Darlington
Which team did Gary Pearson (footballer) play for from 2001 to 2004?
Gary Pearson ( footballer ) Gary Pearson ( born 7 December 1976 ) is an English former professional footballer and now a manager . He played as a defender and a midfielder for Sheffield United , Stalybridge Celtic , Gateshead , Spennymoor United , Seaham Red Star , Whitby Town , Durham City , Darlington , York City , Bedlington Terriers , Horden Colliery Welfare , Sunderland Nissan , Spennymoor Town and Crook Town . Playing career . Born in Seaham , County Durham , Pearson started his career with the Sheffield United youth system and signed a professional contract with the club on 3 July 1995 . After three years with United he dropped into non-League football after signing for Stalybridge Celtic on 22 March 1996 . He was with Football Conference side Gateshead for two seasons ; in 1996–97 he made 34 appearances and scored two goals and in 1997–98 he made four appearances and scored one goal . He then had spells with Spennymoor United and Seaham Red Star before joining Whitby Town in 1999 after playing for them in a pre-season friendly.<ref Season Archive></ref> Pearson played for Durham City during the 2000–01 season before returning to Whitby in April 2001.<ref Season Archive></ref> He joined Third Division Darlington on a one-year contract with the option of another year on 6 August 2001 after a trial . He made his debut in Darlingtons 2–1 home victory over Macclesfield Town on 16 October 2001 , but was substituted for Phil Brumwell in the 32nd minute . Pearson impressed as a substitute in Darlingtons 2–0 defeat at Peterborough United in the FA Cup on 21 January 2002 , leading to a run of six matches in the team before picking up an injury . During this period he scored his first goal for the club with a 25-yard free kick in a 3–2 home defeat to Luton Town on 26 January 2002 . He finished his first season at Darlington with 11 appearances and one goal . Pearson struggled to enter the team early in the 2002–03 season with injuries , eventually making his first appearance in a 2–0 win at Wrexham in the FA Cup on 16 November 2002 . He established himself in the starting line-up in the final third of the season and on 12 April 2003 scored his first goal of the season in a 5–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town with a 35-yard shot that made its way through a crowded penalty area . He completed the season with one goal in 22 appearances . Pearson was a regular for Darlington in the early stages of the 2003–04 season and scored his first goal of the campaign in a 4–2 defeat at Rochdale on 30 August 2003 . Because of injury troubles he was mostly a substitute for the rest of the season , which he finished with 19 appearances and one goal . Pearson signed for newly relegated Conference National side York City on a one-year contract on 5 July 2004 . He was sent off for violent conduct in the 69th minute of Yorks opening match of the 2004–05 season , a 2–0 away defeat to Aldershot Town on 14 August 2004 . A shoulder injury kept him out of the team from early November 2004 onwards and was released by the club on 17 March 2005 , although he was told he could return for pre-season . He had made 13 appearances for York . He re-signed for former club Durham City in June 2005 before joining Northern League outfit Bedlington Terriers in January 2006 , making his debut in a 5–1 defeat at West Auckland Town . Pearson was re-signed by Gateshead , by this time in the Northern Premier League Premier Division , on 31 March 2006 . He made six appearances for Gateshead before the end of the 2005–06 season . He signed for Horden Colliery Welfare as a player-coach in July 2006 and later that year was playing for Sunderland Nissan and remained with them until 2009 , when the club folded . He spent the following two seasons with Spennymoor Town . Coaching and managerial career . Pearson started the 2011–12 season as player-coach at Crook Town , before taking over as manager in December 2011 . He resigned in May 2014 to take over at Ryhope Colliery Welfare . Style of play . Pearson played as a centre-back and a central midfielder , being noted for his robust tackling and committed play . Personal life . Pearson played alongside his brother Alan during spells with Seaham Red Star and Durham City .