Pearson, who was up in Seaham, County Durham, began his professional career with the Sheffield United development program before committing to the team on July 3, 1995.
He left United after three seasons and switched to non-league football on March 22, 1996, when he signed with Stalybridge Celtic.
He played for Football Conference team Gateshead for two seasons, appearing 34 times and scoring twice in 1996–97 and four times and scoring once in 1997–98.
After playing for them in a preseason friendly, he later had stints with Spennymoor United and Seaham Red Star before joining Whitby Town in 1999.
Gary Pearson Health: What Disease Did Gary Pearson Have?
Pearson, who had just undergone treatment for a heart problem, is said to have passed away on Thursday after suffering what is believed to have been a cardiac arrest while relaxing at home. When an ambulance crew got there, they couldn’t rescue him.
He had played for various clubs in the area, including Darlington, Spennymoor, and Durham City, and had recently been named manager of Billingham Town. He was well known across the area.
