Alessandro Zarrelli: Difference between revisions
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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During the 2004–05 season Alessandro Zarrelli, a young footballer from [[Asti]] in [[Italy]] began sending fake letters and faxes to clubs in [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Wales]] posing as a professional footballer who had been offered to clubs on a cultural exchange by the [[Italian FA|Italian Football Association]], the letter was sent by an Italian Executive named "Matteo Colobase" when in reality it was Zarrelli who |
During the 2004–05 season Alessandro Zarrelli, a young footballer from [[Asti]] in [[Italy]] began sending fake letters and faxes to clubs in [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Wales]] posing as a professional footballer who had been offered to clubs on a cultural exchange by the [[Italian FA|Italian Football Association]], the letter was sent by an Italian Executive named "Matteo Colobase" when in reality it was Zarrelli who sent it. The letter promised the clubs a young Italian footballer who had previously played at youth level for clubs such as [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], [[MK Dons]], [[K.R.C. Genk]]<ref name="welsh-premier1">{{cite web|url=http://www.welsh-premier.com/news.php?ID=4171 |title=Superfake Zarelli On Sky Tv |publisher=Welsh-premier.com |date=2006-06-22 |accessdate=2013-08-06}}</ref> and [[A.C.D. Asti]]. The first club he contacted was in January 2005 when he approached [[Northern Irish]] [[IFA Premiership]] side [[Lisburn Distillery F.C.|Lisburn Distillery]] who eventually signed the player on a short-term deal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blue.srv2.com/~lisburn/Web%20Archive%2048.htm |title=web archive 48 |publisher=Blue.srv2.com |date= |accessdate=2013-08-06}}</ref> he only appeared for a handful of matches before being released later on that season due to a "breach of club rules". He then contacted [[Welsh Premier League]] side [[Bangor City F.C.|Bangor City]] in July 2005, who were unaware of his previous exploits in Northern Ireland, but after staying with the club 10 days manager [[Peter Davenport]] contacted supposed former club Sheffield Wednesday who said they had him on trial for a month only in 2003 and never signed the player in their academy. Also during his time at Bangor he requested a wage of £200 a week despite initially stating in one of his letters that his wages would be supplied by the Italian FA.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4326350.stm |title=UK | Wales | North West Wales | Alert over Italian soccer 'star' |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-10-10 |accessdate=2013-08-06}}</ref> |
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Davenport went on to add "He was only here for about a week to 10 days, In that time I checked a bit into his background and it didn't add up. He arrived here with a broken nose, so he never actually played for Bangor. He just took part in one warm-up session. He was an average player, he wasn't anything special,". Whilst staying with the club he was put up in the Town's Regency Hotel, in which upon his departure he failed to settle his bill. Soon after he moved on to fellow Welsh club [[Connah's Quay Nomads F.C.|Connah's Quay Nomads]] where his stay was only a couple of days after the club had been quick to check his credentials, however in similar circumstances to that of his stay he had been put up in a hotel paid for by Nomads chairman John Gray. He went on to add "He had a bit of talent".<ref name="autogenerated1"/> |
Davenport went on to add "He was only here for about a week to 10 days, In that time I checked a bit into his background and it didn't add up. He arrived here with a broken nose, so he never actually played for Bangor. He just took part in one warm-up session. He was an average player, he wasn't anything special,". Whilst staying with the club he was put up in the Town's Regency Hotel, in which upon his departure he failed to settle his bill. Soon after he moved on to fellow Welsh club [[Connah's Quay Nomads F.C.|Connah's Quay Nomads]] where his stay was only a couple of days after the club had been quick to check his credentials, however in similar circumstances to that of his stay he had been put up in a hotel paid for by Nomads chairman John Gray. He went on to add "He had a bit of talent".<ref name="autogenerated1"/> |
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Revision as of 15:13, 7 August 2013
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alessandro Zarrelli | ||
| Date of birth | 5 September 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Rivoli, Italy | ||
| Height | 5 ft 09 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | A.C.D. Asti | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | Lisburn Distillery | 4 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Queens Park | ||
| 2009–2010 | Irvine Meadow | 7 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Northwich Victoria | 5 | (0) |
| 2011 | Hucknall Town | 13 | (0) |
| 2012 | Lincoln Moorlands Railway | ||
| 2012 | Diss Town | 9 | (0) |
| 2013 | Downham Town | 12 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 August 2013 | |||
Alessandro Zarrelli1, sometimes referred to as Alex Zarrelli (born 5 September 1984) is an Italian semi-professional footballer and football coach, who plays as a defensive midfielder and is a free agent after leaving Eastern Counties League side Downham Town in May 2013.
He is also notably known in Great Britain as the young Italian footballer who sent faxes to football clubs in Wales and Northern Ireland during the 2004–05 season posing as a young professional footballer sent on a cultural exchange by the Italian Football Association. Having managed to secure a short deal with Lisburn Distillery, he was eventually exposed in May 2006,about a year after he left in a controversial manner the 2 Welsh Premier League Clubs he had approached in July and August 2005,by a Sky TV documentary called "Superfakes".[1]
Since then, Zarrelli has forged a career as a semi-professional footballer in Scotland and England, has graduated in Sport at Leeds Metropolitan University and now coaches youngsters at academy level whilst doing a post graduation degree in Sports Coaching at Loughborough University. He has previously played for Lisburn Distillery, Queens Park, Irvine Meadow, Northwich Victoria, Hucknall Town, Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Diss Town and Downham Town.
Controversy
During the 2004–05 season Alessandro Zarrelli, a young footballer from Asti in Italy began sending fake letters and faxes to clubs in Northern Ireland and Wales posing as a professional footballer who had been offered to clubs on a cultural exchange by the Italian Football Association, the letter was sent by an Italian Executive named "Matteo Colobase" when in reality it was Zarrelli who sent it. The letter promised the clubs a young Italian footballer who had previously played at youth level for clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Rangers, MK Dons, K.R.C. Genk[2] and A.C.D. Asti. The first club he contacted was in January 2005 when he approached Northern Irish IFA Premiership side Lisburn Distillery who eventually signed the player on a short-term deal,[3] he only appeared for a handful of matches before being released later on that season due to a "breach of club rules". He then contacted Welsh Premier League side Bangor City in July 2005, who were unaware of his previous exploits in Northern Ireland, but after staying with the club 10 days manager Peter Davenport contacted supposed former club Sheffield Wednesday who said they had him on trial for a month only in 2003 and never signed the player in their academy. Also during his time at Bangor he requested a wage of £200 a week despite initially stating in one of his letters that his wages would be supplied by the Italian FA.[4]
Davenport went on to add "He was only here for about a week to 10 days, In that time I checked a bit into his background and it didn't add up. He arrived here with a broken nose, so he never actually played for Bangor. He just took part in one warm-up session. He was an average player, he wasn't anything special,". Whilst staying with the club he was put up in the Town's Regency Hotel, in which upon his departure he failed to settle his bill. Soon after he moved on to fellow Welsh club Connah's Quay Nomads where his stay was only a couple of days after the club had been quick to check his credentials, however in similar circumstances to that of his stay he had been put up in a hotel paid for by Nomads chairman John Gray. He went on to add "He had a bit of talent".[4]
Shortly afterwards some Welsh local newspapers wrote that Zarrelli allegedly approached Welsh League and Cup champions TNS who had just been defeated in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League by Liverpool, this time his alleged target club didn't fall for the trick.[4] TNS secretary Ian Williams mentioned "It's important that clubs look closely at any player which approaches them - We didn't pursue it, we did our homework beforehand." However there was never an official complaint made so the rumour that it was actually Zarrelli who allegedly approached TNS remained unconfirmed. He was eventually caugt and exposed by the Sky TV show "Superfakes" [2] which covered Zarrelli's story as their main feature, but also mentioned the likes of Ali Dia who had in similar circumstances managed to infiltrate Premier League side Southampton.[5] The documentary team were able to track the fax number to a shop around in Asti, Italy. The crew then tracked him to London where they staged a fake meeting posing as football scouts, Zarrelli showed up and began to talk for twenty minutes before the crew sprung their surprise upon him.
Football career
In 2006 Zarrelli moved over the border and played for Queens Park[6] and Irvine Meadow. He then moved back to England in 2010 to play with Northwich Victoria,[7] Hucknall Town[8] and Lincoln Moorlands Railway.[9]. In September 2012 he signed as a semi-professional footballer for Diss Town and days after his signature Club Chairman Dicky Upson said that "he will be judged on his footballing abillity", also mentioning "We are aware of what happened in the past, which was several years ago. It (the programme) is still on YouTube and I have seen it. I have met and spoken with Alex and told him he will be judged on his footballing ability and nothing else at our club".[10] In February 2013 he signed for Downham Town.[1]
Downham boss Pete Brassett went on to say about his new signing "When I first met Alex he was very honest. He told me all about what has happened in the past - We will move forward and it doesn’t really affect me massively. The past is the past - Without a doubt he’s trying to get his life back on track. Some people would have buried their head in the sand but he’s come through it, picked himself back up again, and I respect him for that. He deserves a chance.”[1] After leaving Downham Town FC in May 2013 he has been linked with a move to Saffron Walden Town FC.
Personal life
Zarrelli now resides in Loughborough, Leicestershire.[1] He has graduated in sport at Leeds Metropolitan University and coaches youngsters at academy level whilst doing a postgraduate degree in Sports Coaching at Loughborough University. After the turmoil caused in 2005 he moved to Scotland where he lived until 2010 before moving back to England to finish his undergraduate degree and begin his post graduation course. At today's date he has obtained several coaching badges with the FA and currently coaches at a Club's Academy. Much has been said about his popularity with women whilst in Wales and Scotland, however he currently seems to be settled in his current relationship.
Notes
- ^ Zarrelli is often incorrectly named in most sources as "Alessandro Zarelli".
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Footballer exposed in Sky TV's Superfakes, Alessandro Zarrelli, signs for Downham Town - Local football - Eastern Daily Press". Edp24.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ^ a b "Superfake Zarelli On Sky Tv". Welsh-premier.com. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ^ "web archive 48". Blue.srv2.com. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ^ a b c "UK | Wales | North West Wales | Alert over Italian soccer 'star'". BBC News. 2005-10-10. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ^ Sam Wollaston. "Remember, it's only a game ... | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ^ "Summer Moves (Part Eleven) | Pitchero Non League". Nonleague.pitchero.com. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
- ^ "Northwich Vics 1 - 2 Falkirk". Northwichvics.co.uk. 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
- ^ "Poor concentration leads to downfall!". Pitchero.com. 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
- ^ "Boro 3 Lincoln Moorlands Railway 1". Scarboroughathletic.com. 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
- ^ "Alessandro Zarrelli will be judged on his footballing ability at Diss Town - Non-league - Green Un". Greenun24.co.uk. 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
External links
- 1984 births
- Living people
- People from Rivoli, Piedmont
- Confidence tricksters
- Italian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Lisburn Distillery F.C. players
- Queen's Park F.C. players
- Irvine Meadow XI F.C. players
- Northwich Victoria F.C. players
- Hucknall Town F.C. players
- Lincoln Moorlands Railway F.C. players
- Diss Town F.C. players