{{Short description|English footballer (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = John Piercy | image = | fullname = John William Piercy<ref name="Hugman2003-04">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 | year = 2003 | publisher = Queen Anne Press | isbn = 1-85291-651-6 | page = 337 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1979|9|18}}<ref name="Hugman2003-04"/> | birth_place = Forest Gate, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref name="Hugman2003-04"/> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = {{0|000}}?–1998 | youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur | years1 = 1998–2002 | clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur | caps1 = 8 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2002–2004 | clubs2 = Brighton & Hove Albion | caps2 = 30 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2004–2007 | clubs3 = Eastbourne Town | caps3 = 19 | goals3 = 3 | totalcaps = 57 | totalgoals = 7 | nationalyears1 = 1998 | nationalteam1 = England U18 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1999 | nationalteam2 = England U20 | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 }} '''John William Piercy''' (born 18 September 1979) is an English former football midfielder who played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion.
==Club career== ===Tottenham Hotspur=== Born in Forest Gate, England, Piercy started his career at Tottenham Hotspur and after progressing through the youth ranks and reserves, he was called up to the first team by Manager George Graham in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/myspurs/september-birthday-boy-180914/ |title=BIRTHDAY BOY - JOHN PIERCY |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=18 September 2014 |accessdate=26 December 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225233550/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/myspurs/september-birthday-boy-180914/ |archivedate=25 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Shortly after, Piercy made his Tottenham Hotspur debut on 13 October 1999, making his first start and played 74 minutes before substituted, in a 3–1 win over Crewe Alexandra.<ref name="Piercy1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/piercy-released-230802/ |title=Piercy Released |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=23 August 2002 |accessdate=26 December 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224220145/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/piercy-released-230802/ |archivedate=24 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three days later, on 16 October 1999, Piercy made his league debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in the second half for goalscorer Chris Armstrong, in a 1–0 win over Derby County. Piercy went on to make four appearances later in the 1999–00 season. While at the Tottenham Hotspur, Piercy appeared in England U18 and England U20.
On 23 August 2002, however, Piercy was released by the club, with his first team opportunities were increasingly slim in recent years.<ref name="Piercy1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/piercys-change-for-the-better-090501/ |title=PIERCY'S CHANGE FOR THE BETTER |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=9 May 2001 |accessdate=26 December 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224221828/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/piercys-change-for-the-better-090501/ |archivedate=24 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Brighton & Hove Albion=== After leaving Tottenham Hotspur, Piercy joined Division One side Brighton & Hove Albion on 20 September 2002 after impressing the club's management at the trial and signed a one-year contract with them.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/2271028.stm | title=Seagulls land Piercy | publisher=BBC Sport | work=news.bbc.co.uk | date=20 September 2002 | access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Piercy was previously linked with the club before and was on the verge of joining in March, but fell through.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/2245752/piercy-signs-with-seagulls | title=Piercy signs with Seagulls | publisher=Sky Sports | work=skysports.com | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref>
Piercy made his Brighton & Hove Albion debut the next day (on 21 September 2002), where he played 78 minutes, in a 1–0 win over Rotherham United.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5124668.Rotherham_1__Albion_0/ | title=Match Report: Rotherham United 1 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=21 September 2002 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> However, in his next appearance against Ipswich Town in the League Cup, Piercy suffered a leg injury that kept him out for months.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6751367.Make_Withdean_a_fortress/ | title=Make Withdean a fortress | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=27 September 2002 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> On 10 December 2002, he made his return from the first team, coming on as a later substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Ipswich Town.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6746161.Piercy_hopes_to_prove_himself/ | title=Piercy hopes to prove himself | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=12 December 2002 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> Piercy then went on to make four appearances in his first season at the club, with Piercy spending the rest of the season at the club's reserve.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5114678.Duo_return_for_reserves/ | title=Duo return for reserves | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=13 March 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> Following this, he signed a one-year contract extension with them.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5110987.Spurs_move_for_Zamora/ | title=Spurs move for Zamora | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=21 May 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref>
In the 2003–04 season, Piercy appeared in and out of the first team in the first half of the season, as he fight for the first team experience at the club.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6727176.Oatway_s_neck_on_the_line/ | title=Oatway's neck on the line | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=22 September 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> However, he received a red card after a second bookable offence, in a 2–1 win over Notts County.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5100519.November_22__Notts_Co_1_Albion_2/ | title=November 22: Notts Co 1 Albion 2 | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=24 November 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> After serving a one match suspension,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5100323.El_Abd_poised_for_home_bow/ | title=El-Abd poised for home bow | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=27 November 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> he scored his first goal for the club on 29 November 2003, in a 2–0 win over Wrexham.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5100187.Match_Report__Albion_2_Wrexham_0/ | title=Match Report: Albion 2 Wrexham 0 | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=1 December 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> Piercy then scored a brace on 26 December 2003, in a 4–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5099101.Boxing_Day_match_report__Albion_4__Wycombe_0/ | title=Boxing Day match report: Albion 4, Wycombe 0 | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=29 December 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> However, injuries restricted his appearances much further<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6722753.December_1__Piercy_injury_blow/ | title=December 1: Piercy injury blow | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=3 December 2003 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5098543.January_13__Piercy_fitness_boost_for_McGhee/ | title=January 13: Piercy fitness boost for McGhee | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=13 January 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6720308.Piercy_will_fight_back/ | title=Piercy will fight back | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=5 February 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> Despite this, Piercy scored again later in the season: one in the league against Blackpool.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/3592633.stm | title=Blackpool 3 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion | publisher=BBC Sport | work=news.bbc.co.uk | date=10 April 2004 | access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Piercy then helped the club reach the play-offs and converted the penalty successfully to help the club win 5–4 in the penalty shoot-out<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3713901.stm | title=Brighton make it to Cardiff | publisher=BBC Sport | work=news.bbc.co.uk | date=20 May 2004 | access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> and the club eventually promoted to the Championship next season after beating Bristol City 1–0 in the Second Division play-off final.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3750777.stm | title=Bristol City 0-1 Brighton | publisher=BBC Sport | work=news.bbc.co.uk | date=30 May 2004 | access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref>
At the end of the 2003–04 season, Piercy was offered a three-month contract by Manager Mark McGhee, explaining that: ''"they need change in attitude"'' to play in Division One.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/3770701.stm | title=Piercy gets short-term deal | publisher=BBC Sport | work=news.bbc.co.uk | date=2 June 2004 | access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Despite the contract length, he signed a contract with them until October on 11 June 2004.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5092832.Piercy_handed_one_year_deal/ | title=Piercy handed one-year deal | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=11 June 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> The following season saw Piercy making two appearances: both on 3 November 2004 and 6 November 2004 against Derby County<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5088357.November_4__Derby_County_3_Albion_0/ | title=Illness forces Piercy to quit | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=4 November 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> and Crewe Alexandra respectively.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5088347.November_6__Albion_1_Crewe_3/ | title=November 6: Albion 1 Crewe 3 | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=15 November 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> However, months at the club, Piercy announced his retirement at 25 on 9 November 2004 after a series of injuries plagued again.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/illness-forces-john-piercy-to-retire-from-football-1-1438722 | title=ILLNESS FORCES JOHN PIERCY TO RETIRE FROM FOOTBALL | publisher=Eastbourne Herald | work=eastbourneherald.co.uk | date=12 November 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> It also came after he suffered a back problem in the pre-season tour and didn't make his return until October.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6710506.Piercy_relief_at_return/ | title=Piercy relief at return | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=21 October 2004 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref>
===Eastbourne Town=== After leaving Brighton & Hove Albion, Piercy signed for Eastbourne Town in 2006 after he came out of retirement after spending two years, regaining his fitness and trying to gaining a qualification in coaching.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/ex-premiership-star-piercy-joins-town-1-1405347 | title=EX-PREMIERSHIP STAR PIERCY JOINS TOWN | publisher=Eastbourne Herald | work=eastbourneherald.co.uk | date=16 February 2006 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> After a year at the club, having become a first team regular, Piercy was released by the club in December 2007.<ref name="Piercy3"/>
==After Football== After announcing his retirement for the second time, Piercy went into coaching since at Eastbourne Town in 2007.<ref name="Piercy3">{{cite web|url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/brighton-and-hove-albion-2004-play-off-final-where-are-they-now-2477751.aspx |title=WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 2004 PLAY-OFF HEROES |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=1 June 2015 |accessdate=26 December 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324163241/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/brighton-and-hove-albion-2004-play-off-final-where-are-they-now-2477751.aspx |archivedate=24 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.eastbourneindependent.co.uk/sport/1904494.Former_Albion_ace_back_at_Saffrons/ | title=Former Albion ace back at Saffrons | publisher=Eastbourne Independent | work=eastbourneindependent.co.uk | date=13 December 2007 | accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref>
In June 2004, Piercy married his long-term girlfriend,<ref name="Piercy4">{{cite news | url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5093065.Piercy_vows_to_stay_on_board/ | title=Piercy vows to stay on board | publisher=The Argus | work=theargus.co.uk | date=3 June 2004 | accessdate=23 December 2016}}</ref> but later divorced her shortly after. In 2012, Piercy met his current partner, Sarah, with whom he shares a home and is a step-parent to her three children, one of whom is making his own way in the football scene being signed to Brighton and Hove Albion youth academy.
John Piercy taught Physical Education at Ocklynge Junior School, East Sussex for a number of years, successfully coaching the football teams. In 2018, he was promoted within the school and is now a Behaviour Mentor. He also teaches upcoming football stars at CACL in Eastbourne alongside his former football scout, Chris Pinch.
==Honours== '''Brighton & Hove Albion''' *Football League Second Division play-offs: 2004<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/3750777.stm |title=Bristol City 0–1 Brighton |website=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2004 |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *[http://www.allfootballers.com Since 1888... The Searchable Premiership and Football League Player Database] (subscription required) *[http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-u18s/team/search?s=piercy England U18 profile] at the FA *[http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-u20s/team/search?s=piercy England U20 profile] at the FA
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piercy, John}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Newham Category:People from Forest Gate Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players Category:Eastbourne Town F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players