Tony Spearing Explained

Tony Spearing
Fullname:Anthony Spearing
Birth Date:1964 10, df=y
Birth Place:Romford, England
Height:[1]
Youthyears1:1982–1984
Youthclubs1:Norwich City
Position:Defender
Years1:1984–1988
Clubs1:Norwich City
Caps1:69
Goals1:0
Years2:1984
Clubs2:Stoke City (loan)
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:1985
Clubs3:Oxford United (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:1988–1991
Clubs4:Leicester City
Caps4:73
Goals4:1
Years5:1991–1993
Caps5:35
Goals5:0
Years6:1993–1997
Caps6:111
Goals6:2
Years7:1997–2002
Clubs7:King's Lynn
Years8:2002–2003
Clubs8:A.F.C. Sudbury
Years9:2003–2004
Clubs9:Wisbech Town
Years10:2004–2005
Manageryears1:1998
Managerclubs1:King's Lynn
Manageryears2:2000–2002
Managerclubs2:King's Lynn

Anthony Spearing (born 7 October 1964) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Norwich City, Stoke City, Oxford United, Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United.[2]

Playing career

Spearing was born in Romford and began his career with Norwich City and was a member of their youth team that won the 1983 FA Youth Cup, beating Everton in a replayed final. His first two seasons at Carrow Road saw Spearing in the reserves and also spent time out on loan in 1984–85 at Stoke City (making nine appearances) and Oxford United (making five appearances).[2]

Spearing played 10 times for Norwich in 1985–86 as they won the Second Division. Spearing was a regular under Dave Stringer in 1986–87 playing in 48 matches before losing his place to Mark Bowen and in 1988 he joined Leicester City for a fee of £100,000. He spent three seasons with the Foxes making 79 appearances scoring once before moving on to Plymouth Argyle. At Home Park Spearing made 45 appearances and the spent five seasons with Peterborough United making 132 appearances before dropping into non-league football with King's Lynn. He later played for A.F.C. Sudbury, Wisbech Town and Great Yarmouth Town.

Management career

Spearing became manager of King's Lynn in 1998 but quickly relinquished the position and returned to his playing duties, though he was re-appointed as manager in 2000 and remained in the position for a further two years. He went on to play for A.F.C. Sudbury, Wisbech and Great Yarmouth before taking up his position of assistant manager at Cambridge United in 2005. Spearing left the Abbey Stadium when Rob Newman was sacked in September 2006 after a defeat against Exeter left the U's second-bottom of the Conference. Spearing returned to Carrow Road to play in the centenary match against Harwich & Parkeston in September 2002.

Spearing was a member of the Leicester City masters side that beat Chelsea in 2005 to win the grand final of the Sky TV Masters indoor league. He became a Senior Scout For Blackburn Rovers, working within the Premiership and Europe, but, in March 2008, left Blackburn to take up an offer from West Bromwich Albion to become the Head of European recruitment.[3] After leaving The Hawthorns in January 2015, he was immediately appointed as Head of Scouting & Recruitment at Reading, teaming up once again with former Albion Head Coach, Steve Clarke.

On 8 April 2016 Spearing was announced as the newly appointed Head of Football Recruitment at his former club Norwich City.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Norwich City1983–84First Division4000000040
1984–85First Division0010000010
1985–86Second Division80001010100
1986–87First Division390304020480
1987–88First Division180000000180
Total690405030810
Stoke City (loan)1984–85First Division9000000090
Total9000000090
Oxford United (loan)1984–85Second Division5000000050
Total5000000050
Leicester City1988–89Second Division360102010400
1989–90Second Division201001000211
1990–91Second Division170000010180
Total731103020791
Plymouth Argyle1991–92Second Division300102020350
1992–93Division Two50004010100
Total350106030450
Peterborough United1992–93Division One220000000220
1993–94Division One341104020411
1994–95Division Two330200030380
1995–96Division Two91201010131
1996–97Division Two130102020180
Total11126070801322
Career Total30231202101603513

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Football League Trophy, Full Members' Cup and Screen Sport Super Cup.

Honours

Norwich City

References

Specific
General

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 . Peter . Dunk . Queen Anne Press . London . 1987 . 262 . 978-0-356-14354-5 .
  2. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. 1994. Lion Press. 0-9524151-0-0.
  3. Web site: Spearing's Euro vision is helping to boost Baggies. Norwich Evening News 24. 8 March 2013.