Nicknamed Stag, Dear started his career with West Ham United, joining the club at the age of 15,[2] and represented England Schools.
[1] He made his Hammers debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 29 August 1962,[3] and went on to make 69 league appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals.
[2] He holds the record for the quickest ever five goals in an English game, 20 minutes either side of half time, in a home tie against West Brom on 16 April 1965.
Dear played his last game for the club on 19 December 1970, wearing the number 9 shirt against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
[2] The following month, he and three West Ham teammates – Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves and Clyde Best, along with the club's trainer – were all fined a week's wages and banned for two games by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood after going out drinking in a nightclub until the early hours of the morning prior to an FA Cup third-round tie against Blackpool.