Robbie Zipp
Encyclopedia
Robert “Robbie, Robby, Rob or Bob” Zipp is a retired U.S. soccer player who currently serves as a youth soccer referee and is a vice-president of Costco Wholesale.
Zipp attended O'Dea High School
in Seattle, Washington
where he was a four year varsity letterman on the boy’s soccer team. He was also a two year letterman on the football team. Additionally, Parade Magazine selected Zipp as a high school All American soccer player in 1980 and 1981. After graduating from high school, he was drafted in the first round of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) draft. However, records don’t show which team drafted him. However, according to O’Dea High School, Zipp was a member of the NASL club, Washington Diplomats
which played only one season, 1981.http://www.seattlearch.org/FormationAndEducation/Progress/052004/20040520_GoodNews.htm Records then show Zipp playing the 1981-1982 NASL indoor season with the Seattle Sounders
; however, he never appeared in an outdoor game with the Sounders.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/NASLSeattleSoundersStats/All_time The Sounders folded at the end of the 1983 NASL season and in n 1984, Zipp joined F.C. Seattle
for the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84. This four team round robin series pitted F.C. Seattle, an independent local Seattle “super club” against the New York Cosmos
, Vancouver Whitecaps
and Minnesota Strikers
.http://goalseattle.com/museum/1984_challenge_cup_rosters.htm F.C. Seattle was largely stocked with ex-NASL players put out of work by the disintegration of the NASL.
In 1985, F.C. Seattle joined with several other independent west coast clubs to form the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA). Zipp continued with the team this season, becoming the team captain after former captain Jeff Durgan
was released following numerous flagrant fouls in the team’s game with the Canadian national soccer team
.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/FCSeattleStorm/85finale_2
In 1986, Zipp moved to the San Jose Earthquakes which was a member of the WSA. He remained with the Earthquakes through the 1988 WSA season, after which the Earthquakes folded.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/
Since retiring from playing professionally, Zipp has remained active as a youth soccer referee. He is currently an AYSA referee coordinator.http://www.wsysa.com/Default.aspx?TabId=467&SkinSrc= He is also a vice-president for Costco Wholesale. In 2004, O’Dea High School inducted Zipp into the school’s Athletic Wall of Honor.http://www.seattlearch.org/FormationAndEducation/Progress/052004/20040520_GoodNews.htm
Zipp attended O'Dea High School
O'Dea High School
O'Dea High School is a Catholic boys' high school located on Seattle's First Hill, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. The school is named after Edward John O'Dea who was bishop of Seattle when the school was built....
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
where he was a four year varsity letterman on the boy’s soccer team. He was also a two year letterman on the football team. Additionally, Parade Magazine selected Zipp as a high school All American soccer player in 1980 and 1981. After graduating from high school, he was drafted in the first round 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) draft. However, records don’t show which team drafted him. However, according to O’Dea High School, Zipp was a member of the NASL club, Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
which played only one season, 1981.http://www.seattlearch.org/FormationAndEducation/Progress/052004/20040520_GoodNews.htm Records then show Zipp playing the 1981-1982 NASL indoor season with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
; however, he never appeared in an outdoor game with the Sounders.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/NASLSeattleSoundersStats/All_time The Sounders folded at the end of the 1983 NASL season and in n 1984, Zipp joined F.C. Seattle
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
for the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84. This four team round robin series pitted F.C. Seattle, an independent local Seattle “super club” against the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
, Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
and Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
.http://goalseattle.com/museum/1984_challenge_cup_rosters.htm F.C. Seattle was largely stocked with ex-NASL players put out of work by the disintegration of the NASL.
In 1985, F.C. Seattle joined with several other independent west coast clubs to form the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA). Zipp continued with the team this season, becoming the team captain after former captain Jeff Durgan
Jeff Durgan
Jeffrey "Jeff" Durgan is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played professionally for the New York Cosmos and seven times for the U.S. national team.-NASL:...
was released following numerous flagrant fouls in the team’s game with the Canadian national soccer team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/FCSeattleStorm/85finale_2
In 1986, Zipp moved to the San Jose Earthquakes which was a member of the WSA. He remained with the Earthquakes through the 1988 WSA season, after which the Earthquakes folded.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/
Since retiring from playing professionally, Zipp has remained active as a youth soccer referee. He is currently an AYSA referee coordinator.http://www.wsysa.com/Default.aspx?TabId=467&SkinSrc= He is also a vice-president for Costco Wholesale. In 2004, O’Dea High School inducted Zipp into the school’s Athletic Wall of Honor.http://www.seattlearch.org/FormationAndEducation/Progress/052004/20040520_GoodNews.htm