Sean Friars

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sean Friars

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Derry, Northern Ireland

| height =

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Institute (assistant manager)

| youthyears1 = 199?–1995 | youthclubs1 = Foyle Harps

| youthyears2 = 1995–1998 | youthclubs2 = Liverpool

| years1 = 1998–2001 |clubs1 = Ipswich Town |caps1 = 1 |goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2000 |clubs2 = → Portadown (loan) |caps2 = ? |goals2 = ?

| years3 = 2001–2002 |clubs3 = Carlisle United |caps3 = 1 |goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2002 |clubs4 = Newry Town |caps4 = 4 |goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2002–2004 |clubs5 = Derry City |caps5 = ? |goals5 = ?

| years6 = 2004 |clubs6 = → Finn Harps (loan) |caps6 = 13 |goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2004–2007 |clubs7 = Cliftonville |caps7 = 60 |goals7 = 12

| years8 = 2007 |clubs8 = Limavady United |caps8 = 8 |goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2007–2009 |clubs9 = Newry City |caps9 = 38 |goals9 = 5

| years10 = 2009–2010 |clubs10 = Institute |caps10 = 28 |goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2010–2011 |clubs11 = Aileach |caps11 = ? |goals11 = ?

| years12 = 2012– 2014|clubs12 = Dungannon Swifts |caps12 = 21 |goals12 = 4

| nationalyears1 = 2001–2004 |nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U21 |nationalcaps1 = 21 |nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Sean Friars (born 15 May 1979) is a football coach and former player. He is the assistant manager of NIFL Championship club Institute and works for the Depaul Foyle Haven Centre, which helps people afflicted by addiction issues and homelessness in Derry. As a former addict he is now fully focused on helping people struggling with some of the demons that wrecked his own football career.{{cite news |last1=John |first1=Haughey |title=Sean Friars: From Liverpool youth star to addiction battles - then redemption |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48660511 }}

His brother Emmet also played as a defender.

Playing career

=Early career=

Friars was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Prior to his move to Cliftonville, he played for Foyle Harps, Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Portadown, Newry Town, Derry City and Finn Harps.

Friars made only one appearance, as substitute, for Ipswich Town. He came on against Crewe Alexandra in a 2–1 home win at Portman Road.

In 2001, he had a short-term deal with Newry Town which expired in September.{{cite web | author= Bill Clark| title= Sean's High Hope| date=9 September 2001 | work= Sunday Mirror| url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010909/ai_n14530963| access-date=18 July 2007}}

In March 2004 a loan deal from Derry City to Finn Harps was announced.{{cite web|author=Johnny Proby |title=Friars joins Finn Harps |date=16 March 2004 |work=RTÉ Sport |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0316/FINNHARPS.html |access-date=18 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050826234624/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0316/FINNHARPS.html |archive-date=26 August 2005 }} The left-sided midfielder, had been a member of Derry City's 2002 FAI Cup winning team. After returning from a loan spell with League of Ireland First Division club Finn Harps, it was announced in August 2004 that he had left Derry City by mutual agreement.{{cite news | title=Derry release Friars | date=2 August 2004 | work= BBC Sport – Football | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/3528038.stm | access-date=18 July 2007}}

=Cliftonville=

Friars made his Cliftonville debut in August 2004 in a friendly match against Holywood During his first year at Cliftonville, Friars was included in the 2004–05 Irish League Team of the Year. Friars returned to Cliftonville from a spell at Limavady United where he spent the latter half of the 2006–07 season.

In October 2006 there was some doubt over his future with Cliftonville after he went absent from the club and was subsequently dropped from the squad for a number of matches.{{cite news | title=Friars future at Reds is in doubt | date=16 October 2006 | work= BBC Sport – Football| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6054898.stm| access-date=18 July 2007}}

He remained with Cliftonville and recently had an "outstanding" match in their second leg away win in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in July 2007.{{cite web|author=Alex McGreevy |title=Red letter day in Europe |date=2 July 2007 |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2728081.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731052233/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2728081.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2007 }}

=Newry City=

Friars sealed a return to Newry City in the summer of 2007 where he proved himself as a vital member of the team scoring 8 goals in his first 14 matches. His brother Emmett was also in the Newry City team.

=Institute=

In January 2009 Friars was transferred to Institute for an undisclosed fee, signing a 2-year contract.

=Dungannon Swifts=

On the same day as his brother Emmet Friars, 3 January 2012, Sean joined Dungannon Swifts.

International career

Friars played for the Northern Ireland U21 national team, also captaining the side.

Coaching career

=Institute (academy)=

Friars was appointed as Institute Under-20 team manager in the summer of 2016 and went on to win back to back Championship titles with the team.

=Limavady United=

Friars left his role at Institute to take on his first senior managerial job with Limavady United on 19 May 2018.

=Institute return=

On 3 May 2019, Friars returned to old club Institute as assistant manager, following relegation from the NIFL Championship with Limavady. He took on the role; initially, as assistant to John Quigg and maintained the position, following Quigg's resignation and the appointment of Sean Connor.