Richard Sharpe (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Sharpe is a retired English soccer forward
who his career in the United States including one season with the Colorado Rapids
of Major League Soccer
.
Sharpe grew up in England, playing in the West Ham United and Leyton Orient youth systems. He moved to the United States in 1989 where he entered Florida Institute of Technology
. Over four seasons, he established himself as the most successful forwards in NCAA Division II history. He holds the NCAA record for season points (112), career points (321), season goals (49) and career goals (137). He was a 1991, 1992 and 1993 first team All American. In 1991, Sharpe and his team mates also won the Division II national championship.
In 1994, Sharpe signed with the Cocoa Expos
in the USISL. He promptly scored 33 goals in 15 games, leading the league. He also scored a hat trick
at that year's All Star game. In 1995, he played only six games, but still scored 14 goals. He then trained with Rochdale A.F.C In March 1996, the Colorado Rapids
selected Sharpe in the second round (nineteenth overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He played seventeen games with the Rapids in 1996, scoring only two games. On January 20, 1997, the Rapids released Sharpe. In February 1997, he signed a two year contract with the Carolina Dynamo
of the USISL A-League. He injured his knee in the Dynamo's first game of the season. He returned in June, but injured his back at the beginning of the playoffs.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who his career in the United States including one season with the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Sharpe grew up in England, playing in the West Ham United and Leyton Orient youth systems. He moved to the United States in 1989 where he entered Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...
. Over four seasons, he established himself as the most successful forwards in NCAA Division II history. He holds the NCAA record for season points (112), career points (321), season goals (49) and career goals (137). He was a 1991, 1992 and 1993 first team All American. In 1991, Sharpe and his team mates also won the Division II national championship.
In 1994, Sharpe signed with the Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home matches at...
in the USISL. He promptly scored 33 goals in 15 games, leading the league. He also scored a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
at that year's All Star game. In 1995, he played only six games, but still scored 14 goals. He then trained with Rochdale A.F.C In March 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Sharpe in the second round (nineteenth overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1996 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on March 4, 1996.-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. ...
. He played seventeen games with the Rapids in 1996, scoring only two games. On January 20, 1997, the Rapids released Sharpe. In February 1997, he signed a two year contract with the Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
of the USISL A-League. He injured his knee in the Dynamo's first game of the season. He returned in June, but injured his back at the beginning of the playoffs.