Pat Fidelia
Encyclopedia
Pat Fidelia is a retired Haitian-American soccer forward
who spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League
, two in the American Soccer League
and one in the United Soccer League
. He also earned one cap playing with/for the national team
.
then Mercer County Community College
, both in New Jersey
.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) drafted Fidelia with the last pick (96th overall) of the 1978 Draft. It then traded him to the Philadelphia Fury
. While playing as a substitute for most of the 1978 season with the Fury, Fidelia led the team in scoring with eight goals. The Fury folded at the end of the 1980 season and Fidelia moved to the Montreal Manic
for the 1981 season. In 1979, he signed with the Cleveland Force
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
, playing 29 games for the team during the 1979-1980 season. In 1982, Fidelia left the NASL for the Carolina Lightnin'
of the American Soccer League
. He scored eight goals that season. The ASL folded following the 1983 season and the Lightnin' jumped to the United Soccer League
, changing its name to the Charlotte Gold. The Gold lasted only the 1984 season before folding. Fidelia retired from playing professionally.
in a 3-1 win over Bermuda
on October 7, 1979 when he came on for Greg Villa
.
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 spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, two in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and one in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He also earned one cap playing with/for the national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Youth
Fidelia was born in Haiti and at some point during his childhood moved to the United States. He attended Rancocas Valley Regional High SchoolRancocas Valley Regional High School
Rancocas Valley Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students in grades 9 through 12 from five communities in Burlington County, New Jersey. The district encompasses approximately and comprises the communities of Eastampton Township, Hainesport...
then Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Mercer County, New Jersey. The school's current president is Dr. Patricia C. Donohue...
, both in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Professional
The Houston HurricaneHouston Hurricane
The Houston Hurricane was a soccer team based out of Houston that played in the NASL. They played from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was the Astrodome. Their colors were orange, white and red....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) drafted Fidelia with the last pick (96th overall) of the 1978 Draft. It then traded him to the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
. While playing as a substitute for most of the 1978 season with the Fury, Fidelia led the team in scoring with eight goals. The Fury folded at the end of the 1980 season and Fidelia moved to the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
for the 1981 season. In 1979, he signed with the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, playing 29 games for the team during the 1979-1980 season. In 1982, Fidelia left the NASL for the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He scored eight goals that season. The ASL folded following the 1983 season and the Lightnin' jumped to the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
, changing its name to the Charlotte Gold. The Gold lasted only the 1984 season before folding. Fidelia retired from playing professionally.
National team
Fidelia earned his one cap with the national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a 3-1 win over Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
on October 7, 1979 when he came on for Greg Villa
Greg Villa
Gregory "Greg" Villa is a retired U.S. soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned eighteen caps, scoring five goals, with the United States men's national soccer team between 1977 and 1980.-Youth:Villa grew up in Saint...
.