Tony Spearing
Encyclopedia
Tony Spearing is a former professional footballer.
A former assistant manager to Rob Newman
at Cambridge United
, Spearing is currently Head of European Recruitment for West Bromwich Albion
.
and was a member of their youth team that won the 1983 FA Youth Cup
, beating Everton
in a replayed final. He played 82 times for City's first team, but the arrival of Mark Bowen meant that Spearing was no longer first choice left-back at Norwich and in 1988 he joined Leicester
for a fee of £100,000.
Spearing played 73 games for Leicester, 35 for Plymouth
and 111 for Peterborough
before joining King's Lynn
as a player in 1997.
and Great Yarmouth
before taking up his position of assistant manager at Cambridge United in 2005.
Spearing left the Abbey Stadium
when Rob Newman was sacked in September 2006 after a defeat against Exeter
left the U's second-bottom of the Conference.
Spearing returned to Carrow Road
to play in the centenary match against Harwich & Parkeston
in September 2002.
Spearing was a member of the Leicester City masters side that beat Chelsea in 2005 to win the grand final of the Sky TV Masters indoor league.
He became a Senior Scout For Blackburn Rover
, working within the Premiership and Europe, but, in March 2008, left Blackburn to take up an offer from West Bromwich Albion
to become the Head of European recruitment.
A former assistant manager to Rob Newman
Rob Newman (footballer)
Robert "Rob" Newman is an English football coach and former player.-Career:Newman signed for Bristol City as an apprentice in October 1981 and played 483 games for the club, serving as club captain before being sold to Norwich City for £600,000 in 1991...
at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, Spearing is currently Head of European Recruitment for West Bromwich Albion
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...
.
Playing career
Spearing began his career with NorwichNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and was a member of their youth team that won the 1983 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
, beating 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 a replayed final. He played 82 times for City's first team, but the arrival of Mark Bowen meant that Spearing was no longer first choice left-back at Norwich and in 1988 he joined Leicester
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...
for a fee of £100,000.
Spearing played 73 games for Leicester, 35 for Plymouth
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and 111 for Peterborough
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...
before joining King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
as a player in 1997.
Management career
Spearing became manager of King's Lynn FC (the Linnets) in 1998 but quickly relinquished the position and returned to his playing duties, though he was re-appointed as manager in 2000 and remained in the position for a further two years. He went on to play for A.F.C. Sudbury, WisbechWisbech Town F.C.
Wisbech Town F.C. is an English football club currently based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Fenland Stadium.-History:...
and Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
before taking up his position of assistant manager at Cambridge United in 2005.
Spearing left the Abbey Stadium
Abbey Stadium
The Abbey Stadium, known as R Costings Abbey Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Cambridge, England. It has been the home ground of Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and currently has a maximum capacity of 9,617 spectators...
when Rob Newman was sacked in September 2006 after a defeat against Exeter
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...
left the U's second-bottom of the Conference.
Spearing returned to Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
to play in the centenary match against Harwich & Parkeston
Harwich & Parkeston F.C.
Harwich & Parkeston F.C. is an English football club based in Harwich, Essex. The club are currently members of the Essex & Suffolk Border League and play at the Royal Oak ground.-History:...
in September 2002.
Spearing was a member of the Leicester City masters side that beat Chelsea in 2005 to win the grand final of the Sky TV Masters indoor league.
He became a Senior Scout For Blackburn Rover
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....
, working within the Premiership and Europe, but, in March 2008, left Blackburn to take up an offer from West Bromwich Albion
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...
to become the Head of European recruitment.
Sources
- Canary Citizens by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7