FREDDIE SEARS
Born: 27 November 1989, Hornchurch, Essex
Former clubs: Crystal Palace (loan)
A lively striker who has come through the ranks at the Academy of Football, Freddie Sears has had a keen eye for goal since he was a young child.
A lifelong West Ham United supporter, Sears shot to the nation's attention when he scored on his Premier League debut against Blackburn Rovers in March 2008.
Sears' talents have also been recognised at international level, where he has already represented and scored for England at Under-21 level.
2011/12
Scored the winner in the 1-0 pre-season victory over Danish champions FC Copenhagen on 20 July 2011...Totalled ten npower Championship appearances, including two starts...Started the Carling Cup first-round defeat by Aldershot Town and the FA Cup with Budweiser third-round exit at Sheffield Wednesday...Joined npower League One club Colchester United on loan on 31 January, remaining with the Essex side until the end of the season...Totalled eleven npower League One appearances, five of them starts, and two goals for Colchester United.
2010/11
Scored all four goals in a 4-0 reserve pre-season victory at Bishop's Stortford...Made his first senior start since 16 March 2009 in the home Carling Cup second-round win over Oxford United on 24 August 2010...Joined Championship club Scunthorpe United on loan in October 2010…Made nine league appearances for Scunthorpe United…Recalled to West Ham United in December 2010, returning to the West Ham United starting XI for the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Fulham…Scored his second West Ham United goal in the 2-0 home Barclays Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year's Day 2011…Netted in the 5-1 FA Cup fifth-round win over Burnley on 21 February 2011…Finished the season having made 15 first-team appearances and scored twice for West Ham United.
2009/10
Loaned to Crystal Palace for the season in June 2009…Had a legitimate goal disallowed on the opening day of the Championship season in Crystal Palace's home fixture against Bristol City, only for referee Rob Shoebridge to fail to notice the ball had gone into the net…Totalled 18 Championship and one League Cup appearance for Crystal Palace…Recalled by West Ham United on 30 December 2009 following injuries to first-team forwards…Returned to West Ham United side as a substitute in home FA Cup third-round defeat by Arsenal on 3 January 2010…Appeared as a substitute in goalless home Premier League draw with Blackburn Rovers on 30 January 2010…Scored twice in 4-2 home Barclays Premier Reserve League South defeat by Arsenal on 12 January 2010…Totalled two Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances, scoring twice.
2008/09
Made 17 Premier League appearances, four of them starts…Made two League Cup starts…Made three FA Cup appearances, including one start…Made seven Barclays Premier Reserve League South starts, scoring five goals…Netted all four goals in a 4-3 home Barclays Premier Reserve League South win over West Bromwich Albion on 30 September 2008.
2007/08
Scored on his Premier League debut just six minutes after appearing as a substitute in 2-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers on 15 March 2008…Totalled seven Premier League appearances, including one start…Totalled six Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances, four of them starts…Scored three Barclays Premier Reserve League South goals…Totalled 17 FA Premier Academy League, 16 of them starts, and one FA Youth Cup appearances…Netted 22 FA Premier Academy League goals…Totalled 30 appearances at all levels, scoring 26 goals.
2006/07
Made 14 Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances, ten of them starts…Scored first Barclays Premier Reserve League South goal in 1-1 home draw with Portsmouth on 20 November 2006…Totalled four Barclays Premier Reserve League South goals…Made 28 FA Premier Academy League appearances, 19 of them starts…Netted nine FA Premier Academy League goals.
2005/06
Made his FA Premier Academy League debut in 3-2 defeat at Watford on 8 April 2006…Totalled two FA Premier Academy League appearances…Named as unused substitute for Barclays Premier Reserve League South draw at Watford on 12 April 2006…Made his Barclays Premier Reserve League South debut as a substitute in 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal on 27 April 2006.
International career
Capped by England at U19, U20 and U21 levels...Featured four times for England U19s, scoring three goals…Represented England at the 2008 UEFA European U19 Championship, scoring a penalty in the 3-0 group-stage victory over Greece in Liberec, Czech Republic on 20 July 2008…Made his U20 debut in 2-0 friendly victory over Italy at Loftus Road on 1 April 2009…Made his U21 debut in a goalless draw with Netherlands in Groningen on 11 August 2009…Scored his first U21 goal in 2-1 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying win over FYR Macedonia in Prilep on 4 September 2009.
Before West Ham United
Joined the West Ham United Academy at the age of eleven.
Any other business
Attended Sanders Draper School in Hornchurch.