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The 1970s, for all their disappointments within the England camp, did see the emergence of a number of bruising, brave, fixated centre forwards who would go through brick walls for the cause. In the latter half of the decade, Manchester United's investment in the barrel-chested, intense striker Stuart Pearson reached a new peak when he was called up by Don Revie for the 1976 Home Internationals after a stunning season for the young side delighting the Old Trafford faithful. Pearson debuted against Wales at Ninian Park in possibly the least experienced England team ever to start a game (three debutants, four winning their second cap, one winning his third) and won 1-0 and then scored as England thumped Northern Ireland 4-0 at Wembley three days later. Revie kept faith with Pearson for the third game as England went down 2-1 to Scotland at Hampden and then selected him in the jolly-up squad which went to the USA for the Bi-Centennial Tournament.
Stuart played in the opening 1-0 defeat to Brazil before being rested for the second and final game against Italy, but then Revie felt he was ready for the serious stuff. Pearson's competitive debut for England came in June 1976 as they kicked off their campaign to qualify for the 1978 World Cup and he responded superbly, leading the line with style and selflessness and scoring one of the goals in a conclusive 4-1 win over Finland in Helsinki. A friendly at Wembley against the Republic of Ireland followed and Pearson scored again in a 1-1 draw. He was also among the goals for Manchester United again but Revie, under pressure from the media, made some needless changes when Finland came to Wembley and the 2-1 win barely hid the difficulties ahead when England travelled to Rome. Pearson was dropped for both, England played an isolated single striker and lost 2-0 to Italy and the damage was done. Revie threw Stuart on as a sub in a subsequent 2-0 friendly defeat to Holland which saw England given a lesson in how to play the game, and his international prospects - even with a record of three goals in seven matches - began to slip away.
Pearson played two of the 1977 Home Internationals but didn't score as England lost both, then started all three of the summer tour games in South America which were practically ignored - despite three creditable draws and Pearson scoring England's only goal of the tour in a 1-1 draw with Argentina - because Revie was sorting out his shaming exit from the job at the same time. Ron Greenwood's subsequent appointment and some injury worries for Pearson allowed chances for Paul Mariner and Bob Latchford as England's frontal talisman.
Stuart won three more caps (the photo above is during his final game against Northern Ireland) - scoring in a 2-1 friendly defeat against West Germany in Munich in his penultimate game - but his fitness and a move down a division to West Ham United brought to a finish an England career which briefly promised much. (Matthew Rudd)
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