Krystian Pearce

Infobox Football biography
playername = Krystian Pearce


fullname = Krystian Mitchell Victor Pearce
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|1|5|df=y
cityofbirth = Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=6|in=1
position = Centre-back
currentclub = Scunthorpe United
(on loan from Birmingham City)
clubnumber = 26
youthyears = 2000–2007
youthclubs = Birmingham City
years = 2007–
2007–2008
2008
2008–
clubs = Birmingham City
→ Notts County (loan)
→ Port Vale (loan)
→ Scunthorpe United (loan)
caps(goals) = 00 0(0)
08 0(1)
12 0(0)
02 0(0)
nationalyears = 2006–2007
2007–
nationalteam = England U-17
England U-19
nationalcaps(goals) = 13 0(2)
08 0(2)
pcupdate = 18:36, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:52, 21 July 2008 (UTC)

Krystian Mitchell Victor Pearce (born 5 January 1990) is an English professional footballer currently playing as a central defender for Scunthorpe United on loan from Birmingham City. He represented England at the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, where they reached the final, and at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. In September 2007 he made his debut for the England under-19 team, the year above his actual age group, and played at the finals of the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. He made his debut in the Football League on 17 November 2007 while on loan to Notts County. He is yet to make his first team debut for Birmingham, though he has been an unused substitute.

Club career

Pearce was born in Birmingham and joined Birmingham City's Academy when he was ten years old. He began as a strikercite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17WorldCup/NewsFeatures/Postings/WorldCupEngSyriaPearce.htm |title=Natural born thriller |publisher=The Football Association |author=Russell Staves |date=2007-08-30 |accessdate=2007-09-25] but converted to play in defence. He was first given a squad number in January 2007 when included in the travelling squad for the FA Cup replay at Newcastle United but did not make the final 16. [cite news
url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/sport/tm_headline=young-gun-on-cup-standby&method=full&objectid=18490220&siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Young gun on Cup standby |publisher=Birmingham Mail |date=2007-01-17 |accessdate=2007-09-26] Two months later he signed his first professional contract which is due to expire in 2009.cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~989404,00.html |title=Pearce pens pro deal |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. (registration required) |date=March 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-26] He made frequent appearances for Birmingham City's reserve team, winners of their division of the Pontin's Holidays reserve league, [cite web
url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/sport/tm_method=full%26objectid=18967419%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Reserves clinch title with last-gasp Sone strike |publisher=Birmingham Mail |date=2007-04-26 |accessdate=2007-09-26] and captained the under-18 side which reached the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/AcademyReports/0,,10412~974024,00.html |title=Barnsley U18's 1 Blues U18's 2 |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-01-31 |accessdate=2007-10-04] where they were beaten by Manchester United. [cite web
url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=405272&page=1 |title=Youth Cup: Utd 2 B'rmnghm 0 |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |author=Ben Hibbs |date=2007-02-21 |accessdate=2007-10-04] Singled out in Academy manager Terry Westley's 2006–07 end-of-season report as "the one name that does stand out in terms of what he has achieved", [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~1024846,00.html |title=Terry's end of term report |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=June 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-26] Pearce was chosen as Academy Player of the Season. [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~1020019,00.html |title=Pearce on the mark for England |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-05-03 |accessdate=2007-05-17]

He was given a squad number for the 2007–08 season and included in Birmingham's squad for the League Cup match at Blackburn Rovers, [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1120792,00.html |title=Mutch and Pearce in cup squad |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-09-26 |accessdate=2007-09-26] but remained an unused substitute.

On 8 November 2007 Pearce signed a one-month loan deal at Football League Two side Notts County in order to gain experience. [cite news
url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide3/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2/07/11/08/manual_173434.html&TEAMHD=nationwide3 |title=Youngster Pearce joins Magpies |publisher=Sporting Life |date=2007-11-08 |accessdate=2007-11-12] He made his competitive debut two days later in the starting eleven for Notts County's 3–0 FA Cup first round win over Histon, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7076483.stm |title=Notts County 3-0 Histon |publisher=BBC |date=2007-11-10 |accessdate=2007-11-12] and the following Saturday made his Football League debut for the club, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 defeat at home to Macclesfield Town. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7088516.stm |title=Notts County 0-1 Macclesfield |publisher=BBC |date=2007-11-17 |accessdate=2007-11-19] On 8 December 2007 he scored his first senior goal, in a 2–1 win against Shrewsbury Town, [cite news
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/10/sfnhea110.xml |title='Charlie' McParland is Notts County's darling |author=McVay, David |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2007-12-10 |accessdate=2007-12-10 |quote=Centre-half Krystian Pearce, only 17 and on-loan from Birmingham City, levelled with his first league goal, a header after his volley had been well saved by Glynn Garner in the 69th minute.] contributing to him being named in the League Two Team of the Week, [cite web
url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/c4/c4/0,,10794~115908,00.pdf |format=PDF |title=Coca-Cola League 2 Team Of The Week (10/12/2007) |publisher=The Football League |date=2007-12-10 |accessdate=2008-01-14] after which his loan was extended for a further month. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/7136951.stm |title=Notts County extend Pearce loan |publisher=BBC |date=2007-12-10 |accessdate=2007-12-10] A sending-off for a clumsy challenge [cite news
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/24/sfgdag124.xml |title= Dagenham take positives from County draw |work=Daily Telegraph |author=Adams, Sam |date=2007-12-24 |accessdate=2008-03-10] failed to dampen County's wish to extend the loan again, [cite news
url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133942&command=displayContent&sourceNode=134443&contentPK=19546018 |title=Magpies agony at loss of Pearce |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2008-03-10] but Birmingham recalled the player at the expiry of the second month [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/7186926.stm |title=Blues recall Pearce from County |publisher=BBC |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2008-01-14] so that new manager Alex McLeish could assess him as possible cover during Radhi Jaïdi's absence at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~1224025,00.html |title=Westley explains Pearce return |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2008-01-24 |accessdate=2008-01-28]

On 31 January 2008 Pearce joined Port Vale of League One on loan for an initial period of one month to gain experience at a higher level. [cite news
url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2/08/01/31/manual_160358.html&TEAMHD=nationwide2 |title=Pearce makes Vale loan move |work=sportinglife.com |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-31] This loan spell was disrupted by another red card, this time for two bookings, [cite news
url=http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158316&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158309&contentPK=19894108&folderPk=87603&pNodeId=158332 |title=Pearce is left to count the cost |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=2008-02-16 |accessdate=2008-03-10] resulting in a two-game ban which left the player anxious to make amends. [cite news
url=http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158316&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158309&contentPK=20022712&folderPk=87603&pNodeId=158332 |title=Pearce aims to set record straight |work=Stoke Sentinel |author=Baggaley, Michael |date=2008-02-29 |accessdate=2008-03-10] His loan was twice extended, up to the maximum permissible 93 days, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7275309.stm |title=Pearce extends Vale loan contract |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-03-03 |accessdate=2008-03-10] [cite web |url=http://www.port-vale.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~1284859,00.html |title=Krystian Pearce |publisher=Port Vale F.C. |date=2008-04-08 |accessdate=2008-05-04] though an ankle injury cut short his stay with the club. [cite news
url=http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158316&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158309&contentPK=20433913&folderPk=87603&pNodeId=158332&bustcache= |title=Pearce a better player - Sinnott |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=2008-04-25 |accessdate=2008-05-08]

In May 2008 Pearce signed a new two-year contract with Birmingham, in recognition of his performances while on loan and his potential to develop into a first-team player. [cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1307475,00.html |title=New deal for Pearce |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2008-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-07]

On 19 August 2008 Pearce joined League One club Scunthorpe United on loan for a month, [cite web
url=http://www.scunthorpe-united.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10442~1369419,00.html |title=Iron make Pearce move |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=2008-08-19 |accessdate=2008-08-19] later extended until 5 January 2008. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/7592351.stm |title=Pearce's Scunthorpe loan extended |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-09-01 |accessdate=2008-09-01]

International career

Pearce was first capped at under-17 level for England on 26 October 2006 in a UEFA mini-tournament against Portugal under-17 [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/NR/exeres/D3968CC0-A157-4A5D-9E40-D527CC009F23.htm |title=Peacock wants response |author=Russell Staves |publisher=The FA |date=2006-10-26 |accessdate=2007-09-26] and was part of the squad which qualified for the final stages of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship held in Belgium in May 2007. [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/Azerbaijan1-0.htm |title=Rose blooms |author=Russell Staves |publisher=The FA |date=2007-03-25 |accessdate=2007-09-26] He started all of England's games in those finals, [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/FixturesAndResults/ |title=U17s Fixtures & Results |publisher=The FA |date=May 2007 |accessdate=2007-05-17] scoring their opening goal, his first at international level, [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/Pearce2-0.htm |title=Perfect Pearce |author=Russell Staves |publisher=The FA |date=2007-05-02 |accessdate=2007-05-17] and helping them to reach the final where they lost to Spain under-17.

England's performance in the UEFA championships earned them qualification for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Again Pearce was in the starting eleven for each of England's games, and scored the second goal in their win over Syria U-17 in the round of 16, described in FIFA's match report as: "Once again, another Porritt cross caused problems for Mohamad Aljomaa's side, the ball fell to centre half Krystian Pearce, who showed all the composure of a striker, taking two touches before hitting a low shot into the net." [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=249423/match=58935/summary.html |title=Lions roar into quarters |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=2007-09-25]

During both the European and World tournaments, Pearce formed a sound defensive partnership with team captain Jordan Spence of West Ham United;cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17WorldCup/NewsFeatures/Postings/WorldCupEngNewZealandreaction.htm |title=Hail to the Chief |author=Russell Staves |publisher=The FA |date=2007-08-23 |accessdate=2007-09-25] [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/EnglandU17_SpenceReaction.htm |title=Spence 'proud' of squad |publisher=The FA |date=2007-05-14 |accessdate=2007-09-26] Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association's Director of Football Development, tipped the pair for future success. [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=587930.html |title=Brooking: Korea experience 'vital' |publisher=FIFA |date=2007-09-04 |accessdate=2007-09-25] He is described in an article on the FA's website as "arguably England’s best player at the World Cup". [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/PearceIceland.htm |title=Krystian faith |author=Russell Staves |publisher=The FA |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2007-10-18]

In September 2007 Pearce was called up to the England under-19 squad for the qualifying tournament for the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, despite being a year younger than most of the squad. [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/19squadeuros.htm |title=Eastick names squad |publisher=The FA |date=2007-09-24 |accessdate=2007-09-25] [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~1118002,00.html |title=Duo called up for England |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-09-22 |accessdate=2007-09-25 |quote=Academy manager Terry Westley explained: 'I got a call from the FA this morning to say that they wanted Krystian to bypass the U18's as they rate him so highly. The England U17 coach John Peacock told me that he thought Krystian was one of his best players in the World Cup. He has come back from the tournament full of confidence and he has been magnificent in our last two Academy U18 games.' ] He played the whole of England's first two games and was rested for the third, coming on at half time and scoring the third goal in a 3–1 win.cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/10/U19sPreRound_BelgiumReport.htm |title=Perfect run continues |author=Stuart Mawhinney |publisher=The FA |date=2007-10-17 |accessdate=2007-10-18 |quote= [Belgium's] hopes were dashed just three minutes later when Krystian Pearce, fresh from his World Cup adventure in Korea, made an incredible run down the right flank and somehow managed to turn the ball into the goal from a narrow angle.] Called up for a friendly against Russia under-19 in March 2008, Pearce was withdrawn and allowed to play for his loan club Port Vale, on the grounds that both England under-19 coach Brian Eastick and Birmingham City saw "playing in a League One game against Gillingham as being beneficial to his development". [cite news
url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3320749,00.html |title=Pearce available for Vale |publisher=Sky Sports |author=James Pearson |date=2008-03-18 |accessdate=2008-06-02] He was part of the under-19 squad which topped their group at the elite qualification stage, starting in their second match and coming on as a very late substitute in the third. [cite web
url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15035/index.html |title=UEFA European U-19 Championship - Fixtures & Results - elite round |publisher=UEFA |date=2008-06-02 |accessdate=2008-06-02] In England's first group match in the finals, a lack of communication between Pearce and his goalkeeper cost England a goal against their Czech counterparts. [cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/england_czech_report.htm |title=Lions lose opener |author=Nicholas Veevers |publisher=The FA |date=2008-07-14 |accessdate=2008-07-21] He retained his starting place for the remaining group games, keeping clean sheets in a goalless draw with Italy, where he made a vital late interception, [cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15036/match=303460/report=rp.html |title=Italy hold out against lively England |author=Patrick Hart |publisher=UEFA |date=2008-07-17 |accessdate=2008-07-21] and a 3–0 defeat of Greece; [cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/england_greece_report.htm |title=Big win not enough |author=Nicholas Veevers |publisher=The FA |date=2008-07-20 |accessdate=2008-07-21] though England failed to reach the semifinals, their performance was good enough to qualify for the final stages of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/eastick_euros_reaction.htm |title=That's tournament football |author=Nicholas Veevers |publisher=The FA |date=2008-07-20 |accessdate=2008-07-21]

tyle of play

Pearce is good in the air, as one would expect of a large man, and has pace and composure.He is equally comfortable with the ball at his feet [cite news
url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133943&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133936&contentPK=19008043&folderPk=78484&pNodeId=133959 |title=County must be strong... and ugly |publisher=Nottingham Evening Post |date=2007-11-19 |accessdate=2007-11-18 |quote=Notts looked sharp and were passing the ball well, especially 17-year-old Pearce. He was strong in the tackle and keen to bring the ball out of defence, rather than booting it into row Z.] and does not lack confidence. [cite news
url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article2917378.ece |title=Pearce's confidence points way for Germany showdown |author=Glenn Moore |publisher=The Independent |date=2007-09-01 |accessdate=2007-09-25 |quote=Showing the chutzpah of a teenager, Krystian Pearce looked ahead to tomorrow's Under-17 World Cup quarter-final against Germany in Goyang City, South Korea, and said: 'I was hoping we would face them. I'm looking forward to it. It's England v Germany – that's just one of those great games. We should be able to beat them.' ] Birmingham Academy manager Terry Westley says, "He has pace and power in abundance and he will be an absolute giant when he stops growing. He's strong, he's tidied up his feet and he's another ... who is not flash or arrogant. He thrives on being pushed." [cite news
url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/sport/tm_headline=pearce-aims-to-make-blues-breakthrough%26method=full%26objectid=19862838%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Pearce aims to make Blues breakthrough |author=Colin Tattum |publisher=Birmingham Mail |date=2007-09-28 |accessdate=2007-09-28] His nickname is "Chief", because "one of the [Birmingham] coaches said he saw a movie and there was a chief in it who didn't talk much but everyone looked up to him and respected him. I am like that so everyone gave me the name."

Honours

* with Birmingham City
** Academy Player of the season 2006–07.
** Pontin Holidays Reserve League Division One Central champions 2007.
* with England under-17
** UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship runners-up 2007.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=47385|name=Krystian Pearce
* [http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/AcademyDetail/0,,10412~989404,00.html Birmingham City player profile] (registration required)
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/U17WorldCup/EnglandTeam/ Football Association player profile]
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/PearceIceland.htm "Krystian faith" – article on The FA website]

Persondata
NAME = Pearce, Krystian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Pearce, Krystian Mitchell Victor
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1990-05-01
PLACE OF BIRTH = Birmingham, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =