Of course I’ve mellowed – I used to be an award-winning ballroom dancer

A few hours after Bristol City extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches on Saturday, a video emerged on social media of Nigel Pearson producing some fancy footwork.

Pearson is a man of many surprises: the manager who likes to unwind by embarking on thrilling barrel races across the Derbyshire Peak District.

Ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City, here is another Pearson revelation that may be at odds with that army sergeant reputation.

“I used to be a decent ballroom dancer. It was when I was young, back in the ‘70s when I was at school,” he says.

“I’ve actually still got some medals. I can’t give you any tips! I think I shocked the players when I did the splits once at Leicester.”

Pearson is smiling at the memory, and the mood around Bristol City is also buoyant as the club prepares for a sell-out crowd at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night.

Last week he celebrated his second anniversary in charge of the Championship club, and supporters are daring to dream of a late charge towards the play-offs.

Pearson will be 60 in August and his experience, plus his ‘No BS’ approach, has been crucial during a difficult period in Bristol City’s recent history. While other clubs could have panicked, they are now being rewarded for patience.

It has not been easy, though, and the impact of Covid-19 on finances was significant, while big earners from past regimes have been hard to shift.

“Sometimes it’s been like swimming against the current and wearing a lead jacket,” says Pearson. “I’ve had moments where I’ve thought it’s not going to last.

“On Boxing Day the second anniversary of the job looked unlikely [a home defeat by West Brom]. I’m sure it crossed their minds [the board] about what the potential changes could be, but I’m not going to give up on it.

“The financial climate has changed for football and we’ve all had to cut our cloth accordingly. One of the hard things is being brutally honest and making tough decisions.

“When I leave this job I know it will be in a better position than when I joined. That’s what I try to do and how I work. It’s not just about short-term fixes.”

Story continues

The 1-0 victory over Hull City on Saturday lifted Pearson’s team into 13th place, nine points adrift of the play-off places.

Attendances are also on the up – just over 17,300 were at the Luton match in August, while 23,757 attended the visit of Norwich on Feb 11.

“We are now at least seeing there is light at the end of the tunnel and we’re moving in a better direction,” says Pearson, who lives in the North Somerset countryside.

“We’ve gone to 4-3-3 and changed how we’ve played, and that’s had an influence on things.

“January was good for us with the business we did, ins and outs, and was important. We’ve got young exciting players and a squad that has value.”

Pearson feels a sense of pride when he reflects on the emergence of City’s youngsters.

With funds so limited, the academy has been vital and Pearson works closely with technical director Brian Tinnion, the club’s former midfielder.

The crown jewel is midfielder Alex Scott – regarded as the best player in the Championship and rated at £25m – while there are other exciting talents including forwards Tommy Conway and Sam Bell.

With nine substitutes allowed for FA Cup ties, the bench will be crammed with academy products on Tuesday.

“A lot of clubs have academies and there’s not great contact with the first-team operation,” says Pearson. “We’ve developed it through necessity because we can’t go out and buy loads of players.

“We are producing some really good youngsters. Hopefully we can hang on to them and they can be part of our success, rather than producing them for other teams.

“The challenge is always a difficult one to keep the belief internally and within the fanbase that we’re not just there to let our prized assets go when somebody comes knocking.”

Pearson’s tenure with City has many parallels with his second spell at Leicester, where he inherited a bloated squad with some difficult characters.

It took patience, and some low points, before he guided the club to promotion in 2014.

Recruitment was also key, and there will be a poignant moment on Tuesday when Pearson bumps into Riyad Mahrez, the Manchester City winger.

Mahrez was one of Pearson’s most memorable signings at Leicester, a £400,000 bargain from Le Havre in January 2014. He has since gone on to win three league titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups with Pep Guardiola.

A triumph of diligent scouting, Pearson takes up the story. “Steve [Walsh] and Rob Mackenzie [Leicester’s recruitment chiefs at the time] went over to watch him together on a Friday night.

“I was supposed to go as well but couldn’t because we were playing QPR on Saturday with an early kick-off.

“I’d seen the clips but hadn’t seen him live, so I said ‘if you two are in agreement at the money we’re spending, then it’s a no-brainer’. It wasn’t a massive punt, was it?

“At his first training session you could see how special he was. The acid test is always when the players go ‘ooh, he’s a bit tasty’.

“He didn’t speak English at first and was very shy and quiet. He soon livened up, don’t worry about that.

“It really is a good story, and gives fans of other clubs something to dream about. It shows there are different routes to being successful.”

Pearson is relishing the challenge of facing Guardiola.

“People don’t expect us to win the game, of course they don’t,” he says. “But my expectations for us is that we play as well as we can play, and with a freedom and energy to enjoy the evening.”

There was a time a few years ago when he doubted whether these occasions would ever come round again.

After contracting Covid-19 at Watford, he still suffers with rheumatoid arthritis and needed a heart procedure last November to deal with atrial fibrillation.

Yet he is still striding up and down the touchline and looks remarkably trim. He is now a grandfather, with daughter Hannah expecting her second child in May.

Away from football, Pearson has invites from his close friend, John, to participate in both the Tuk tuk Challenge and the Mongol Rally.

“I didn’t think I’d still be doing this at 59, if I’m honest. I can get irritated at times,” he says.

“Have I mellowed? Yes, of course I have. Life changes all of us.

“I’ll be depressed on my 60th. I don’t have any plans. I’m still 25 in my head. You’ve got to be aware that you can’t do everything that you used to be able to do – but I’m still a bit daft.”