Gary Coyle

When Stuart Pearce signed for West Ham in the summer of 1999, he was 37 years old and had just spent months being frozen out at Newcastle. Harry Redknapp still wanted him. Pearce went straight into the team, and only a few weeks later he was recalled by England for the European Championship qualifier in Poland. That match took place on the Wednesday night. Two days later, he was back at Upton Park playing against Watford. During the first half, Pearce went into a challenge with Micah Hyde and immediately felt something go in his left leg. He knew it was bad. For the final ten minutes of the half, he kept trying to run on it, telling himself he might be able to loosen it up and carry on. By the time the whistle went, the leg was getting worse. Pearce went into the dressing room and sat down with the rest of the players. The West Ham doctor looked at him and told him what had happened. “Stuart, you’ve broken your leg.” Pearce still put his boot back on. He wanted to go out for the second half. Harry Redknapp had to stop him. “He tried to come back at half-time.” “But there was no way.” Pearce had fractured his left fibula and was expected to be out until January. Five months later, Pearce returned for West Ham. Within weeks, he broke the same leg again. This time he was carried off against Southampton after getting across to block a shot from Hassan Kachloul. Pearce was almost 38, and his contract was due to expire at the end of the season. He thought his career might be over. But Redknapp went to see him and told him West Ham would wait. “We’ll stick by you.” “Get yourself right, and there’ll be a new contract here for you.” The following season, he played 42 games, scored three goals and was voted Hammer of the Year by the West Ham supporters. #football