Stephen Pears
Encyclopedia
Stephen Pears is an English
former footballer. Born in Brandon, County Durham
, he played as a goalkeeper for Manchester United
, Middlesbrough
, Liverpool
and Hartlepool United in a career spanning 20 years. Pears currently works as the goalkeeping coach for the Middlesbrough first team.
. However, Pears struggled to displace him and break into the first team. During the 1983–84 season, in order to gain match practice, he was sent to Middlesbrough on loan where he became a fan favourite. Middlesbrough attempted to sign him permanently but the club failed to raise the £80,000 fee. However, Middlesbrough made a second attempt to sign Pears and he transferred to the club permanently in 1985.
The following season saw the club get relegated. Despite this, his performances gained him critical acclaim from the fans. In 1987–88, Pears helped the club win promotion. In this season, Pears also set a club record of seven consecutive clean sheets. Some of his most notable performances this year came against Everton
in the FA Cup
and against Leicester City
in a performance which he dedicated to his late father. Pears went to make over 400 appearances for Middlesbrough from 1983 to 1995. During this time in 1992 he was called up to the England squad
but had to pull out of the squad after breaking his cheekbone after a collision with Dion Dublin
.
He was released in 1995 after a sell out testimonial match, which also became the last ever match at Ayresome Park
before Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside Stadium
. In this match, Pears was allowed to take a penalty which gave him the prestige of being the last ever person to score a goal at Ayresome Park.
Pears then moved onto Liverpool to provide goalkeeping cover for David James
, and was issued with the number 27 shirt. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/1995-1996/faprem/liverpool.htm
However, after making no appearances he moved onto Hartlepool shortly after where he played 19 times before retiring at the age of 35.
Pears was the Middlesbrough Academy goalkeeping coach where he helped to bring through the likes of Ross Turnbull
and David Knight
. He moved up from his Academy coach role to become the club's goalkeeping coach in 2007 when Paul Barron
left for Newcastle United in 2007.
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. Born in Brandon, County Durham
Brandon, County Durham
Brandon is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated a short distance to the southwest of Durham. Brandon was originally one of the seven townships within the ancient parish of Brancepeth. It grew from a sparsely populated agricultural area into a populous mining district after the...
, he played as a goalkeeper for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Hartlepool United in a career spanning 20 years. Pears currently works as the goalkeeping coach for the Middlesbrough first team.
Career
Stephen Pears started his career at Manchester United as an understudy to Gary BaileyGary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
. However, Pears struggled to displace him and break into the first team. During the 1983–84 season, in order to gain match practice, he was sent to Middlesbrough on loan where he became a fan favourite. Middlesbrough attempted to sign him permanently but the club failed to raise the £80,000 fee. However, Middlesbrough made a second attempt to sign Pears and he transferred to the club permanently in 1985.
The following season saw the club get relegated. Despite this, his performances gained him critical acclaim from the fans. In 1987–88, Pears helped the club win promotion. In this season, Pears also set a club record of seven consecutive clean sheets. Some of his most notable performances this year came against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the 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...
and against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in a performance which he dedicated to his late father. Pears went to make over 400 appearances for Middlesbrough from 1983 to 1995. During this time in 1992 he was called up to the England squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
but had to pull out of the squad after breaking his cheekbone after a collision with Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin , is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an...
.
He was released in 1995 after a sell out testimonial match, which also became the last ever match at Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
before Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
. In this match, Pears was allowed to take a penalty which gave him the prestige of being the last ever person to score a goal at Ayresome Park.
Pears then moved onto Liverpool to provide goalkeeping cover for David James
David James (footballer)
David Benjamin James is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bristol City.On 14 February 2009, he achieved the all-time Premier League appearance record with 536 appearances, overtaking Gary Speed. He held this record until being overtaken by Ryan Giggs on the 14th May 2011...
, and was issued with the number 27 shirt. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/1995-1996/faprem/liverpool.htm
However, after making no appearances he moved onto Hartlepool shortly after where he played 19 times before retiring at the age of 35.
Pears was the Middlesbrough Academy goalkeeping coach where he helped to bring through the likes of Ross Turnbull
Ross Turnbull
Ross Turnbull is an English footballer who is currently playing his club football for Chelsea as a goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League.-Early life:...
and David Knight
David Knight (footballer)
David Sean Knight is an English footballer who plays for Histon as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, Knight began his career with the Middlesbrough youth system at the age of 11 after he was spotted by a scout playing for his local team Hetton Juniors...
. He moved up from his Academy coach role to become the club's goalkeeping coach in 2007 when Paul Barron
Paul Barron
Paul George Barron is an English former football goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
left for Newcastle United in 2007.