'In good hands' - Pearce on the mend after health scare

Stuart Pearce was England captain in 1992-93

Former England full-back Stuart Pearce says he is now feeling "very good" following a major health scare during a flight from Las Vegas to London earlier this month.

The plane had to be diverted to Canada after 62-year-old Pearce was treated by staff and medically-trained passengers.

He was special guest at four Essex Senior League matches over the weekend to help mark Non-League Day.

"I'm very good at the moment. The flight attendants were fantastic to me. I spent 10 days in Canada, the hospital staff there were fantastic, I was in good hands," he told BBC Essex.

Pearce was plucked from non-league football with Wealdstone by Coventry City and went on to play more than 400 games for Nottingham Forest before spells with Newcastle United, West Ham and Manchester City.

He also won 78 international caps and later managed Forest, Manchester City and the Great Britain team at the London 2012 Olympics.

Pearce believes non-league still has an important role in developing talent, again illustrated by Dan Burn's rise to the current England squad, having begun his career at Darlington.

"The non-league is where I started, so I have a vested interest, if you like," Pearce said, as he watched Buckhurst Hill's 1-1 draw with Hullbridge Sports.

"So many youngsters get associated with Premier League clubs or professional clubs and get released, and are disappointed by that.

"What they must understand is that the game is about playing it for the love of it. There's always (the possibility of) a second chance.

"As a 13-year-old I was released by the club I supported, QPR, and Wealdstone gave me another chance and eventually I got to where I did in the game.

"But that wasn't the important thing, the important thing for me was playing a game you absolutely love, the camaraderie of the dressing room and camaraderie of team sport."

A former electrician, Pearce said playing at non-league level provided a release from having to go work most mornings.

"Then, all of a sudden you get a little bit of recognition and at the age of 21 my life changed and I turned into a professional footballer," he added.

"(But) I always look back with really fond memories of my time as a non-league player, I keep in contact with my old club Wealdstone and some of the players I used to play alongside. They're good friends of mine."