[2] Kearns joined Norwich City for £9,000 in June 1954 and scored 11 times in 28 league appearances, before moving into non-league football with Tonbridge in 1956.

The season also saw Kearns put five past Trowbridge Town, score four against Bexleyheath & Welling, and manage three hat-tricks.

[1] With new signing Alan Brown first choice at centre-forward, Kearns found first-team chances limited in 1960–61 and he played mainly for the reserve team.

[1] He played once for the Republic of Ireland national team, winning his only cap in a World Cup qualification match against Luxembourg on 7 March 1954.

[4][5] In the 1960s, Kearns coached at Margate County Youth Club, and then at Sunday league team Quarterdeck in the 1970s.