Cliff Sear
Encyclopedia
Cliff Sear was a Welsh football left back who played for Manchester City
between 1956 and 1967. During this time he made 250 appearances for the team and scored 1 goal.
He was captain of the Welsh under 23 team for which he made 2 appearances and also won one cap for Wales
in a game against England
in November 1962. Sear had joined City as a youngster from Oswestry Town
.
in August 1968, doubling his tally of Football League goals in his 14-year career. However, the vast majority of his 19 year service to the club would be in coaching capacities. Between March 1982 and November 1982 he was manager of the club (initially as caretaker), but he did not enjoy this role and happily returned to working with the youth team and helping his successors in the manager's chair. He did though have another tenure as caretaker manager the helm in January 1984, after previous caretaker manager Trevor Storton
stepped down as the club awaited the appointment of John McGrath.
Sear is largely credited for helping discover Ian Rush
, having helped guide him through Chester's youth set-up in the late 1970s. During much of his time at the club, Sear was the trusted right hand man to Alan Oakes
, who had coincidentally been a team-mate at Manchester City
.
Other players to emerge from Sear's youth system and enjoy successful league careers include Brian Croft
, twins Paul
and Ron Futcher
, Chris Lightfoot
, Robbie Painter
, Mike Williams
and Colin Woodthorpe
.
Sear died from a heart attack in 2000 .
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
between 1956 and 1967. During this time he made 250 appearances for the team and scored 1 goal.
He was captain of the Welsh under 23 team for which he made 2 appearances and also won one cap for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a game against England
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...
in November 1962. Sear had joined City as a youngster from Oswestry Town
Oswestry Town F.C.
Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...
.
Chester City
In 1968, Sear joined Chester, initially as a player. He scored on his debut against York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in August 1968, doubling his tally of Football League goals in his 14-year career. However, the vast majority of his 19 year service to the club would be in coaching capacities. Between March 1982 and November 1982 he was manager of the club (initially as caretaker), but he did not enjoy this role and happily returned to working with the youth team and helping his successors in the manager's chair. He did though have another tenure as caretaker manager the helm in January 1984, after previous caretaker manager Trevor Storton
Trevor Storton
Trevor Storton was an English footballer who played as a central defender.-The early years:He began his career at Tranmere Rovers, playing alongside his older brother Stan, he played over 100 games for the club between 1967 and 1972, when he joined Liverpool...
stepped down as the club awaited the appointment of John McGrath.
Sear is largely credited for helping discover Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
, having helped guide him through Chester's youth set-up in the late 1970s. During much of his time at the club, Sear was the trusted right hand man to Alan Oakes
Alan Oakes
Alan Arthur Oakes is an English footballer who holds Manchester City's all-time record for appearances. Thanks to a further six year stint at Chester , Oakes played 776 Football League matches – the seventh most in history.-Permanent Fixture with Man City:Oakes signed for Manchester City on...
, who had coincidentally been a team-mate at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Other players to emerge from Sear's youth system and enjoy successful league careers include Brian Croft
Brian Croft
Brian Graham Alexander Croft is a retired English professional footballer who played as a winger. The majority of his Football League appearances were made for his hometown club Chester City in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Playing career:Croft joined Chester as a schoolboy, with his debut coming as...
, twins Paul
Paul Futcher
Paul Futcher is a former professional footballer who had a distinguished career as defender in the English football league, for England under 21s and as manager of several non-league clubs. Futcher is also the father of fellow footballer Ben Futcher.-Playing career:Futcher was the defensive half...
and Ron Futcher
Ron Futcher
Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs....
, Chris Lightfoot
Chris Lightfoot (footballer)
Chris Lightfoot was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for four clubs. He later managed in non-league football....
, Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter is a former English professional footballer. He played in The Football League for six clubs between 1987 and 2001, usually as a striker.-Playing career:...
, Mike Williams
Mike Williams (footballer born 1965)
Mike Williams is a former Welsh professional footballer. He played in The Football League for Chester City and Wrexham as both a defender and a midfielder.-Playing career:...
and Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe is a veteran English footballer currently serving as assistant manager at Colwyn Bay F.C..-Early career:...
.
Crossing the Border
After leaving Chester in acrimonious circumstances in 1987 , Sear joined arch-rivals Wrexham and helped revamp the club's youth policy. Many of the players he helped bring through the ranks with Wrexham went on to play in the club's numerous giantkilling acts in the 1990s. Sear enjoyed a testimonial between Wrexham and Manchester City in 1996.Sear died from a heart attack in 2000 .