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Stephen Pears

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Stephen Pears
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-01-22) 22 January 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth Brandon, County Durham, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Gateshead (goalkeeping coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1985 Manchester United 4 (0)
1983 → Middlesbrough (loan) 12 (0)
1985–1995 Middlesbrough 327 (0)
1995–1996 Liverpool 0 (0)
1996–1998 Hartlepool United 15 (0)
Total 358 (0)
Managerial career
2014 Hartlepool United (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stephen Pears (born 22 January 1962) 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.

Career

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Stephen Pears started his career at Manchester United as an understudy to Gary Bailey. 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.[2]

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. [2]

He was released in 1995 after a sell out testimonial match, which also became the last 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 person to score a goal at Ayresome Park.

Pears then moved on to Liverpool to provide goalkeeping cover for David James, and was issued with the number 27 shirt. [1]

However, after making no appearances he moved on to Hartlepool shortly after where he played 19 times before retiring at the age of 35.

Coaching career

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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.

Pears position of goalkeeping coach for the Middlesbrough first team was terminated on 21 November 2013 after Middlesbrough appointed their new manager, Aitor Karanka and he has since been replaced by Leo Percovich.[3]

On 4 July 2014, Pears was announced as assistant manager and goalkeeping coach at Hartlepool United.[4] On 5 October, Pears was named caretaker-manager alongside Sam Collins following the departure of Colin Cooper[5] and was kept on as goalkeeping coach following the appointment of Paul Murray as manager on 23 October.[6]

On 19 July 2015, Pears was announced as goalkeeping coach at National League side Gateshead.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ a b "STEPHEN PEARS 1983-84 and 1985-95 | Middlesbrough | History | Heroes | Heroes". Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  3. ^ "Boro's backroom staff overhaul continues as Mark Proctor and Stephen Pears leave club". 21 November 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Hartlepool United: Stephen Pears appointed assistant manager". BBC Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Collins And Pears Take Temporary Charge". Hartlepool United FC. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Paul Murray: Hartlepool United appoint ex-player as manager". BBC Sport. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Tynesiders appoint Pears as goalkeeping coach". Gateshead FC. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
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