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Freddie Sears played for Ipswich Town between 2015 and 2021.
Freddie Sears played for Ipswich Town between 2015 and 2021.
Former Ipswich Town forward Freddie Sears has returned to West Ham United to take his first steps into coaching.
The 35-year-old completed his UEFA B licence at the Hammers, attending Chadwell Heath to support their Academy U12s coaching team. He has also been helping coach the U15s side too.
Sears has not hung up his boots just yet as he is still playing part-time for Chatham Town, who play in the Isthmian League Premier, the seventh tier of English football.
He came through the famous West Ham academy, where he burst onto the scene aged 18, scoring a late winner against Blackburn just five minutes into his debut in 2008.
On returning to his boyhood club, he said: “I did a crash course for my UEFA B licence in 2023, and by chance, it was here at Chadwell Heath!
“I hadn’t been back since I left in 2012. It was surreal being back in the building. Everyone’s made me so welcome.
“I spoke to some people on the course who were working at West Ham, and that’s how the opportunity came about to come back and do some coaching here.
“I’ve loved being in the building. Being back at the club where I started has been fantastic.”
He added: “For me, this is just the start. This year is about experience on and off the pitch. I’ve been learning from some great people who have been in this environment, [U12s coaches] Ross and Louis. Just doing my qualifications here was surreal, never mind actually coaching the boys.
“I come into Chadwell Heath one day a week for the time being, coaching the U12s. I then sometimes get involved with the U15s. The other day, me and Nobes (Mark Noble) trained with them. That was really cool, rolling back the years! It’s such a good environment, it’s like nothing’s changed!
“It got to the stage where full-time football was taking up too much of my time,” he explained. “Now, I’m coaching, I’ve got a young family, and am enjoying other stuff too. I’ve really enjoyed playing part-time, it’s been a good season personally with Chatham, 17 goals so far. Still life in the old boy! I’m still enjoying my football and as long as I do, I’ll keep playing.”
Sears scored 34 goals in 217 games in total during his time at Town, having signed from Colchester for £100k in January 2015. He left Portman Road in the summer of 2021.
