Mears: Frank

1924-1928 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Chorlton, Manchester: 1899

Debut: v Bury (h): 31-10-1925

5’10” 12st (1928)

Mears sprang to prominence as an amateur with Stalybridge Celtic, before joining Leeds in April 1924. He was an understudy to Tom Jennings at Elland Road. In his first game he was actually the deputy for Russell Wainscoat at inside left. In his second game, the Fourth Round FA Cup replay at Bolton Wanderers he stood in at Inside Right for John White, and his third and final game he deputized for Jennings at Centre-Forward at Blackburn Rovers. United lost all three games and Mears did not open his scoring account. His chances were limited but he showed good form in the Reserves and was transferred to Barnsley in May 1928. The move made him Arthur Fairclough’s first signing in his second spell at Oakwell. Fairclough had originally signed Mears for Leeds. At Oakwell he showed much better form scoring thirteen times in forty-two League games.