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When Bryan Robson arrived at Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday's Nigel
Pearson was one of his first signings. A fee of £750,000 for a 30 year
old with knee problems and two broken legs on his CV looked a gamble.
However, if Robson's recruits are judged in terms of value for money,
only Juninho comes close. His leadership and organisational ability more
than made up for decreasing mobility. Pearson's first Middlesbrough
goal was a late equaliser against Sunderland, in the last Tees-Wear
derby at Ayresome Park, and a memorable first season ended with the club
celebrating the First Division Championship by winning the last league
game at Ayresome Park against Luton.
The inaugural season at the
Riverside, 1995/96, promised much. Juninho was bedding in nicely, and
the team was 5th on Christmas Day. A finishing position of 12th after
the traditional post Christmas slump was disappointing. Pearson proved
the doubters wrong by playing in all but 2 of the 38 league games.
1996/97 was a season of high expectations following the arrival of
Ravanelli and Emerson, and Juninho having found his best form. Sadly
Pearson was to miss four months of the season after sustaining serious
neck injuries in a bad challenge from Wimbledon's Marcus Gayle and in
his absence the lack of leadership on the pitch was apparent. Nigel's
return to the team coincided with a run of four straight wins in March.
Unfortunately, a plethora of cup games stretched the squad to the limit
and what would have been a mediocre 14th place became relegation after a
3 point deduction, for failure to turn up for a game at Blackburn.
Pearson did, at least, have the honour of captaining Boro in both Cup
Finals but they were to end in disappointment, with defeats against
Chelsea and Leicester. The following season proved to be Nigel's last.
Although still captain, his knee problems meant that he was increasingly
rested for less important games. He played 29 of 46 league games, and
finished his career on a high by leading Boro back to the Premiership
with a 4-1 victory against Oxford United on May 3rd 1998. (Paul Thompson)
1981–1987 Shrewsbury Town 153 (5)
1987–1994 Sheffield Wednesday 180 (14)
1994–1998 Middlesbrough 115 (5)
Total 448 (24 goals)
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