Former FA Council and Board member Jack Pearce was presented with his MBE at Buckingham Palace this week, following a career spanning more than half a decade in football.
Jack was named in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June this year for his services to football, which he received from Anne, Princess Royal in London on Wednesday.
His long contribution to football in England began when he was a young player with Portsmouth before progressing into non-League football with Fareham and Gosport Borough.
He became player-manager of Bognor Regis Town FC in 1976, leading the team to safety from relegation from the Southern League. He managed the club until 2007, and then returned to the dugout in 2017 before stepping down again in 2022. He is currently the club's vice-chairman, as well as overseeing other roles in the game such as Chair of the National League Trust, a Council member of Sussex County FA, member of the National Game Board and Chair of the Alliance Leagues Committee.
“It was a very pleasant day, very enjoyable,” said Jack.
“I was the only person there from the world of football, which made it very interesting in that respect.
“But the whole day went as well as one could’ve expected and it’s a recognition of work which other people have recognised and the way we were looked after when we were there was very nice.
“I’m a Royalist anyway, and my favourite is Anne, Princess Royal, so I was privileged that she was doing the presentations in the afternoon and was able to present it to me.
“She was very interested and asked me about Bognor Regis and some of the other work I did for the FA Council and Football Foundation. She certainly recognises how important the game is for giving enjoyment to young people and developing players.
“She made it very relaxing and we had a good natter, so from my point of view, I was very lucky to be there.
“There’s so many people who do great work in all walks of life so I’ve been one of the lucky ones to be selected from an area where I’ve really enjoyed working.”
Jack was first appointed onto the FA Board in 2015 as a National Game director from which he stepped down from in 2023 before taking an observer role and then retiring at the end of last season.
“It was sad to retire, but I always remind myself that there’s someone who was like I was 20-odd years ago and you’ve got to give them an opportunity.
“But I’m lucky that I’m still able to represent the FA on a few projects, such as working with the Football Foundation and that gives me a lot of pleasure.
“This is the first year of the National League System Board which I’m chairing, with a view to appointing an independent chair at the start of next season so there’s plenty keeping me busy as we go into the new year!”
Congratulations to Jack on his honour from everyone at the FA.
