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Personal
Fullname: Edward Pearson
aka: Eddie Pearson
Born: 16 Mar 1863
Died: 21 Dec 1918
Birthplace: Holytown, Lanarkshire
Signed: 1888
Position: Right-back
Debut: Celtic 5-2 Rangers, Friendly, 28 May 1888
Internationals: none
Biog
Eddie Pearson featured in the first ever eleven for Celtic, but little is fully known about this player.
Born on 16th March 1863 in Holytown (Lanarkshire), he was to become a right-back for Carfin Shamrock.
Eddie Pearson had the honour to play for Celtic in the club’s inaugural match, a 5-2 friendly win over Rangers, a major note in retrospect. However, he never played for Celtic in another match, so he never played in any competition matches with Celtic.
In the previous year (1887), he actually played 4 games in the Scottish Cup for Edinburgh Hibernian, having signed from Cambuslang Hibernian. He then signed for Carfin Shamrock, and it would appear, ‘guested‘ for Celtic in the club’s first game against Rangers probably as he would have been friendly with the Hibernian players (past & current) who also ‘guested‘ for Celtic.
He returned soon after back to Carfin (Lanarkshire), and appears to have remained a Lanarkshire man from thereon in.
His brother David Pearson is also said to have played with Eddie Pearson for Carfin Shamrock against Celtic in the Scottish Cup second round in 1890. The pair appear from the line-ups & reports to have been the full-backs for Carfin Shamrock in an era when the entire defence was often two-man in 2-2-6 or 1-1-8 formations. The first match was drawn 2-2, with Celtic winning the replay 3-1. In the replay, the reporter from The Scotsman highlighted the two brothers in his brief report:
“The Celts pressed hard, but it was not to be, as time after time the brothers Pearson repelled excellent attempts made by Dowds and others to increase their score…”
The following two rounds for Celtic were against Carfin’s near neighbours, Wishaw Thistle and Royal Albert (Larkhall).
A “Pearson (Carfin Shamrock)” looks to have been a regular for Lanarkshire in their 1888 county matches, possibly was Eddie Pearson but could have been his brother David (or even someone else).
Interestingly, The Motherwell Times newspaper, on Saturday 1st October 1892, has Carfin Shamrock known as the ‘Bhoys‘, so he may have been away from Celtic but still in the same circles. Carfin has generally had a strong Irish-Catholic link.
He won the Airdrie Charity Cup with Carfin Shamrocks.
In a 1891 Census, states he was married to Susan Connor who appears on his death certificate as Susannah Connor.
In a 1901 Census, states he was living at 106 Scotts Road in Cambusnethan with his wife and 5 children
He passed away on 21 December 1918 at 22 West Academy Street, Wishaw.
He may not have stayed at Celtic, but he played in a bit of history, and in effect created a historical linkage and dug some roots in Lanarkshire for Celtic with his appearance. Something to be proud of.
Playing Career
Played in no competitive games
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Links
The day Carfin Shamrock and Eddie Pearson won the Airdrie Charity Cup
Airdrie Charity Cup
