lost that loving feeling - Stuart Pearce

Psycho, God, or just plain old Stuart Pearce. The mere mention of the name in and around the City Ground is enough to send shivers down many a Tricky's spine. It certainly does mine, but just what is it about this man that he should be so adored and receive such adulation from all corners of the game, especially those from the red half of Nottingham?

I think the main reason for it would stem from the man himself; Pearce the man, as much as Pearce the footballer. It is the scriptwritten story of the working class man done good. Since his days as an Electrician, playing amateur football for Wealdstone, these traits have always shone through. He has achieved what millions up and down the country aspire to, to make it from the rat race, and into the land of the Holy Grail, more commonly known as making it as a professional footballer.

Psycho by nickname, but not necessarily Psycho by nature, Pearce’s style on the pitch is somewhat different to what his nickname may suggest. Yes, certainly, he is a mean and aggressive player, whilst not being dirty. Yes, he is always up for it, pumped for each and every game, but is in no way a football thug, a name more associated with players such as Vinny Jones and, going further back, Millwall’s notorious centre back, Terry Hurlock.

Pearce is a man whose determination and passion for victory shines through in each and every game, be it a friendly, or an FA cup Semi-Final. He oozes pride and conviction; who will ever forget his famous reaction after his penalty nestled into the net against Spain in Euro 96.

That for me, more than any other of his famous moments, sums the man up. At that moment in time, I am not afraid to admit that I was almost in tears, so fiercely proud that this man is Forest through and through. Pearce is not in this game for the money, but for the desire of success. He is a winner to the core and it is only a shame for the country as a whole that the end is near for the great man.

When he was so badly treated by the Ruud Gullit regime at Newcastle, many predicted the end. The same old cries of “too old” came out once more. It only goes to show the inner strength of the man that he fought through this to regain his place in the side under the arrival of a new manager in Kenny Dalglish, and not only this, he was back playing so well that he was given the call by the then-England boss Kevin Keegan to once again pull on the Three Lions. If there was ever a man who wore the shirt with more vigour and pride, I’m yet to see him.

When he was released by Newcastle soon after breaking his leg for the first time, many yet again, prophesised the end. Yet again, they were wrong.

Harry Redknapp and his Hammers took a chance on him and told him if he could regain fitness, then a contract would on the table. The rest was down to Pearce. He was soon fit and raring to go and before long, was playing Premiership football once again.

Then, the unbelievable happened. Only minutes into his comeback game at Upton Park, Pearce went down in a typically robust challenge. Everyone’s worst fears were to come true. The leg had broken again. Many asked, 'how could one player suffer such bad luck?' whilst in the same breath saying that his glorious career was definitely over now.

Wrong.

This is no ordinary, overpaid, molly-coddled, prima-donna footballer we’re talking about here. This is Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce. Again Harry Redknapp backed him to the hilt, insisting once again that if he could regain his fitness again, at the ripe old age of 39, he still wanted him in East London.

Reading about and listening to the West Ham physiotherapy staff and specialists about his recovery from the second broken leg was both compelling and awe-inspiring. They could not praise Pearce enough, saying that they’d never seen such determination and focus to regain fitness from a player suffering one broken leg, never mind two, one after the other.

So what is it that drives the man on?

It is not financial reward, but personal pleasure derived from a team achievement. Never before has there been a man to pull on the famous Garibaldi Red who embodied all that we want 'our' players to be. Passion, grit, aggression, determination etc, the list could go on, but above all a winner. A winner not only in football but in life as well. Pearce gives hope to all those young aspiring footballers out there who may not be blessed with massive natural ability or have suffered a career threatening injury, that it can be done, it can be achieved. With the right attitude and mental focus, the sky is the limit.

Will there ever be another one like him?

Well, I seriously doubt it, for a long time at least. People built like him aren’t exactly ten-a-penny in top flight football these days. There are a few in the same mould, Tony Adams or Paul Ince to name a couple, but there aren’t any in my opinion with the same exact traits as the great man. Comparing others to Pearce is possibly slightly unfair, but if people want to hit that top level, they must be judged alongside the best.

What next for Pearce then?

Well, having just captained Kevin Keegan’s Manchester City to the First Division title and a return to top level football, will he be up to it? Many say no, his time is finally up, others are not so sure, maybe the Fat Lady is finally starting to sing, but always remember one thing. This is no ordinary person we are talking about, this is Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce.