Every football fan dream’s of playing for their team but it’s a dream most will never realise. Walking on that pitch, wearing the shirt, scoring that goal in front of the terrace you stand every Saturday, there’s no football fan that hasn’t visualised it let alone a West Ham United fan.
18 years ago, on the 15th March 2008, a young man named Freddie Sears did just that.
Sears, a West Ham fan and season ticket holder had been making a name for himself in the club’s academy. 22 goals in 17 games for the youth set up before appearing in six reserve games, scoring three times. It was no wonder the eyes were on the young forward.
On March 11, the 18-year-old Sears would sign a new contract with the club, something he once dreamt about, but that wasn’t the only dream that would come true that week.
Four days later, the East London born forward would find his name on the bench as the Hammers took on Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. With the game in deadlock at 1-1 in the 75th minute, his number was up. Sears came on to replace Noberto Solano with one thing on his mind.
Five minutes and 16 seconds later, Sears realised that dream. Dean Ashton backheeled the ball into the forwards path, he couldn’t guide his first shot home but he was never going to miss as he headed in the rebound.
A dream, a moment, realised as Sears ran off with one arm raised in front of the stand at Upton Park he had stood in for so many years.
A boyhood Iron’s football career
Freddie Sears lived his dream in that moment and would go on to 58 appearances for his boyhood club West Ham, scoring three goals in that time but most importantly two at the Boleyn Ground.
A drop in division would follow, but the goals did not. Sears joined Colchester United permanently in 2012 and went on to score 36 goals for the club, earning a move to Championship Ipswich Town.
Unfortunately, Sears could not recreate his Colchester form but that did not stop his commitment to his team. Ipswich used the attacker in several different ways, often playing him out wide. Every the stalwart, Sears never stopped running, staying at the Tractor Boys for six years, making over 200 appearances.
Goals are never far away for Freddie Sears
Upon leaving Ipswich, Sears returned to Colchester for a short spell, before heading into non-league.
Two quick spells with Dagenham & Redbridge and Braintree Town couldn’t reignite the fire but when the forward landed at Chatham Town, things clicked.
Sears netted 21 goals in 39 appearances for the Kent outfit, showing that at 35-now-36, you just don’t lose it. A move back to Essex and Maldon & Tiptree followed, as did the goals.
29 goals for the club so far, 24 in the league, Sears has found himself. Not only that but the boyhood Hammer has returned to West Ham, coaching through the youth ranks with a view to moving into the job permanently when he decides to call time on all the goalscoring.
