 Pearson playing forLuton Town in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Joe Pearson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-08-03)3 August 1993 (age 32) | ||
| Place of birth | Keighley, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Doncaster Rovers | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2011 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Lincoln City (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Rochdale | 9 | (0) |
| 2013 | →FC Halifax Town (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | FC Halifax Town | 84 | (5) |
| 2015–2017 | Accrington Stanley | 89 | (11) |
| 2017–2018 | Barnsley | 17 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Luton Town | 128 | (10) |
| 2021–2025 | Huddersfield Town | 123 | (16) |
| 2025– | Doncaster Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2010 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | England C | 9 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 July 2025 (UTC) | |||
Matthew Joe Pearson (born 3 August 1993) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as adefender forEFL League One clubDoncaster Rovers.
Born and raised inKeighley,[3] Pearson joinedBlackburn Rovers at the age of 10, progressing through the academy to sign his first professional contract in the summer of 2011.[4]
On 5 January 2012, he joinedConference Premier clubLincoln City on a youth loan.[5] Pearson made his debut for Lincoln on 18 January, in a 3–1 defeat atCarshalton Athletic in theFA Trophy.[6] However, his loan was cut short two months early as he was recalled by his parent club.[7][8]
On 31 July 2012, Pearson joinedLeague Two clubRochdale on a one-year contract after his release by Blackburn.[9]
Pearson made his professional debut on 11 August 2012, in a 4–3 defeat toBarnsley in theLeague Cup[10] and made his league debut for the club, making a start and played the whole game, in a 0–0 draw againstNorthampton Town in the opening game of the season.[11] Pearson then set up one of the goals, in a 2–0 win overBarnet on 1 September 2012.[12] However, Pearson soon lost his first team place, as the season progressed and made nine appearances for the club.
Pearson was released by Rochdale at the end of his contract.[13]
On 1 March 2013, Pearson joinedFC Halifax Town on loan,[14] making his debut for the club in the following day's 5–0Conference North home victory overWorcester City.[15] Pearson became a first team regular at the club, having made 17 appearances for the club.
Pearson signed for Halifax permanently on a two-year contract on 30 June 2013.[16] His first appearance after signing permanently came in the opening match of the season, a 5–1 defeat away toCambridge United,[17] before scoring his first goal in a 1–1 away draw withGateshead on 26 December.[18] After serving a two-match suspension,[19] Pearson scored on his return on 1 March 2014, in a 2–0 win overTamworth.[20] Despite being suspended twice in the season,[19][21] Pearson finished the 2013–14 season, making 46 appearances and scoring two times in all competitions. For his performance, Pearson had his contract with the club extended.[22]
In the 2014–15 season, Pearson started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win overChester on 23 August 2014.[23] However, Pearson was sent off in the 52nd minute, in a 2–1 loss againstWelling United on 22 November 2014.[24] After serving a three-match suspension,[25] he made his first team return, coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 2–0 win overNuneaton Town on 20 December 2014.[26] Pearson then scored two goals in two matches againstDartford[27] andTelford United.[28] Pearson went on to finish the 2014–15 season, making 42 appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
Due to his good performance at Halifax, Pearson joined League Two clubAccrington Stanley, signing a one-year contract.[29] Upon joining the club, Pearson said joining a club based on playing in the Football League was "too good to miss", stating he would regret if he reject the opportunity.[30]
Pearson made his Accrington Stanley debut, making his first start and played the whole game, in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw againstLuton Town.[31] Since making his debut, Pearson become an immediate first team regular at the club[32] and earned himself a nickname as "Mr Angry" whenever he's on the pitch, though Pearson, himself, stated he's a serious player, rather than angry.[33] He scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2015, in a 3–1 win overDagenham & Redbridge.[34] Pearson's second goal for the club came on 28 November 2015, in a 5–1 win overYork City.[35] As a result, he was awarded with a new contract in January.[36] His second goal later came on 13 February 2016, in a 4–1 win overCrawley Town.[37] In the 2015–16 season, Pearson played all 46 league matches and scoring three times in his first season, as well as, playing 52 matches in all competitions.
In the 2016–17 season, Pearson scored his first goal of the season, in the opening game of the season, in a 3–2 win overDoncaster Rovers.[38] Two weeks later on 24 August 2016, he scored again in the last minute of extra time, in a 1–0 win overBurnley in the second round of the League Cup.[39] Six days later, on 30 August 2016, he was given the captaincy for the first time for the whole game, in a 3–0 loss againstCrewe Alexandra.[40] He started every match since the start of the season until he was suspended in late-November.[41] After returning to the first team from suspension,[42] Pearson scored again on 2 January 2017, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 2–2 draw againstHartlepool United.[43] Several weeks later, however, he was sent-off in"the 12th minute when defender Matty Pearson's challenge onMacaulay Gillesphey was judged high and dangerous by referee Chris Sarginson", in a 1–1 draw againstCarlisle United on 21 January 2017.[44] After serving two match ban,[45] Pearson then went on to score five goals between 18 February 2017 and 14 March 2017, including a brace againstLeyton Orient.[46] He also scored again towards the end of the season on 29 April 2017, in a 4–1 loss against Luton Town.[47] At the end of the 2016–17 season, Pearson went on to make a total of 51 appearances and scoring 9 times in all competitions.
Despite saying he would stay at Accrington Stanley for the 2017–18 season, Pearson signed for Barnsley, signing a three-year contract on 4 August 2017.[48] Although the move was an undisclosed fee, it was reported the transfer fee was in the region of £500,000.[49]
Pearson made his Barnsley debut, where he started the whole game, in a 4–3 win overMorecambe on 8 August 2017.[50] Seven days later on 15 August 2017, he scored his first goal for Barnsley in a 2–1 win againstNottingham Forest.[51] Since then, Pearson found himself in and out of the first team, due to strong competitions and played in the left-back position as a result.[52] This also combined with his own injury concern.[53]
Pearson signed for newly promotedLeague One club Luton Town on 26 June 2018 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[54]
Pearson agreed to sign for fellowChampionship clubHuddersfield Town on 20 May 2021 on a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, effective from 1 July.[55] He scored his first goal for Huddersfield in a 5–1 defeat toFulham on 14 August 2021.[56]
Pearson was released by the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the2024–25 season.[57]
On 12 June 2025, Pearson agreed to join newly promoted League One sideDoncaster Rovers on a two-year deal.[58]
After appearing once in theEngland U18, Pearson was called up byEngland C in September 2013.[59] Pearson made his England C debut againstLatvia U23 and played the whole game and almost scored, in a 1–0 defeat.[60] After the match, Pearson reflected on his England C debut, stating it was a great experience and hope he can have that chance again.[61]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2011–12[62] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Lincoln City (loan) | 2011–12[63] | Conference Premier | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale | 2012–13[64] | League Two | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| FC Halifax Town (loan) | 2012–13[63] | Conference North | 17 | 0 | — | — | 3[c] | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| FC Halifax Town | 2013–14[63] | Conference Premier | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 48 | 2 | |
| 2014–15[63] | Conference Premier | 41 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[a] | 1 | 49 | 4 | ||
| Total | 101 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | 117 | 6 | |||
| Accrington Stanley | 2015–16[65] | League Two | 46 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 52 | 3 |
| 2016–17[66] | League Two | 43 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2[f] | 0 | 51 | 9 | |
| Total | 89 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 103 | 12 | ||
| Barnsley | 2017–18[67] | Championship | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |
| Luton Town | 2018–19[68] | League One | 46 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 52 | 6 |
| 2019–20[69] | Championship | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 43 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[70] | Championship | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 41 | 2 | ||
| Total | 128 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 10 | ||
| Huddersfield Town | 2021–22[71] | Championship | 37 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 42 | 4 | |
| 2022–23[72] | Championship | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24[73] | Championship | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25[74] | League One | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[f] | 0 | 36 | 5 | |
| Total | 123 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 135 | 17 | ||
| Career total | 467 | 42 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 525 | 45 | ||
FC Halifax Town
Luton Town
Individual