Footballer shares career highlights

Over 100 clients and contacts of a Shropshire accountancy firm had the chance to meet one of England’s most highly-regarded football defenders at a special charity event.

The team from Dyke Yaxley Chartered Accountants and neighbouring company Kingsland Wealth Management, in Shrewsbury, organised an evening of football with Stuart Pearce at Shrewsbury Town Football Club’s Croud Meadow.

His appearance was as a result of Dyke Yaxley and Kingsland Wealth Management’s corporate partnership with the League Managers’ Association.

And thanks to the generosity of their guests, the firm has raised over £1,500 for their two chosen charities – The Buddy Bag Foundation and the Shrewsbury Food Hub.

Dyke Yaxley Managing Director Marie Bramwell welcomed everyone to the event before former Sky Sports News HQ reporter Pete Colley hosted a question-and-answer session with the star guest.

Marie said: "We were delighted so many of our clients and contacts were able to join us on the night and it was wonderful to hear from Stuart about his long and distinguished career. Our chosen charities will benefit from the generous donations received and we can’t thank everyone enough for the support they gave to such important causes.”

Highlights of Stuart’s career included a stint captaining the England national football team and the mantle of being one of the most highly-regarded defenders this country has ever produced. He has acted as manager of Nottingham Forest, the England U-21 team, and the Great Britain Olympic football team.

Stuart began his career with non-league Wealdstone and was spotted by Coventry City. Two years later, he made the switch to Nottingham Forest to work under Brian Clough, spending the next 12 years there, becoming club captain and being capped by England.

He became player manager of Forest in 1996 for one year before leaving at the end of the 1996/97 season.
Stuart went on to play for Newcastle, West Ham United and Manchester City before hanging up his boots in 2001. Better known as “Psycho”, Stuart also won 78 caps for England, scoring five times and playing in two World Cups.

Pictured: Stuart Pearce with Dyke Yaxley’s Leonie Coulson, Andrew Thomas and Hayley Price