Background
He was born in 1873, the son of Joseph and Charlotte Mears.
He was born in 1873, the son of Joseph and Charlotte Mears.
He failed to persuade Fulham Football Club chairman Henry Norris to re-locate his club to the ground, and considered selling the land to the Great Western Railway Company, who wished to use it as a coal yard. Mears was ultimately persuaded not to sell up, and instead decided to found his own team, Chelsea, in March, 1905. So impressed was Mears with his friend"s reaction, he decided to take his advice.
His descendants continued to own the club until 1982, when his great-nephew Brian sold it to Ken Bates.
Mears died in 1912, and his grave is in the nearby Brompton Cemetery, London.
