Alex Pearce

Infobox Football biography
playername = Alex Pearce


fullname = Alexander James Pearce
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|11|9|df=yes
cityofbirth = Oxford
countryofbirth = England
height = convert|6|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on
position = Defender
currentclub = Reading
clubnumber = 26
youthyears = 2001–2006
youthclubs = Reading
years = 2006–
2007
2007–2008
2008
clubs = Reading
→ Northampton Town (loan)
→ Bournemouth (loan)
→ Norwich City (loan)
caps(goals) = 02 (0)
15 (1)
11 (0)
11 (0)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = Scotland U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 (0)
pcupdate = 15:54, 03 Sep 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 11:40, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Alexander James "Alex" Pearce (born 9 November 1988 in Oxford, England) is a professional footballer currently playing for Reading. He plays in the centre back position.

Club career

Pearce attended The Oratory School in Woodcote until Sixth Form, when he dedicated his time towards attending Reading's youth academy. He signed a professional contract with Reading on 23 October 2006, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2009, and made his Reading debut in an FA Cup third round game against Burnley on 9 January 2007, coming off the bench to replace Ívar Ingimarsson in the 74th minute.

On 9 February 2007, he joined Northampton Town on a month's loan.cite news | date=2007-02-09 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~978386,00.html | title=Pearce secures loan move as he looks to gain valuable League experience | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-02-09] He made his league debut in Northampton's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, [cite news | date=2007-02-10 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6327135.stm | title=Nottm Forest 1-0 Northampton | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-13] but received praise from manager Stuart Gray for his performance. [cite news | date=2007-02-13 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~980894,00.html | title=High praise for Pearce following his impressive League debut for Northampton | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-02-13] His loan was extended to the end of the 2006-07 season on 8 March 2007, [cite news | date=2007-03-08 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~991603,00.html | title=Pearce extends his Cobblers loan | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-03-08] returning to Reading in time to skipper the reserve team in the Premier Reserve League national final. [cite news | date=2007-05-10 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1023492,00.html | title=Pearce and Cox back in the fold ahead of Bolton Wanderers reserve play-off | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-05-13] In the final, Reading were crowned champions after a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers, with goals from Alan Bennett and Pearce, to secure the trophy that had been won by Manchester United for the previous two years. [cite news | date=2007-05-11 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1024390,00.html | title=Reserves are crowned the Premiership champions | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-05-13]

On 2 November 2007 Pearce joined Bournemouth on loan until 8 December, [cite news | date=2007-11-02 | url=http://www.afcb.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10324~1158411,00.html | title=Cherries Finalise Loan Swoop | work=afcb.co.uk | accessdate=2007-11-02] which was subsequently extended to 3 January 2008. [cite news | date=2007-12-12 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1189180,00.html | title=Trio extend loan stints | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-12-12] . On 21 December 2007 it was announced that Pearce had signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract keeping the central defender at Reading until the summer of 2010. Nick Hammond said Pearce "has a superb work ethic and mentality which gives him every chance of a long and successful career here at Reading." [cite news | date=2007-12-21 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1195936,00.html | title=Defender signs until 2010 | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-12-21]

On his return from loan he played in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Spurs on 15 January 2008 at the Madejski Stadium, with the new England boss Fabio Capello in the stands. Pearce was handed his full debut at the start of the game, and put in a very solid performance before being sacrificed at half time as Steve Coppell made a tactical change and went from 5-4-1 to 4-4-2. Coppell said "People will think the substitution was based on performance, but that couldn't be further from the truth. We just had a game plan and stuck to it." [cite news | date=2008-01-16 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1216505,00.html | title=Verdict on Federici, Cox, Pearce & Lita | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-16]

Pearce made another loan move on 31 January 2008, this time joining Championship side Norwich City until the end of the 2007–08 season. [cite news | date=2008-01-31 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1229805,00.html | title=Royals duo make City loan | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-31]

International career

Despite being born in England, Pearce qualifies to play for Scotland through his parents, and has represented them at youth level. He made his debut for the Scotland U21 team in their 4-1 defeat to Norway U21 in Kilmarnock on 20 May 2008. [cite news | date=2008-05-22 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1317369,00.html | title=Mixed emotions for Pearce | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-05-22] [cite news | date=2008-05-20 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7409007.stm | title=Scotland U21 1-4 Norway U21 | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2008-05-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~37746,00.html Alex Pearce profile] at readingfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|46001|Alex Pearce
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/get_involved/6321849.stm Interview with BBC Sport]

Persondata
NAME=Pearce, Alex
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=9 November 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH=Oxford, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=