James Pearson (born 19 January 1993) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Early life Pearson is the son of Nigel Pearson, a former Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough defender, who has later managed teams such as Hull City and Leicester City. James still resides in Sheffield where he was born while his father was playing for Sheffield Wednesday. He attended Westbourne School in Sheffield, and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.
Career Early career Pearson's youth career began at Rotherham United. He was released from the club in the summer of 2009."Carlisle Utd Facing Four Cup Finals, Says Loan Man Pearson" , The Cumberland News & Star, 14 March 2014
Leicester City On 19 September 2012, Pearson joined, on a 12-month contract, Football League Championship side Leicester City, who were then managed by his father Nigel, the season before they returned to the Premier League after a ten-year absence.
On 11 March 2014, James Pearson joined League One club Carlisle United on loan for the rest of the 2014–15 season, along with Watford's Reece Brown. The next day, he made his professional debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 defeat at Sheffield United. He went on to represent Carlisle in a draw against Stevenage and a loss to Notts County, before returning to Leicester, where he extended his contract by one more year on 2 June.
On 26 August 2014, Pearson made his Leicester City debut, along with Ryan Watson and Michael Cain, in the 1–0 League Cup second round home defeat to League Two Shrewsbury Town, playing the whole match.
On 27 October, Pearson joined Conference Premier side Wrexham on a month-long loan, eventually extended into January 2015. He played five league games for Wrexham, in addition to two FA Trophy games and three rounds of the FA Cup, ending with a 3–1 defeat at top-flight Stoke City in the third round on 4 January.
In March 2015, Pearson joined Peterborough United on loan until the end of the 2014/15 season.Peterborough Loan For James Pearson He did not make an appearance for the club.
On 17 June 2015, Pearson's contract was terminated by Leicester City following a racist orgy during the club's promotional tour in Thailand.
Later career Following his departure from Leicester, Pearson trained with his former club Rotherham,"James Pearson training with Rotherham United months after sacking over 'racist orgy' in Thailand" by David W. Owen, Leicester Mercury before joining Barnet on 2 February 2016,"James Pearson: Barnet sign former Leicester defender", BBC Sport, 2 February 2016 "on a non-contract basis"."James Pearson signs for Barnet!", Barnet F.C. website, 2 February 2016 In March 2016, he signed a contract to keep him at the club until summer 2017.James Pearson: Former Leicester City defender signs new Barnet contract Pearson suffered a knee injury in 2016–17 pre-season which kept him out for the entirety of the campaign. He was released at the end of the season.Trio to leave Barnet after not being offered new contracts
Pearson joined Coventry City on a non-contract basis on 4 August 2017.SIGNING: James Pearson agrees non-contract terms with the Sky Blues He was released on 30 August having made no appearances.NEWS: James Pearson leaves the Sky Blues
In September 2017, he joined Kidderminster Harriers on a deal until the end of the season
In July 2018, Pearson joined newly promoted Macclesfield Town on a one-year deal.
In October 2020, Pearson revealed in an interview with The Guardian that he had retired from football due to injury.
Controversy In May 2015, during a promotional tour of Asia, Pearson and teammates Tom Hopper and Adam Smith, took part in a racist sex tape filmed on the club's end-of-season tour of Thailand", a copy of which was obtained and published by the Sunday Mirror. According to the media reports, "One of the men in the video ... can be heard using a racist insult against a woman." The three players apologised for their behaviour. All three were sacked on 17 June. In relation to the tape, Nigel Pearson too was sacked as Leicester manager by the club's Thai owners, on 30 June 2015.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeicester City2013–14Championship000000—002014–15Premier League000010—10Total0000100010Carlisle United (loan)2013–14League One3000000030Wrexham (loan)2014–15Conference Premier5030—2Appearances in FA Trophy0100Barnet2015–16League Two1500000001502016–17League Two0000000000Total150000000150Coventry City2017–18League Two0000001Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy010Kidderminster Harriers2017–18National League North23120—30281Macclesfield Town2018–19League Two2310020302812019–20League Two0000000000Career total692503090862
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