[4] Coming up through the youth ranks with QPR, Bean made his debut as a substitute at Wycombe in August 2002 only to suffer the ignominy of a second half red card in a game that saw four players receive their marching orders.
[5] His first start came in a comprehensive 4–0 victory at Mansfield a fortnight later and although he made only eight league and cup appearances throughout 2002–03, his obvious talent and composure mark him out as a great prospect for the future.
[7] Bean did not make a first-team appearance for Blackpool between the Seasiders' 4–2 win over Aldershot in the third round of the FA Cup on 6 January 2007 and their 3–1 league victory at Bradford City on 26 March, and joined Rotherham United on a one-month loan on 9 August 2007.
It was a frustrating second season with Blackpool for Bean, after helping them avoid relegation in his first and assisting them in promotion to the championship in his second, although playing a limited number of games and considering retiring from football.
[18] Bean's scoring form continued by grabbing a consolation goal as Colchester fell to a 2–1 defeat at Leyton Orient on 1 March.
[19] On 26 April, he scored the opening goal in a 4–1 win against his former club, who were already promoted from League One,[5] in a result that meant that Colchester were all but safe from relegation.
[22] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in his third game for the club, netting a curling effort in a 3–2 defeat to Accrington Stanley on 13 December.