FORMER West Ham United striker Brian Dear insists he still holds the record for the quickest five goals in English top-flight football.

Dear’s record of five goals in the space of 20 minutes appeared to be equalled by Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero who scored a quintet in his side’s 6-1 win against Newcastle United on Saturday.

But City’s clash saw three minutes of injury time played at the end of the first half, unlike the Shoebury based Dear’s efforts against West Bromwich Albion back in 1965.

“We didn’t have substitutes back then and we didn’t ever have injury time either so my five goals were in 20 minutes and Aguero’s were actually in 23,” said Dear.

“I was at Burton Albion watching Southend United play on Saturday when I started to get a few texts.

“One just said the king is dead, long live the king and I didn’t really know what was going on until another text came through telling me Aguero had got the five goals.

“A few other people were telling me he had equalled my record and I wasn’t sure whether or not he had for a while but then I found out about the injury time so I was able to relax again.”

Aguero’s efforts were later lauded on Match of the Day by two of England’s best ever strikers Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.

The panel, which included former Nottingham Forest midfielder Jermaine Jenas, also discussed previous five goal hauls in the English game.

And Dear was disappointed not to be included in the list.

“They only mentioned players who played in the Premier League and not before that which I couldn’t understand,” said the 72-year-old, who works at Southend United on match-days.

“It was as if they were saying we weren’t any good but it was still the top level of the game in this country so I’m not sure why they didn’t include it.”

If they had, then Dear would have been top of the pile.

But he remains surprised to have held the record for the past 50 years.

“Fifty years is a very long time and I certainly didn’t expect to have the record for this long,” said Dear.

“Back then, nobody really made a fuss about it either. Nobody signed balls or shirts and we didn’t have any to give away anyway.

“I still remember the game well and getting the first of my goals a minute before half-time.

“I got four more in 19 minutes at the start of the second half and people have often asked me what on earth I had at half-time.

“But it was just a cup of tea.”

Aguero did similar at the weekend and Dear did confess the Argentine’s goals were of superior quality to his own.

“Aguero’s goals were far classier than mine but they all count the same,” said Dear.

“I think he’s a great player and now he’s got five goals as well I was thinking of writing to Mike Summerbee to try and get Aguero to sign a shirt for me.

“I would happily send him one of mine but I’m not sure he would want one and I’m not sure I have any either!”