Oliver Robert Pearce (born 8 August 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club York City.
A prolific non-League striker, Pearce began his senior career in the Isthmian League with Bognor Regis Town, before moving onto rivals Worthing and continuing his sustained rich vein of goalscoring form. His success at Worthing saw him make the move up to Step 1 for the first time with York City, where he again topped the scoring charts.
Club career Bognor Regis Town
Pearce made his debut for Bognor Regis Town aged 17 after previously appearing for Midhurst & Easebourne whilst also representing England Colleges. Pearce signed for Bognor after a trial arranged by his Dad.
Pearce enjoyed a goal-laden career at Nyewood Lane scoring around 80 goals in a little over 250 appearances, including four in four at the start of 2017–18. His goals fired the club to an FA Trophy semi-finals in the 2015–2016 season and the Isthmian League promotion campaign a year later. This success drew attention from local rivals Worthing.
Worthing Pearce joined Worthing during the 2018 close season. He made his debut away at Haringey Borough on 1 September 2018 and scored his first goal for the club, as a substitute, in a 4–3 win at Lewes on 3 October 2018.
In 2021–22, Pearce was the Isthmian League Premier Division's leading scorer with 35 league goals, winning the Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards and a place in the Team of the Season as Worthing won the title and promotion to the National League South.
He scored his 100th goal for Worthing, in his 178th appearance, with a lobbed finish in a 6–0 home win over Dulwich Hamlet on 21 February 2023. He passed 30 goals in all competitions again that season and was named in the National League South Team of the Season.
During the 2023–24 season Pearce set a post-war club record by scoring in ten consecutive matches, from New Year's Day to the end of February. He reached 150 goals for the club with a stoppage-time strike in a 3–1 win at eventual champions Yeovil Town on 6 April 2024.
York City On 25 May 2024, Pearce signed for National League club York City on a free transfer, after much speculation as to his next destination. He reunited with former manager Adam Hinshelwood, who had made the same move just three months prior. He was awarded the National League's player of the month for November, as well as being included in the half team of the season "so far". He ended the season as the league's top goalscorer in his first season at that level with 31 goals, was awarded the league's player of the year, and was named in the league's team of the season. He was also awarded the Sports Circle Player of the Year at the National Game Awards.
The following season, he again finished as the league's top goalscorer, with 34 goals, as York City were promoted to EFL League Two on the final day of the season. He was also named the league's player of the year and included in the league's team of the season for consecutive seasons. He was also awarded "Clubman of the Year" at York in May 2026.
Pearce scored his first Football League goal on 1 September 2026, netting in a 3–2 defeat to Cheltenham Town in League Two.
On 15 September 2026, Pearce started for York in an EFL Trophy match, but was substituted after just 44 seconds. Manager Scott Lindsey criticised the competitions rules, which stipulated that one starter from the previous league game had to start.
International career In March 2024, Pearce was named in the England C 16-man squad to face Wales C at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli on 19 March. He made an appearance as a second half substitute in a 1–0 loss.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBognor Regis Town2013–14IL Premier Division301331—3 136152014–15IL Premier Division391720—2143182015–16IL Premier Division42841—10156102016–17IL Premier Division43920—3448132017–18National League South15810—00168Total169551220018719964Worthing2018–19IL Premier Division331241—3240152019–20For Sussex Senior Cup third round: For Sussex Senior Cup semi-finals: IL Premier Division281341—7439182020–21For Sussex Senior Cup second round: IL Premier Division8510—221172021–22IL Premier Division423520—7451392022–23For Havant & Waterlooville (A), National League South, 3 December 2022: For Sussex Senior Cup quarter-finals: For Sussex Senior Cup final: National League South442522—7553322023–24For Sussex Senior Cup second round: National League South444020—565146Total199130154003123245157York City2024–25For FA Cup fourth qualifying round: For FA Trophy third round proper: For FA Trophy fourth round proper: National League453122—3050332025–26For FA Cup fourth qualifying round: National League463420—1149352026–27League Two83001010103Total996842105110971Career total467253318105431553292
Honours Worthing Isthmian League Premier Division: 2021–22 York City National League: 2025–26
Individual National League Player of the Month: November 2024, November 2025, January 2026 National League South Player of the Month: December 2023, February 2024 National League Team of the Season: 2024–25, 2025–26 National League South Player of the Season: 2023–24 National League South Team of the Season: 2023–24
References
External links