Craig Scarpelli (born September 17, 1961) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Soccer League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig J. Scarpelli | ||
| Date of birth | September 17, 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Long Branch, New Jersey, United States | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1980 | Tampa Spartans | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982 | Georgia Generals | ||
| 1982–1983 | St. Louis Steamers (indoor) | 0 | (0) |
| 1983 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 0 | (0) |
| 1983 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers (indoor) | 6 | (0) |
| 1984 | Minnesota Strikers | 6 | (0) |
| 1984–1985 | Minnesota Strikers (indoor) | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1980–1981 | United States U20 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editRaised in Brick Township, New Jersey, Scarpelli played prep soccer at Brick Township High School, graduating in 1979.[1]
Scarpelli attended the University of Tampa where he played on the men's soccer team.[2] In 1980, Scarpelli joined the United States men's national under-20 soccer team as it qualified for the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship. He would play all three of the U.S. games in that tournament. In December 1981, the Chicago Sting selected Scarpelli in the third round of the North American Soccer League draft, but there is no indication that he signed with the Sting. In 1982, he did play for the Georgia Generals in the American Soccer League.[3] He was also drafted by the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League, but never entered a first team game. In February 1983, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers purchased Scarpelli's contract from the Steamers.[4] He played several games for the Strikers during the 1983 Grand Prix of Indoor Soccer. He played three pre-season games, then sat as the third string backup keeper during the regular season.[5] Following the 1983 season, the Strikers moved to Minnesota and Scarpelli gained time in six games during the 1984 season. The league collapsed at the end of the season and the Strikers moved to the MISL for the 1984-1985 indoor season. Scarpelli played five games during the indoor season then was released in July 1985.
Personallife
editScarpelli is currently a chiropractor living in Brick Township.[6] His daughter, Leah Scarpelli, has played professional soccer internationally.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Wall, Karen. "She's The Best N.J. High School Soccer Player You've Never Heard Of, And She's From Brick", Brick, NJ Patch, July 25, 2016. Accessed December 20, 2023. "Craig Scarpelli was an outstanding soccer player in his own right. A 1979 graduate of Brick Township High School, he played for the University of Tampa before becoming a goalkeeper for the U.S. National team in the early 1980s; that team went to the FIFA Youth World Cup in 1981, according to a June 1981 New York Times article.... Scarpelli, whose father, Craig, played professionally in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s, had played for the U.S. Women's U-17 national squad."
- ^ University of Tampa men's soccer[permanent dead link]
- ^ Bourne's Near-Perfect Goal Wins Game for Slickers, 2-1 The Daily Oklahoman - Saturday, July 3, 1982
- ^ STRIKERS LET WELLER GO, THEN FALL Miami Herald, The (FL) - Saturday, February 5, 1983
- ^ SCARPELLI OR TIETJENS? STRIKERS FACE DECISION Miami Herald, The (FL) - Wednesday, April 13, 1983
- ^ Dr. Craig J. Scarpelli[permanent dead link]
External links
edit- NASL stats
- Craig Scarpelli – FIFA competition record (archived)