Stuart Pearce’s son Harley, 21, dies in horror tractor crash as England icon mourns loss
Former England star Stuart Pearce’s son, Harley, has died at the age of 21 after being involved in a farm vehicle accident on a country road near their family home in Wiltshire.
The son of former England player and manager Stuart Pearce has been killed in a tractor crash, aged just 21. The former international is grieving after his son Harley lost control of the farm vehicle on a country road near his family home in Wiltshire.
The tractor is thought to have suffered a possible tyre blow-out which caused him to veer off the road and he died at the scene in Witcombe, last Thursday, Gloucestershire Police confirmed.
Harley was the youngest of two children Stuart had with his ex-wife, Liz. The couple also have a daughter, Chelsea, from their 20-year marriage that ended in 2013.
A family tribute read: “Our family is truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley. A soul who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him. He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.
“With a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness, we are so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry. He will always be our shining star. Rest in Peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never ever be forgotten.”
Emergency services were called at around 2.30pm on Thursday to a report of a collision involving a tractor on the A417, Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe. A source told the Daily Mail: “From what we’ve been told is Harley’s tractor had a blow out and he lost control.”
Harley ran his own company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, and worked on farms across the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border. He lived near Marlborough in Wiltshire.
Harley would’ve seen dad Stuart take charge of England’s U21s, taking them to a Euros final, before having the honour of managing Team GB during the London Olympics. His final managerial spell was at Nottingham Forest, where he also spent time as a player.
Former Forest and England star Stuart Pearce
Stuart previously opened up on a touching story which saw him help Harley win his school’s Fantasy Football league when his son was eight years old. Pretending to want information for the England U21 team, Stuart rang former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to ask whether he was planning to play Phil Jones or Chris Smalling on the final day.
The Scot gave him the answer and Stuart son’s added that player and the subsequent clean sheet points United earned during the game saw him win the league.
