Liverpool Reserves (2007–2010) Raised in
Wallasey,
Merseyside,
2008–09 season Spearing made his competitive first-team debut on 9 December 2008, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1
UEFA Champions League win against
PSV. Spearing also appeared in the Reds' 4–0 win over
Real Madrid in the second round of the Champions League. On 31 March 2009, Liverpool manager
Rafael Benítez announced that he would be offering Spearing a new contract, alongside fellow home-grown youngster
Stephen Darby. On 6 July 2009, Spearing agreed to a new three-year contract with Liverpool.
Loan move to Leicester City against
Cardiff City on 30 March 2010 On 22 March 2010, Liverpool confirmed Spearing would join
Championship club
Leicester City on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season, linking up with former Liverpool reserve teammate
Jack Hobbs. His debut came two days later, starting in
the Foxes 2–1 Championship loss to
Reading. His last game for Leicester was on 12 May in the Championship play-off semi-final, with Leicester winning 3–2, but it wasn't enough to reach the final as they lost on a penalty shootout. He made nine appearances for Leicester and scored his only goal for the club in the 4–1 home win against
Watford. On 20 March, Spearing started another league game, away to
Sunderland. Spearing won a penalty, which was converted by
Dirk Kuyt to put Liverpool 1–0 up. Spearing then went on the secure a first-team berth with the absence of Steven Gerrard and out-of-favour
Christian Poulsen. For the remainder of the Premier League season, he formed a midfield partnership with
Lucas. Against
Arsenal on 17 April, Spearing gave away a 98th-minute penalty, which
Robin van Persie converted to make the game 1–0. The match finished 1–1. Despite this, Spearing won the man-of-the-match award from
Sky Sports and was praised after the game for his determination, work-rate and battling performance. He received the journalists' man-of-the-match award on the official Liverpool website three times during the season. In May 2011, the club announced that he had extended his contract, Spearing immediately fell down the pecking order in Liverpool's midfield after the arrival of midfielders Adam,
Jordan Henderson and
Stewart Downing. On 20 July 2011, it was widely reported that Spearing would consider an option to move to
Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, but the club rejected their approach, stating that Spearing was in their plans. Spearing later dismissed the rumour saying he was willing to fight for his place in the starting eleven. He made his first start of the season against
Exeter City in the League Cup on 24 August 2011. The result ended in a 3–1 victory for Liverpool. He was sent off for the first time in his professional career during Liverpool's 1–0 loss to
Fulham on 5 December. In May 2012, Spearing was in the starting eleven for the
FA Cup final, in which Liverpool lost to Chelsea.
2012–13 season New Liverpool manager
Brendan Rodgers described Spearing as a "very good player with great qualities" who has "the soul of the club in his heart". He started the first competitive game of the season in the
UEFA Europa League qualifier against Belarusian club
Gomel, playing the full 90 minutes, and made a substitute appearance in the return leg at Anfield. His final appearance of the season for Liverpool came as a start in the 1–0 victory against
Hearts in a Europa League qualifier on 23 August 2012.
Loan move to Bolton Wanderers On 31 August 2012, Spearing joined Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a season-long
loan deal. His debut came a day later in Bolton's 3–1 defeat against
Hull City. He scored his first goal for Bolton on 20 October as the club beat
Bristol City 3–2, in which he scored Bolton's second goal, an equaliser. On 25 April 2013, Spearing was named the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association (BWSA) Player of the Season. This was followed on 20 May with his being named the club's Player of the Season.
Return to Liverpool At the conclusion of Bolton's
season in the Championship, Spearing returned to Anfield. Although he did not feature in any of the club's remaining fixtures, he was present in the
guard of honour for the retiring
Jamie Carragher in the last game of the
2012–13 Premier League against
Queens Park Rangers. In July 2013, a £1.75 million
bid was submitted by Championship side
Blackburn Rovers for Spearing, which Liverpool rejected. Notwithstanding, Blackburn failed to agree
terms with Spearing, and the deal fell through. Spearing featured in Liverpool's first
pre-season friendly of the summer against
Preston North End and was also included in the squad for the club's summer tour. In August 2013, Spearing was told by Liverpool that he was free to leave the club, with Liverpool entering talks with Bolton for a possible transfer back to the
Reebok Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers against
Chelsea in the
League Cup, 2014 On 8 August 2013, it was announced that a deal was struck between Liverpool and Bolton subject to a medical on the same afternoon. It was confirmed on 9 August that Spearing had agreed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee and he made his debut the following day in the 1–1 home draw against
Reading. The Manchester Evening News described this debut as "a man-of-the-match performance". In September 2013, Spearing was handed the captaincy at Bolton Wanderers whenever incumbent
Zat Knight found himself out of the starting XI, although he retained the armband when Knight returned to the team with both in the starting lineup. On 26 July 2014, the club confirmed that Spearing would succeed Knight as captain. On 8 August 2015, Spearing was sent off with a second booking in the opening match of the
2015–16 Championship season against
Derby County. Spearing's goal on the opening day of the
2016–17 season against
Sheffield United won August's Goal of the Month award. On 8 July 2017 the club confirmed that Spearing had left after failing to agree terms on a new contract. A clause in his contract whilst at Bolton stipulated that if he played more than 22 Championship matches each season, they would have to pay Liverpool £100,000. This is why he played only 21 in 2014–15 and 22 in 2015–16 as Bolton couldn't afford to pay the clauses and lead to him being loaned out the first time, and dropped from the squad the second time. This seemingly didn't apply to League One.
Blackburn Rovers (loan) On 30 January 2015, Spearing was loaned to fellow Championship club
Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.
Blackpool On 4 October 2017, Spearing joined
Blackpool until the end of the season. He scored his first goals for Blackpool when he scored twice in a 3–2 win over
Bradford City on 8 September 2018. He made the move permanent in the summer. Spearing left Blackpool at the end of the 2019–20 season, after three years, having failed to agree terms on a new contract.
Tranmere Rovers On 5 August 2020, Spearing signed a two-year deal with his hometown club
Tranmere Rovers. He was named Player of the Season for the 2020–21 season. Spearing was released at the end of the
2021–22 season.
Return to Liverpool On 17 June 2022, in addition to his
Under-18s coaching role, Spearing was registered as a player for the Under-23s team as an over-aged player. He made his second professional debut for Liverpool on 20 September 2022, appearing for Liverpool's Under-21s side against
Rochdale in the
EFL Trophy. Spearing played again for Liverpool in 2025 starting against
Burton Albion, again in the
EFL Trophy. ==Coaching career==