Brian Sears is a trained teacher with nearly 40 years experience of primary education. He was head teacher at Yorke Mead School, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire from 1980 until his early retirement in 1997 and now continues teaching in one-to-one private tuition. In 1984 Brian had six stories published by NCEC in an anthology, A yearful of stories, and has contributed to the SU Bible Reading notes, Snapshots, for primary school aged children. For the last eleven football seasons Brian has realised his other passion, in that he has written a weekly column in the Independent based around statistics of Premiership football. Eight years ago Scripture Union and CPO jointly published Brian's record of Christians working in the football industry Goal! Winning, Losing and Life, the writing of which involved Brian in meeting the likes of Cyrille Regis, and a memorable visit to Old Trafford to interview Manchester United's secretary and chaplain. Brian frequently leads church services by invitation in Hertfordshire, mainly in the Baptist tradition. He is an enthusiastic Watford FC supporter, two highlights being the play-off victory eight years ago at Wembley and telling a story about Timothy Bear at the club's annual Carol Service. Brian has published three books about Timothy Bear for Barnabas, Through the Year with Timothy Bear (2006), Looking forward to Christmas with Timothy Bear (2009) and Countdown to Christmas with Timothy Bear (2010).