James Pearson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James Stevens Pearson was an English professional footballer who played as a full back. He was born in Heywood, Lancashire, and began his career in non-League football
with his hometown club
in the early 1920s. In April 1925, Pearson joined Football League Third Division North
side Nelson
, initially as an amateur, although he was offered a professional contract in September of the same year. He made his debut for Nelson on 3 October 1925 in the 0–1 defeat away at Coventry City
and appeared in the following five matches, but then spent the majority of the 1925–26 season in the reserve team. During the 1926–27 campaign, Pearson was more involved in first-team activities and appeared in more than half of Nelson's league fixtures, although he was never able to properly displace club captain Clem Rigg from the left-back berth. He returned to the reserves for the 1927–28 season, making only seven senior appearances. Following a disappointing campaign in which the team finished bottom of the division, Nelson retained only six of their professional squad in the summer of 1928, and Pearson was one of several players to leave the club.
Pearson subsequently returned to non-League football with Hurst of the Cheshire County League
. He made his debut for the club on 25 August 1928 away at Macclesfield. Pearson was Hurst's first-choice left-back for much of his year with the club and played 30 matches for the first team during the campaign. In September 1929, he left Hurst to sign for Newark Town
, where he remained for three seasons before joining Runcorn in September 1932.
Pearson was the cousin of Ernie Braidwood
, who also played professional football for Nelson, Oldham Athletic
and Rochdale
. He died in Blackpool
, Lancashire, on 24 January 1962.
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with his hometown club
Heywood F.C.
Heywood F.C. was an English association football club based in Heywood, Lancashire. The club was a founder member of the Lancashire League in 1889. In the 1891–92 season, Heywood made their first appearance in the FA Cup, reaching the Second Qualifying Round. They left the Lancashire League in 1892...
in the early 1920s. In April 1925, Pearson joined Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
, initially as an amateur, although he was offered a professional contract in September of the same year. He made his debut for Nelson on 3 October 1925 in the 0–1 defeat away at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and appeared in the following five matches, but then spent the majority of the 1925–26 season in the reserve team. During the 1926–27 campaign, Pearson was more involved in first-team activities and appeared in more than half of Nelson's league fixtures, although he was never able to properly displace club captain Clem Rigg from the left-back berth. He returned to the reserves for the 1927–28 season, making only seven senior appearances. Following a disappointing campaign in which the team finished bottom of the division, Nelson retained only six of their professional squad in the summer of 1928, and Pearson was one of several players to leave the club.
Pearson subsequently returned to non-League football with Hurst of the Cheshire County League
Cheshire County League
The Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....
. He made his debut for the club on 25 August 1928 away at Macclesfield. Pearson was Hurst's first-choice left-back for much of his year with the club and played 30 matches for the first team during the campaign. In September 1929, he left Hurst to sign for Newark Town
Newark Town F.C.
Newark Town Football Club is a football club that plays its home games at the Station Road ground in the village of Collingham, near Newark-on-Trent, England....
, where he remained for three seasons before joining Runcorn in September 1932.
Pearson was the cousin of Ernie Braidwood
Ernie Braidwood
Ernest Braidwood was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He started his senior career with Chesterfield Municipal before signing his first professional contract with Football League First Division side Oldham Athletic in August 1920...
, who also played professional football for Nelson, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. He died in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire, on 24 January 1962.