Biography
Outside forward Thomas Herbert Pearce, often known as Bert, was born in Bethnal Green, East London, and grew up in Walthamstow with a father who made weighing scales for a living. Pearce played junior football in East London while learning his trade as a chemist dispenser – or pharmacist. He gave up his job in London to join the Tigers on amateur terms in December 1909 but it was 15 months before he graduated to the City first team, biding his time in the Reserves. He made just three appearances in seven months, kept out of the first team by the consistency of Joe Smith on the right and Gordon Wright on the left.
In December 1911 he transferred to Southern League side Portsmouth, in September 1912 he returned north to play in the Midland League for Scunthorpe & Lindsey United – despite being stripped and ready to make his debut against Notts County Reserves on 16 September he was blocked when the required telegram confirming registration of his transfer failed to appear before kick-off, and The Iron had to play half an hour with ten men. Despite this unfortunate start he began the season in The Iron’s first team but by the end of the season he was playing in the Reserves and left in the summer.
This is where his footballing trail runs cold. He must have returned to London at some point because by 1939 he was working as a dispensing chemist and living in an agreeable art deco semi in Norwood Green near Southall, in the West London borough of Ealing. He remained in Ealing for the rest of his life, dying in January 1961.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 5 March 1889, Bethnal Green
Hull City First Game: 4 March 1911, Derby County H (Division Two), 21 years, 364 days old
Hull City Final Game: 25 October 1911, Gainsborough Trinity A (Division Two), 22 years, 234 days old
Clubs
Hull City (1909-1911), Portsmouth (1911-1912), Scunthorpe & Lindsey United (1912-1913)
Hull City Record
Career: 3 apps, 0 goals
Herbert Pearce| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909/10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1910/11 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1911/12 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
You appear to confuse 2 men.
Tommy PEARCE was playing for Hull City in April 1911 when the Census was taken and the following entry
Thomas PEARCE (no middle name)
age 21
born c.1890 Limehouse,Middlesex
boarder living at 7,Cobden Street with his wife
profession-footballer.
Thomas Herbert Pearce ,born Bethnal Greenwas NOT the Hullfootballer
Hi Martin,
The person you are looking for is Thomas Henry Pearce. He was born on 7 March 1890, Stepney, London, and died Apr-Jun 1977, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
I came across him while researching my family tree. He was married to my 2nd cousin 2x removed, Maysel Millicent Myra Hewitt. She was from Gorleston, Suffolk. They married in Grimsby on 1 August 1910.
By the time of the 1921 census Thomas was living with his wife and two children in Grimsby. His occupation is given as Transport Worker.