Brian Dear

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Brian "Stag" Dear (born September 18, 1943 in Plaistow, London) is an English former footballer who played as a striker.

Dear started his career with West Ham United, joining the club at the age of 15. He made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 29 August 1962, and went on to make 69 league appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals. He was a member of the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup winning side.

He holds the record for the quickest ever five goals in an English game, 20 minutes either side of half time, in a home tie against West Brom on April 16, 1965.

Out on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion, Dear managed to score five goals in seven games. He moved to Fulham for £20,000 in 1969 but, after a short spell at Millwall, moved back to West Ham in October 1970.

His second spell at Upton Park was short-lived and Dear featured in only four games during the 1970-71 season. Dear played his last game for the club on December 19, 1970, wearing the number 9 shirt against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The following month, he and three West Ham team-mates - Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves and Clyde Best - were all fined by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood after going out drinking in a nightclub until the early hours of the morning prior to an FA Cup third round tie against Blackpool.

Dear later played for Woodford Town, and after hanging up his boots and working as a publican for some years, joined Southend United as catering manager.

Dear is a Freeman of the City of London.

[edit] References

• Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media, 61. ISBN 1 903135 50 8. 
• West Ham Player List, last accessed 11 January 2006
• Brian Dear, westhamstats.info, last accessed 11 January 2006