Richard Pears

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Richard Pears

| image =

| fullname = Richard James Pears

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1976|7|16}}

| birth_place = Exeter, Devon, England

| height =

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Cullompton Rangers (manager)

| youthyears1 = –1994

| youthclubs1 = Exeter City

| years1 = 1994–1997

| years2 = 1997

| years3 =

| years4 =

| years5 = –1998

| years6 = 1998–2004

| years7 = 2004

| years8 = 2004–2005

| years9 = 2005

| years10 = 2005–2006

| years11 = 2006–2007

| years12 = 2007–2008

| years13 = 2008–2009

| years14 = 2009–2010

| clubs1 = Exeter City

| clubs2 = Torquay United

| clubs3 = Cullompton Rangers

| clubs4 = Heavitree United

| clubs5 = Clyst Rovers

| clubs6 = Tiverton Town

| clubs7 = Mangotsfield United

| clubs8 = Exmouth Town

| clubs9 = Willand Rovers

| clubs10 = Tiverton Town

| clubs11 = Willand Rovers

| clubs12 = Exmouth Town

| clubs13 = Cullompton Rangers

| clubs14 = Tiverton Town

| caps1 = 60

| caps2 = 0

| goals1 = 8

| goals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2007–2008

| manageryears2 = 2008–2010

| manageryears3 = 2010–2011

| manageryears4 = 2012–2017

| manageryears5 = 2017

| manageryears6 = 2018

| manageryears7 = 2018–2019

| manageryears8 = 2024

| manageryears9 = 2024–

| managerclubs1 = Exmouth Town

| managerclubs2 = Cullompton Rangers

| managerclubs3 = Royal Marines

| managerclubs4 = Exmouth Town

| managerclubs5 = Barnstaple Town

| managerclubs6 = Sidmouth Town

| managerclubs7 = Buckland Athletic

| managerclubs8 = Bridgwater United

| managerclubs9 = Cullompton Rangers

}}

Richard James Pears (born 16 July 1976) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently manager of Cullompton Rangers.

Career

Born in Exeter, Pears began his career as a trainee with Exeter City, turning professional in July 1994, having made his league debut the previous season. He played 60 league games for Exeter before being released at the end of the 1996–97 season. He briefly joined local rivals Torquay United, but left without appearing for the Plainmoor side.

Pears then began his career in non-league football, joining Cullompton Rangers and subsequently playing for Heavitree United before joining Clyst Rovers. He moved to Tiverton Town in October 1998, playing in the winning FA Vase side at the end of that season. He remained with Tiverton until January 2004 when he joined Mangotsfield United in a player-exchange deal, Darren Edwards moving in the opposite direction.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024112/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=15217 Tivvy in striker swap]}}

In August 2004, Pears left Mangotsfield to join Exmouth Town as player-assistant manager.,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030352/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=19530 Pears makes his move]}} leaving to join Willand Rovers in the June 2005.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035043/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=27504 Pears goes 'home']}} In September 2005, Pears returned to Tiverton Town,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201305/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=29642 Pears back at Tivvy]}}

Pears rejoined Willand Rovers in June 2006,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023710/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=35555 Pears makes Willand return]}} but left at the end of the 2006–07 season as he could not commit to the travelling involved, partly due to his work requirements with Exeter City Council.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930034437/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=42926 Rovers set to lose Pears]}}

In June 2007, despite being linked with a move to Elmore,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015106/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=42977 Pears deal shows ambition]}} Pears was appointed as manager of Exmouth Town.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031529/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=43084 Surprise as Pears handed Exmouth post]}}

In May 2008 he was appointed as co-manager of Cullompton Rangers, alongside Lee Annunziata.{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=50768|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821180932/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=50768|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 August 2012|title=Seven follow Pears from Exmouth|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=19 June 2008|accessdate=5 January 2009}}

In February 2010 he returned to Tiverton Town for his third stint at the club, to provide cover to Martyn Rogers injury, and suspension hit side.http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/football/Pears-vows-prove-cut-Yellows/article-1872856-detail/article.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} In June 2010 he was appointed manager of the Royal Marines. After managing Exmouth Town from 2012 until 2017, he was appointed manager of Barnstaple Town in May 2017.[http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/sport/football/barnstaple-town-announce-new-manager-1-5008596 Barnstaple Town announce new manager] North Devon Gazette, 8 May 2017 He resigned as the club's manager in December.[http://www.barnstapletownfc.com/2017/12/barnstaple-town-fc-manager-richard-pears-resigns/ Barnstaple Town FC Manager Richard Pears Resigns] Barnstaple Town, 12 December 2017

During the summer of 2018 Pears was announced as the new manager of Sidmouth Town.[https://www.devonlive.com/sport/former-exeter-city-striker-relishing-2108957 Former Exeter City striker relishing new management role with Buckland Athletic] Devon Online, 15 October 2018 However, he left to take over as manager of Buckland Athletic on 15 October 2018.[https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/sidmouth-town-shock-manager-departs-for-buckland-athletic-1-5736494 Sidmouth Town shock - Manager departs for Buckland Athletic] Sidmouth Herald, 15 October 2018 He left Buckland in September 2019.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190918034359/http://nonleaguedaily.com/buckland-athletic-boss-pears-departs/ Buckland Athletic boss Pears departs]}} Non-League Daily, 17 September 2019

He subsequently worked as assistant manager at Bideford.[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bidefordafc/teams/67608/coach/richard-pears-1447974] Bideford AFC website In September 2024 he was appointed manager of Bridgwater United.{{cite web|url=https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/bridgwater_news/24618704.bridgwater-united-name-richard-pears-new-manager/|title=Bridgwater United name Richard Pears as the new manager|website=Bridgwater Mercury|date=30 September 2024}} However, he resigned from the role in November and rejoined Cullompton Rangers as manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.cullomptonrangersfc.co.uk/richard-pears-appointed-as-manager/|title=Richard Pears Appointed as Manager|website=Cullompton Rangers FC|date=4 November 2024}}