Playing Career
Pearson was born in Crewe, 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.
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