Peter Fear
Encyclopedia
Peter Fear nicknamed 'Fearo', is an English
footballer
, playing in central midfield. His last club was Sutton United
, then in the Conference South
, having rejoined the club in December 2006 after a nine-month absence which took in spells with Havant & Waterlooville
and Carshalton Athletic
. He originally signed at the start of the 2004-2005 season after two years with Crawley Town
, with whom he won his second Southern League championship medal in 2004; he had also been a member of Kettering's
successful line-up two seasons earlier.
He is best remember for his spell with Wimbledon
. He signed for them as an apprentice on leaving school in July 1990 and turned professional for the 1992-93 season
, when they were FA Premier League
founder members. He made his debut against Norwich City
on 5 December 1992 when they lost 2-1 in the league at Carrow Road
. A further three appearances followed that season, but he had far more chances in the 1993-94
campaign with 23 appearances and his first senior goal, as the Dons finished sixth - equalling their highest ever league finish. The next two seasons brought limited first team opportunities, but he had more chances of action in 1996-97
, when he scored twice in 18 league games as the Dons finished eighth in the Premier League and were semi-finalists in both domestic cups. For much of the season, the Dons were in the top five of the Premier League and they were rarely more than a few points off the top of the table, so the failure to achieve UEFA Cup
qualification was quite a disappointment - though the season was still a great success for a club of Wimbledon's stature.
Fear featured in a famous weekly comedy sketch in Match magazine
, entitled "What if Peter Fear was?" the picture would then show the player in a humorous new job such as a vicar, or, most famously, as a potato.
Peter Fear's career highlight to date was scoring twice in the space of ten minutes, against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1997-98 season
. Unfortunately for Fear, Wimbledon went on to lose the game 6-2, and Fear's goals counted merely as a consolation. They were the last goals he would score for the Dons, as he was back on the sidelines and managed just eight league games that season. He made the team just twice in 1998-99
, before signing for Oxford United on a free transfer on 13 July 1999.
Oxford had just narrowly avoided bankruptcy when Fear joined them, and had been relegated to Division Two. He played 38 league games over two seasons, scoring three goals, helping them narrowly avoid a second successive relegation in 1999-2000
but not being able to prevent relegation in 2000-01
, when Oxford suffered 33 league defeats (the joint second worst ever of any Football League or Premier League club) and went down in bottom place. Fear then left the club.
On the edition broadcast on 23 August 2007, Peter was a contestant on the TV gameshow The Weakest Link
. He was also a contestant on "Popmaster" Ken Bruce's radio 2 phone-in pop music quiz, on Thursday 13 May, 2010.
There is a strong rumour that he has invested in his passion, gardening, and will be imminently opening a nursery near his home in Sutton, England.
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...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, playing in central midfield. His last club was Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
, then in the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
, having rejoined the club in December 2006 after a nine-month absence which took in spells with Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
and Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic F.C.
Carshalton Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton, London. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and are based at the War Memorial Sports Ground.-Early years:...
. He originally signed at the start of the 2004-2005 season after two years with Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
, with whom he won his second Southern League championship medal in 2004; he had also been a member of Kettering's
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
successful line-up two seasons earlier.
He is best remember for his spell with Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
. He signed for them as an apprentice on leaving school in July 1990 and turned professional for the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, when they were FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
founder members. He made his debut against Norwich City
Norwich 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...
on 5 December 1992 when they lost 2-1 in the league at 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....
. A further three appearances followed that season, but he had far more chances in the 1993-94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
campaign with 23 appearances and his first senior goal, as the Dons finished sixth - equalling their highest ever league finish. The next two seasons brought limited first team opportunities, but he had more chances of action in 1996-97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
, when he scored twice in 18 league games as the Dons finished eighth in the Premier League and were semi-finalists in both domestic cups. For much of the season, the Dons were in the top five of the Premier League and they were rarely more than a few points off the top of the table, so the failure to achieve UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
qualification was quite a disappointment - though the season was still a great success for a club of Wimbledon's stature.
Fear featured in a famous weekly comedy sketch in Match magazine
Match magazine
Match! is a weekly British football magazine aimed at the teenage and pre-teenage market. First published in 1979, the magazine has a circulation of 57,108 as of December 2010. The magazine includes interviews, a skills school, quizzes and a weekly round-up of results, tables and player ratings...
, entitled "What if Peter Fear was?" the picture would then show the player in a humorous new job such as a vicar, or, most famously, as a potato.
Peter Fear's career highlight to date was scoring twice in the space of ten minutes, against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1997-98 season
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
. Unfortunately for Fear, Wimbledon went on to lose the game 6-2, and Fear's goals counted merely as a consolation. They were the last goals he would score for the Dons, as he was back on the sidelines and managed just eight league games that season. He made the team just twice in 1998-99
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, before signing for Oxford United on a free transfer on 13 July 1999.
Oxford had just narrowly avoided bankruptcy when Fear joined them, and had been relegated to Division Two. He played 38 league games over two seasons, scoring three goals, helping them narrowly avoid a second successive relegation in 1999-2000
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
but not being able to prevent relegation in 2000-01
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
, when Oxford suffered 33 league defeats (the joint second worst ever of any Football League or Premier League club) and went down in bottom place. Fear then left the club.
On the edition broadcast on 23 August 2007, Peter was a contestant on the TV gameshow The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
. He was also a contestant on "Popmaster" Ken Bruce's radio 2 phone-in pop music quiz, on Thursday 13 May, 2010.
There is a strong rumour that he has invested in his passion, gardening, and will be imminently opening a nursery near his home in Sutton, England.