[2] Born in Wellington,[1] Pearce joined Barnsley on a three-year scholarship in December 1999 and progressed through the academy ranks at the club and into the reserves.
[3] In August 2002, Pearce joined Worksop Town on work experience for an indefinite period,[4] impressing in a pre-season friendly victory over Sheffield Wednesday[5] before making his Northern Premier League debut for the Tigers in the 2–0 home defeat to Burscough on 17 August 2002.
[6] In October 2002 he signed professionally for Lincoln City where he made a number of League 2 appearances[7] before returning to his native New Zealand to play for Waitakere United.
In September 2006, Pearce re-signed with Waitakere United after a short spell playing in England again, this time with Worksop Town when they were in the Conference North Division.
[8] He made his full All Whites debut in a 3-1 World Cup qualifier win over New Caledonia on 6 September 2008.