Elliott Frear
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Elliott Frear
| image =
| fullname = Elliott Thomas Frear{{Hugman|23099|access-date=28 April 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|9|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Exeter, England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Bath City
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = 2002–2005
| youthclubs1 = Exeter City
| youthyears2 = 2007–2009
| youthclubs2 = Exeter City
| years1 = 2009–2013
| clubs1 = Exeter City
| caps1 = 12
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2010
| clubs2 = → Tiverton Town (loan)
| caps2 = 29
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2012–2013
| clubs3 = → Salisbury City (loan)
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2013–2014
| clubs4 = Salisbury City
| caps4 = 43
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2014–2017
| clubs5 = Forest Green Rovers
| caps5 = 107
| goals5 = 12
| years6 = 2017–2019
| clubs6 = Motherwell
| caps6 = 60
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2019–2020
| clubs7 = Forest Green Rovers
| caps7 = 14
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2020–2021
| clubs8 = Heart of Midlothian
| caps8 = 8
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2021–
| clubs9 = Bath City
| caps9 = 121
| goals9 = 10
| nationalyears1 = 2013–2015
| nationalteam1 = England C
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 22:43, 25 January 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23:43, 22 November 2014 (UTC)
}}
Elliott Thomas Frear (born 11 September 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|BathCity}} club Bath City.
Career
Frear signed for Exeter City at the age of 11 and progressed through the club's Centre of Excellence sides,{{cite web
|url = http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10436~49677,00.html
|title = Elliot Frear
|publisher = Exeter City F.C.
|access-date = 22 November 2011
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111023222244/http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10436~49677%2C00.html
|archive-date = 23 October 2011
}} but after three seasons he was released from the club's youth system. Having spent two seasons playing local club football Frear was invited to a trial with Exeter in partnership with Exeter College and was offered a two-year placement on the College Football Academy programme.{{cite news
|url=http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10436~1597340,00.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703182627/https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10436~1597340,00.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=3 July 2019
|title=City Offer Professional Contract To Promising Prospect
|publisher=Exeter City F.C.
|date=20 March 2009
}} Following Frear's impressive 2008–09 season for the youth team scoring 15 goals from the left side of midfield Frear was offered a professional contract in March 2009.
In October 2009, Frear was sent out on loan to Southern League Premier Division side Tiverton Town initially on a month's loan later extended until the end of the season.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Frear-handed-immediate-chance-make-impact-Tivvy/story-11827974-detail/story.html
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505074705/http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Frear-handed-immediate-chance-make-impact-Tivvy/story-11827974-detail/story.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 5 May 2013
| title = Frear may be handed immediate chance to make impact at Tivvy
| publisher = ThisisExeter
| date = 23 October 2009
}}
{{cite news
| url = http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Rogers-moves-extend-Frear-s-stay-Tiverton/story-11791223-detail/story.html
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505082626/http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Rogers-moves-extend-Frear-s-stay-Tiverton/story-11791223-detail/story.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 5 May 2013
| title = Rogers moves to extend Frear's stay at Tiverton
| publisher = ThisisExeter
| date = 3 November 2009
}}
Frear made his professional début for Exeter in the FA Cup against Walsall as an 83rd-minute substitute for Daniel Nardiello in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15604934.stm
| title = Exeter 1–1 Walsall
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 12 November 2011 }} The following week Frear made his Football League début against Yeovil Town playing the final 26 minutes in a 2–2 draw.{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15704876.stm
| title = Yeovil 2–2 Exeter
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 19 November 2011 }} On 23 November 2011, Frear scored his first professional goal in an FA Cup replay against Walsall having come on as a second-half substitute.{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15751321.stm
| title = Walsall 3–2 Exeter
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 23 November 2011 }} Frear made his first professional start the following weekend against Tranmere Rovers in a 3–0 victory.{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15802524.stm
| title = Exeter 3–0 Tranmere
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 26 November 2011 }}
Frear signed a new contract with Exeter City in May 2012.
In late October 2012 he joined Conference South side Salisbury City on a one-month loan deal and made an immediate impact. He linked up well with the team and in late November it was announced he would remain at Salisbury for another month.
On 18 May 2013, Frear was released by Exeter City after he was not offered a new contract. He later signed at Salisbury City on a permanent basis.
On 25 June 2014, he joined Forest Green Rovers on a two-year deal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28025928 |title=Elliott Frear joins Forest Green Rovers from Salisbury City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}} He made his debut for the club on 9 August 2014 in a 1–0 away win over Southport.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28647263 |title=Southport 0–1 Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2014 |access-date=10 August 2014}} He scored his first goal in a 2–2 away draw against Macclesfield Town on 4 October 2014.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29389930 |title=Macclesfield 2–2 Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 October 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} On 18 November 2014, he played the full 90 minutes for England C in an International Challenge Trophy fixture against the Estonia under 23s squad.{{Cite web| url=http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/11615183.FOOTBALL_Forest_Green_winger_Frear_shines_for_England/ |title=Forest Green winger Frear shines for England |publisher=Stroud News & Journal |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=22 November 2014}}
On 7 February 2015, he scored his second goal for Forest Green in a 2–1 home win over Grimsby Town.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31071504 |title=Forest Green 2–1 Grimsby Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 February 2015 |access-date=8 February 2015}} He helped the club to the Conference National play-offs for the first time in May 2015, although he could not prevent Bristol Rovers from earning a semi-final win.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32473545 |title=Bristol Rovers 2–0 Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2015 |access-date=4 May 2015}}
On 7 November 2015, he scored Forest Green's winning goal in a stoppage time giant killing 2–1 win over Football League Two side AFC Wimbledon.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34685561 |title=AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2015 |access-date=8 November 2015}} He was then a part of the Forest Green side that made it through to the National League 2015–16 play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 15 May 2016, which ended in a 3–1 defeat against Grimsby Town.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36244418 |title=Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Grimsby Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2016}}
On 26 January 2017, Frear signed for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract.{{cite web|title=Elliott Frear signs for the Steelmen|url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2017/01/26/elliott-frear-signs-for-the-steelmen/|publisher=Motherwell F.C.|date=26 January 2017|access-date=26 January 2017}} He made his debut for Motherwell on 28 January 2017, as a substitute, against Rangers.{{cite web|title=Motherwell 0–2 Rangers|url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2017/01/28/motherwell-0-2-rangers-2/|publisher=Motherwell F.C.|date=28 January 2017|access-date=30 January 2017}} He left the club in July 2019, having turned down the offer of a new contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/17797836.big-interview-former-forest-winger-elliott-frear-time-rovers-motherwell-lifting-lid-cheltenham-town-switch/|title=THE BIG INTERVIEW: Former Forest winger Elliott Frear on his time at Rovers, Motherwell and lifting the lid on Cheltenham Town switch|website=Stroud News and Journal|language=en|access-date=30 July 2019}}
On 18 October 2019, Frear signed for Forest Green Rovers for a second time, agreeing a short-term contract until January 2020.{{cite web|title=Elliott Frear: Forest Green Rovers re-sign ex-Motherwell winger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50096875|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 October 2019|access-date=20 October 2019}}
On 27 August 2020, Frear signed a one-year deal with Scottish club Heart of Midlothian.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-12 |title=Hearts make their decision on Elliott Frear's future |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-make-their-decision-on-elliott-frears-future-3232900 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}}
On 23 July 2021, Frear returned to England to join National League South side Bath City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bathcityfc.com/player-news-elliott-frear/|title=Player News – Elliott Frear|website=bathcityfc.com|date=23 July 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 25 January 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Appearances in FA Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Appearances in EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|Exeter City
|2009–10{{soccerbase season|51868|2009|access-date=30 January 2022}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010–11{{soccerbase season|51868|2010|access-date=30 January 2022}}
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011–12{{soccerbase season|51868|2011|access-date=30 January 2022}}
|League One |10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2012–13{{soccerbase season|51868|2012|access-date=30 January 2022}}
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!12||0||2||1||1||0||1||0||16||1 | ||||||||||
| Tiverton Town (loan)
|2019–20{{cite web |title=Elliott Frear Profile |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/elliott-frear |website=aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk |publisher=Aylesbury United F.C. |accessdate=30 January 2022 }} |Southern League |29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| Salisbury City (loan)
|2012–13{{cite web |title=E. Frear: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/elliott-frear/101095/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=30 January 2022}} |24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 25 | 3 | ||
| Salisbury City
|43 | 5 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 47 | 6 | ||
| rowspan=4|Forest Green Rovers
|Conference Premier |42 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|Three appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in Conference Premier play-offs}} | 0 | 52 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16
|46 | 5 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|Appearances in National League play-offs}} | 0 | 52 | 6 | ||
| 2016–17
|19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!107||12||6||1||colspan=2|—||10||0||123||13 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=4|Motherwell
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|51868|2016|access-date=30 January 2022}} |15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|51868|2017|access-date=30 January 2022}}
|Scottish Premiership |23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|51868|2018|access-date=30 January 2022}}
|Scottish Premiership |22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | colspan=2|— | 29 | 4 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!60||3||3||0||11||5||colspan=2|—||74||8 | ||||||||||
| Forest Green Rovers
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|51868|2019|access-date=30 January 2022}} |League Two |14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| Heart of Midlothian
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|51868|2020|access-date=30 January 2022}} |8 | 2 | 1{{efn|The later stages of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup were played in October and December 2020}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 12 | 2 | ||
| rowspan=5|Bath City
|38 | 4 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 6{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, five appearances in Somerset Premier Cup}} | 0 | 47 | 5 | ||
| 2022–23
|National League South |37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, four appearances and one goal in Somerset Premier Cup}} | 2 | 45 | 3 | ||
| 2023–24
|National League South |31 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in Somerset Premier Cup, one appearances in National League South play-offs}} | 0 | 37 | 5 | ||
| 2024–25
|National League South |15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in Somerset Premier Cup}} | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!121||10||11||2||colspan=2|—||19||2||151||14 | ||||||||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!418||36||27||5||15||5||32||2||492||48 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway|elliott-frear/101095}}
{{2015–16 Conference Premier Team of the Year}}
{{Forest Green Rovers F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Bath City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frear, Elliott}}
Category:Footballers from Exeter
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Exeter City F.C. players
Category:Tiverton Town F.C. players
Category:Salisbury City F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. players
Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
Category:Bath City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players