As a player, Pemberton played as a defender and made more than 300 appearances in The Football League and the Premier League playing as a defender for Rochdale, Crewe Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Leeds United.
Born in Oldham, Lancashire, Pemberton started his career as a junior at Manchester United but was released in June 1983.
During his début against Liverpool in the season opener, he was forced to play in goal after an injury to the United keeper.
His most memorable moment came in 1993 when he scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-final replay in the FA Cup.
Pemberton coached Nottingham Forest's reserve team to the Central League title in the 2007–08 season.
[8] At the end of the 2008–09 season Davies reorganised his coaching staff, and Pemberton's contract was terminated by mutual consent after more than a decade as part of Forest's backroom team.
[18] On 18 November 2020, Pemberton left Chesterfield by mutual consent after a poor run of form with the Spireites.