Born in Salford, Lancashire, Pearson was signed by Manchester United as an amateur in December 1935 and turned professional in May 1937. His first senior game came against Chesterfield in 1937. When his career was interrupted by the Second World War, he served with the 2nd/4th Lancashires. He helped United win the 1948 FA Cup (scoring in the final) and 1952 league championship. He retired in 1953 with 148 career goals (good for 9th in team history) in 343 appearances; just two goals behind Ruud van Nistelrooy. During his time at Manchester United, he scored five hat-tricks; four in the league and one in the FA Cup. His first came in the 5–0 victory over Liverpool in 1946, and in the 1948 FA Cup semi-final he scored all the goals when United won 3–1 against Derby County at Hillsborough in Sheffield. His hat-trick against Liverpool in September 1946 occurred at Maine Road (due to bomb damage to Old Trafford), and would be the last hat-trick by a Manchester United player against the Anfield club until September 2010, when Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov scored all three of United's goals in a 3–2 league win at Old Trafford.