IAN PEARCE

'Ian Anthony Pearce' (born May 7, 1974 in Bury St. Edmunds, England) is an English footballer who currently plays at centre half for Fulham Football Club in London, England, on occasion he has played up front but he is not a recognised striker, and his goalscoring record is poor.
Starting his career at Chelsea during the 91-92 season, he played just four games in three seasons before moving onto Blackburn Rovers in December 1993. His debut was as a substitute in October 1993 in a defeat to Liverpool.
He then signed for Blackburn Rovers for £300,000, where he scored his first goal in April 1994 coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 win at West Ham, a result which guaranteed Rovers a place in Europe for the first time in their history. He then moved to centre-half the following season and formed a formiddable partnership with Colin Hendry and won a Premiership medal in the 1994-95 season.
He moved on to West Ham for £3.5m in October 1997. In the 1999-2000 season, he only played 37 minutes after injuring his knee ligaments with a clash with Stuart Pearce. Ian was out for 14 months, but returned in October 2000 against Newcastle United. He failed to find his true fitness, and only played 17 times in that season.
Though he did have a good few seasons at the team he supported as a boy, West Ham United, making over 100 appearances before signing for Fulham in January 2004, Pearce had made only 35 appearances in the 2001 through 2004 seasons, but found a new lease of life at Fulham, starting all nine games of that season as Fulham's first choice centre back.
However, in his 2004-05 season, he was hampered with a back injury in December that year. He did manage to play a few reserve games at the end of the season, but did not play for the first team. In August 2005 he was close to signing for Norwich City, but pulled out because of family reasons.
Pearce is one of only 6 players who have made at least one appearance in every Premiership season since its inception in 1992. Others are; David James, Sol Campbell, Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed and Nicky Butt.
He has a famous rugby union playing cousin called Ed Pearce who was a star for Bristol RUFC and was called into the England Squad by Sir Clive Woodward.
Pearce was praised as 'Best player in pre season' by then fulham manager Chris Coleman. His admirable resolve was demonstrated when in a game against Portsmouth he played through a foot injury only to score before time and secure points for Fulham.
'Vital Statistics'

★ Date of Birth: May 7 1974

★ Birthplace: Bury St. Edmunds, England

★ Nationality: English

★ Squad Number: 19

★ Height: 191 cm

★ Weight: 73 kg

★ Position: Defender

★ Previous Clubs: Chelsea, Blackburn, West Ham

★ Transfer Fee: n/a

★ Fulham Debut: vs. Spurs at Loftus Road, 31/01/04