Career
He was a goalkeeper for the Old Malvernians before joining the Chelsea board in 1931, in doing so becoming the youngest director (aged 26) in the Football League. He became Chelsea chairman in 1940 following the death of Colonel Crisp. Mears was a Royal Marine during the Second World War, and his duties included the security arrangements for Prime Minister Winston Churchill"s bunker.
He later managed the representative London XI side during its 1955-1958 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup campaign.
The team reached the final, losing on aggregate to Football Club Barcelona. Mears became chairman of the Football Association in 1963.
As such, he was a key figure during England"s preparations to host the 1966 World Cup, and was involved in the furore when the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen. lieutenant was he who received the ransom note from the thief, and was subsequently involved in the trophy"s recovery.
He died of a heart attack in Oslo on 30 June 1966, just two weeks before the World Cup began.