Stuart Pearce’s son Harley dies in tractor crash
Harley Pearce, the son of former England and Nottingham Forest defender Stuart Pearce, has died following a tractor crash in Gloucestershire, police confirmed on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old from Marlborough, Wiltshire, was driving a tractor that crashed on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe at around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. Emergency services responded to the scene, but Pearce was pronounced dead.
In a statement released through Gloucestershire Police, his family described Harley as a “cherished son and devoted brother,” adding that they were “truly shocked and utterly heartbroken” by his death.
“Our family is truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley,” the statement read. “He was a golden boy with an infectious smile… with a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness. We are so proud of the young man he had become.”
Pearce, who had been pursuing a career in farming, was remembered by relatives as having a strong work ethic and “entrepreneurial spirit” within the agricultural community.
Condolences have poured in from across English football. Nottingham Forest said on X (formerly Twitter): “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Harley Pearce. The thoughts of everyone connected with Nottingham Forest are with Stuart and his family at this truly difficult time.”
Stuart Pearce’s former clubs West Ham United and Manchester City also shared messages of sympathy, while Benfica manager José Mourinho offered condolences during a news conference in Lisbon, saying: “I want to express my condolences to Stuart Pearce and his family. He is a great guy, so through you I want to share my condolences.”
Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to come forward, quoting incident 284 of Oct. 16.
The loss marks a personal tragedy for Stuart Pearce, 62, a former England international who earned 78 caps and captained both his country and Nottingham Forest during a distinguished playing career before moving into management and punditry.