Son of West Brom transfer chief managing in non-league at 21

The son of Albion director of football operations Ian Pearce is carving out an impressive career in management at the age of just 21.

Raffy Pearce has been permanent boss of Jarvis Brook FC since shortly before the summer. The East Sussex village club based in Crowborough operate at step six of the non-league system - the 10th tier of English football.

Pearce Jr has his side on a 10-match unbeaten run in the Southern Combination League Division One with an historic FA Vase first round proper tie on the horizon at home to Faversham Strike Force on Saturday week (October 10).

The boss, appointed on a full-time basis one game before the end of last season after caretaker success, admitted exposure to football with Premier League-winning dad Ian is behind his life in the game.

“I have been talking about football with my dad since the age of eight,” Pearce, who is a full-time football agent, told Talksport. “And when you are exposed to that over a long period of time you build up a good knowledge of the game.”

The young coach, previously part of the backroom team, recalled his impact late last season and added: “It was about galvanising the group, they had been down, and I just wanted to get that buzz back, and in my first game we won 4-0, so that made it easier as well.

“I was ready for it, I had a meeting with the chairman and he told me I had the job.

“If I’m able to I’ll watch our opposition's games or listen to interviews, mostly on social media, to pick stuff up.

"Then I’ll set up game plans from that and implement them in training, then make a presentation for a pre-game which I put together in the lounge and go through it there."

Albion’s Pearce, the former Blackburn, West Ham and Fulham defender who won the top flight title with the former in 1995, joined the Baggies in November 2018.

He was initially appointed as head of recruitment having worked as a scout with Brighton for four years, before titles of head and subsequently director of football operations.

Pearce led Albion’s recruitment business under Guochaun Lai’s ownership, during the latter stages of which the club were extremely restricted due to financial fair play regulations.

He worked under Andrew Nestor in the initial stage of Bilkul’s takeover before the latter’s departure and now has a close working relationship with technical director Dominic Price.

Jarvis Brook boss Peace junior admitted titbits picked up from his dad are always useful at the early stages of his coaching journey.

“When I told him I was going to manage, he just said 'go for it', and I ask for lots of personal advice and try to take tips from what he sees at West Brom," Pearce added.

Jarvis Brook only entered the national league system in 2016 and this season is only a second feat of competing in the FA Vase - the national knockout competition for clubs at step five and below.

The club have already won through two rounds to reach this stage, to the delight of all at their Limekiln Playing Fields home.

The Brook boss Pearce is looking into coaching qualifications but admitted opportunities are scarce in England and may look into options in Wales or Northern Ireland as part of a course.