Reginald Clifford Sear (22 September 1936 – 8 July 2000) was a Welsh football left back who played for

Manchester City Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...

between 1956 and 1967. During this time he made 250 appearances for the team and scored one goal. He was captain of the Welsh under 23 team, for which he made two appearances, and also won one cap for

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

in a game against

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in November 1962. Sear had joined City as a youngster from Oswestry Town.

Chester City

In 1968, Sear joined Chester, initially as a player. He scored on his debut against

York City York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system, as of the 2024–25 seas ...

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 Ian James Rush (born 20 October 1961) is a Welsh former professional association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and one of the best Welsh playe ...

, 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 teammate at

. Other players to emerge from Sear's youth system and enjoy successful league careers include Brian Croft, twins

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and Ron Futcher, Chris Lightfoot, Robbie Painter, Mike Williams and Colin Woodthorpe.

Crossing the Border

After leaving Chester in acrimonious circumstances in 1987, Sear joined arch-rivals

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...

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 giant-killing acts in the 1990s. Sear enjoyed a testimonial between Wrexham and Manchester City in 1996. Sear died from a heart attack in 2000.

Notes

External links

List of Chester City managers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sear, Cliff 1936 births 2000 deaths Welsh men's footballers Wales men's international footballers Wales men's under-23 international footballers Manchester City F.C. players Chester City F.C. players Oswestry Town F.C. players Chester City F.C. managers English Football League players Welsh football managers Men's association football fullbacks