Craig Scarpelli

Craig Scarpelli
Personal information
Full name	Craig J. Scarpelli
Date of birth	September 17, 1961 (age 62)
Place of birth	Long Branch, New Jersey, United States
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1980	Tampa Spartans
Senior career*
Years	Team
1982	Georgia Generals
1982–1983	St. Louis Steamers (indoor)
1983	Fort Lauderdale Strikers
1983	Fort Lauderdale Strikers (indoor)
1984	Minnesota Strikers
1984–1985	Minnesota Strikers (indoor)
International career
1980–1981	United States U20
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.

Playing career

Raised 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

Scarpelli is currently a chiropractor living in Brick Township.^[6] His daughter, Leah Scarpelli, has played professional soccer internationally.^[1]

References

^ ^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

NASL stats
Craig Scarpelli – FIFA competition record (archived)

[Patch2016-1] 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."

[2] University of Tampa men's soccer^{[permanent dead link]}

[3] Bourne's Near-Perfect Goal Wins Game for Slickers, 2-1 The Daily Oklahoman - Saturday, July 3, 1982

[4] STRIKERS LET WELLER GO, THEN FALL Miami Herald, The (FL) - Saturday, February 5, 1983

[5] SCARPELLI OR TIETJENS? STRIKERS FACE DECISION Miami Herald, The (FL) - Wednesday, April 13, 1983

[6] Dr. Craig J. Scarpelli^{[permanent dead link]}

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