IT IS not every day of your career that you are applauded for scoring tries by a set of supporters whose own team are not even playing.

Yet at Blackpool last Saturday, the large and raucous contingent of Bulls fans who filled one end of Bloomfield Road cheered Elliot Kear as he helped London Broncos dismantle Sheffield Eagles.

It said much for his enduring popularity after three seasons at Odsal.

The reception he was afforded meant much to the Welshman, who will aim to inflict similar damage on his old club at The Hive on Sunday.

The round 14 clash is a fixture to increase the heartbeat for Kear and a number of other Broncos staff – Brian Noble included – with Bradford connections.

Kear said: "It'll be weird playing against Bradford and I'm sure there will be some words exchanged on the field, but it will all be in good spirits.

"Do I feel I have a point to prove? I wouldn't want to play badly against my old club, put it that way.

"As a team, we've got a point to prove to try and get back in the top four.

"Along with Leigh and Bradford, we are one of only three full-time teams in the Championship, so it would be a failure if we don't make the top four this season.

"We beat Sheffield comprehensively last weekend and it would be great to put one over Bradford."

Kear was one of three wingers effectively shown the door by Jimmy Lowes at the end of last season.

Jamie Foster and Luke George were also told they could go and Kear began to assess his options.

Having been born and raised in the rugby union stronghold of Cardiff, where he grew up playing the 15-man code, Kear joined London Welsh.

His girlfriend Natalie had fallen pregnant and a successful trial at Welsh earned him a short-term deal with the Aviva Premiership strugglers, who ended up being relegated after 22 straight defeats.

Kear reflected: "Bradford was my home for three years. I met my girlfriend there and all the lads I played with are now my best mates – the likes of James Donaldson and Danny Addy.

"I loved going for Costas with them every day and I took it all for granted really, so when I left I found it hard at first."

His switch to London Welsh saw Kear move back to Cardiff with Natalie, who gave birth to baby Harrison in November last year.

He commuted to Richmond in London for training and said: "The training was a lot less intense than league but I had a few games at full back and wing, which was good.

"I had played union as a kid and still followed the Six Nations and all the major cup finals. Even though we weren't getting results, I enjoyed it at London Welsh."

Kear's contract expired before the end of the season and he yearned for a return to rugby league. When the opportunity arose to join the Broncos, he took it.

"I looked at a few union teams but I kept watching league and I missed it, to be honest," said Kear.

"The opportunity at the Broncos came up and I was happy with what they offered, so I stayed in London basically.

"It's probably an extra 25 minutes commute around the M25 but it meant I could stay in Cardiff and didn't have to move the family about.

"I'm not just looking after myself any more and my son Harrison was six months old last week.

"I miss the social side of being able to hang around with all the Bradford boys but it's nice that my mum and dad can see Harrison and I can go and see my grandma and grandad here in Cardiff."

At 26, Kear is in his prime and he remains ambitious about playing at the highest level again.

"I've signed for London for this season and next but I have a clause in my contract whereby if a Super League team comes in then I'm free to leave," he explained.

"I want to be testing myself against the best in Super League and hopefully something comes up for me. But I want to stay loyal to London at the minute."

Kear experienced the meltdown of Crusaders and suffered two administrations during his three years at Bradford.

"In my first year, we missed out on the play-offs because we had been deducted points for going into administration," he recalled.

"Then it happened again last season and I think the off-field problems transferred onto the field in the end because players needed to look after themselves – and rightly so.

"But overall I really enjoyed my time at Bradford and beating Leeds at Headingley in my last game for the club was pretty special.

"Being named as the club's back of the year in 2013 was another memorable highlight."