third stint at the club, to provide cover to Martyn Rogers

Martyn Rogers

-Career:Rogers' playing career included spells at Exeter City and Bristol City. In 1992 he was appointed player-manager of non-league Tiverton Town where he remained as manager until 21 May 2010 having tendered his resignation on 18 May 2010....

 injury, and suspension hit side. In June 2010 he was appointed manager of the Royal Marines

Royal Marines

The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...

 AFC.

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