Born in Easington Lane, Tyne & Wear, Pearson started his career with the Sheffield United youth system and signed a professional contract with the club on 3 July 1995.
[12] Pearson impressed as a substitute in Darlington's 2–0 defeat at Peterborough United in the FA Cup on 21 January 2002, leading to a run of six matches in the team before picking up an injury.
[12] Pearson struggled to enter the team early in the 2002–03 season with injuries, eventually making his first appearance in a 2–0 win at Wrexham in the FA Cup on 16 November 2002.
[1][17] Pearson signed for newly relegated Conference National side York City on a one-year contract on 5 July 2004.
[21] He re-signed for former club Durham City in June 2005 before joining Northern League outfit Bedlington Terriers in January 2006, making his debut in a 5–1 defeat at West Auckland Town.
[25] He signed for Horden Colliery Welfare as a player-coach in July 2006 and later that year was playing for Sunderland Nissan and remained with them until 2009, when the club folded.