Biography
Centre forward and inside left Frank Pearson joined the Tigers in October 1906 to add impetus to the club’s second season in the Football League – his transfer fee was stated to be “very heavy”. He had a good pedigree, having spent time at Division One clubs in his early 20s, and the signs were extremely good when Pearson scored a hattrick on his debut at Glossop. Pearson contributed further goals over the next eight matches in wins against Blackpool, Burton United and Grimsby Town, however his form clearly faded from such a high starting point and by Christmas Day he was dropped for a fixture against former club Chelsea and consigned to the reserves for the rest of the season, making only one more senior appearance before leaving in the 1907 close season.
Pearson was born in Manchester and his career began as a teenager in Preston where he scored 20 times in 35 starts. Manchester City signed Pearson in 1903 but despite scoring on his debut against Notts County, in two seasons with his hometown club he managed only seven starts and scored two goals. In October 1905 he switched to Chelsea for a £250 fee, who like City were having their inaugural season in the Football League, and Pearson was the Blues’ top league goalscorer with 18 strikes. Despite this form he was allowed to move to Hull the following season.
Pearson joined Southern League side Luton Town in May 1907 but injury hampered his form and a year later he returned to the North West and completed his career at Rochdale and Eccles Borough. He stayed living in Manchester and died in 1949.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 18 May 1884, Manchester
Hull City First Game: 6 October 1906, Glossop A (Division Two), 22 years, 141 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 March 1907, West Bromwich Albion A (Division Two), 22 years, 288 days old
Clubs
Preston North End (1902-1903), Manchester City (1903-1905), Chelsea (1905-1906), Hull City (1906-1907), Luton Town (1907-1908), Rochdale (1908-1909), Eccles Borough
Hull City Record
Career: 13 apps, 6 goals
Frank Pearson| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906/07 | 13 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |