John Pearson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Hargreaves "Jackie" Pearson (25 January 1868 – 22 June 1931) was an English footballer who spent his entire club career with Crewe Alexandra
, playing at inside right, and made one appearance for England
in 1892. He later had a successful career as a referee, taking charge of the 1911 FA Cup Final
as well as refereeing international matches.
, Cheshire
and joined Crewe Alexandra
in the summer of 1881 at the age of 13. The club had only been formed a few years earlier and at that time only played "friendlies" and Cup matches. On 23 October 1886, Pearson scored twice in a 4–1 victory over Wrexham Olympic in the FA Cup First Round. The following season he helped the "Alex" reach the FA Cup semi-finals
, scoring the only goal to defeat Derby County
1–0 in round 5; after beating Middlesbrough
in the next round, Crewe went out to Preston North End
.
In 1889, Crewe were one of 12 clubs admitted to the newly formed Football Alliance
where they spent three years, before becoming one of the founder members of the Football League Second Division
in 1892.
While still playing in he Football Alliance, Pearson was one of five new caps called up for the England
team to play Ireland on 5 March 1892. Pearson played at inside-right with fellow débutante Charlie Athersmith
of Aston Villa
alongside him at outside-right. The match was played at the Solitude ground
, Belfast
with England winning 2–0, both goals from Harry Daft
of Notts County
. This remains the only full international appearance by a Crewe Alexandra player.
During Crewe's first season in the Football League
, injury restricted Pearson to only 12 league appearances from which he scored twice as the club finished the season in tenth place. Pearson only managed two matches in the following season, scoring once, before injury forced him to retire.
list until 1914, and was given the honour of officiating the 1911 FA Cup Final
between Bradford City
and Newcastle United
, which Bradford won 1–0 after a replay.
Pearson also refereed internationally, including the third-place match at the 1908 Olympics
in London between Netherlands
and Sweden
. He continued to referee international matches up to the start of World War I
, including a match between Netherlands and Belgium on 26 April 1914.
, which became part of the LMS
in 1923. He retired in 1930, and died the following year aged 63.
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, playing at inside right, and made one appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1892. He later had a successful career as a referee, taking charge of the 1911 FA Cup Final
1911 FA Cup Final
The 1911 FA Cup Final was the 40th FA Cup final. It was contested by Bradford City and Newcastle United. The first game resulted in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace...
as well as refereeing international matches.
Playing career
Pearson was born in CreweCrewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and joined Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the summer of 1881 at the age of 13. The club had only been formed a few years earlier and at that time only played "friendlies" and Cup matches. On 23 October 1886, Pearson scored twice in a 4–1 victory over Wrexham Olympic in the FA Cup First Round. The following season he helped the "Alex" reach the FA Cup semi-finals
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
, scoring the only goal to defeat Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
1–0 in round 5; after beating Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in the next round, Crewe went out to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.
In 1889, Crewe were one of 12 clubs admitted to the newly formed Football Alliance
Football Alliance
The Football Alliance was an association football league in England which ran for three seasons, from 1889–90 to 1891–92.It was formed by 12 clubs as a rival to the Football League, which had begun in the 1888–89 season, also with 12 member clubs...
where they spent three years, before becoming one of the founder members of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1892.
While still playing in he Football Alliance, Pearson was one of five new caps called up for the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
team to play Ireland on 5 March 1892. Pearson played at inside-right with fellow débutante Charlie Athersmith
Charlie Athersmith
William Charles "Charlie" Athersmith was an English professional footballer who played as a winger.Athersmith was born in Bloxwich, Staffordshire...
of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
alongside him at outside-right. The match was played at the Solitude ground
Solitude (football ground)
Solitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville. The stadium holds 6,224, but is currently restricted to 2,180 under safety legislation. The stadium was built in 1890....
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
with England winning 2–0, both goals from Harry Daft
Harry Daft
Harry Butler Daft was an English footballer who played for Notts County, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1894, as well as making five appearances as a left winger for the national side...
of Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. This remains the only full international appearance by a Crewe Alexandra player.
During Crewe's first season in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, injury restricted Pearson to only 12 league appearances from which he scored twice as the club finished the season in tenth place. Pearson only managed two matches in the following season, scoring once, before injury forced him to retire.
Career as referee
He remained in football, qualifying as a referee and was on the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
list until 1914, and was given the honour of officiating the 1911 FA Cup Final
1911 FA Cup Final
The 1911 FA Cup Final was the 40th FA Cup final. It was contested by Bradford City and Newcastle United. The first game resulted in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace...
between Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, which Bradford won 1–0 after a replay.
Pearson also refereed internationally, including the third-place match at the 1908 Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London between Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
. He continued to referee international matches up to the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, including a match between Netherlands and Belgium on 26 April 1914.
Career outside football
His full-time employment was with the London and North Western RailwayLondon and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
, which became part of the LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
in 1923. He retired in 1930, and died the following year aged 63.