Lil Fuccillo
Encyclopedia
Pasquale "Lil" Fuccillo (born May 2, 1956 in Bedford
) is a former footballer and is currently chief scout
for Swansea City .
parents and joined Luton Town
from school. He established himself in the their starting line-up, and there was even talk of a call-up to the Italian national team
. Disaster struck, however, when a tackle by Brighton and Hove Albion's
Paul Clark
shattered his leg. He broke his leg for a second time during his comeback match for the Luton youth team. He did manage, eventually, to regain his place in the team and played an important part as they won Second Division
in 1982.
In 1983 Fuccillo left Luton following a contractual dispute and played 19 games for the Tulsa Roughnecks
in the North American Soccer League
.
Fuccillo then joined Southend United
, before John Wile
brought him to Peterborough United
. He helped Posh get to the 5th round of the FA Cup
in 1985/86, had a brief spell as caretaker manager in 1986/87 prior to Noel Cantwell
's return to the club, but was released during the summer of 1987.
He played briefly for Malta
side Valletta
before short spells at Cambridge United
and Kettering Town
. He finished his playing career at Isthmian League
side Wivenhoe Town
.
brought him back to Peterborough United in 1991 as his assistant manager, and had an unsuccessful spell as manager when Turner became chairman. He joined Barry Fry
at Birmingham City
as coach, and then moved back to Peterborough United to be his assistant. His third spell at Peterborough United did not last long, however, as Fry sacked both Fuccillo and coach Mick Halsall
in December 1996 as an economy measure.
Fuccillo had spells as a scout for Sheffield Wednesday
and as John Still
's right-hand man at Barnet
, but in November 2000 he returned to Luton Town as a scout. A week later he was promoted to assistant manager, but, with the club at the foot of the league, Ricky Hill
was sacked within weeks so Fuccillo then stepped up into the managerial seat. Following an unsuccessful reign, Joe Kinnear
was brought to the club in February as Director of Football, but took it upon himself to replace Fuccillo as manager as well. Surprisingly, Fuccillo remained at Luton Town as a coach until the end of the season. Their third manager of the season, however, was unable to save the club and Luton Town were relegated to the basement division for the first time since 1968.
During the summer of 2001 he joined United Counties League side Wootton Blue Cross
as a coach for John Taylor
, making an immediate impact with the team starting with a ten-match winning sequence. After a season Fuccillo linked up with Peterborough United for a fourth time as a scout, but again this spell did not last long as he moved to perform a similar role with Premiership side Everton
, combined at the start with some part-time coaching at Taylor's new club St Neots Town
. He was reunited once more with Taylor as he began the 2006/07 season as a coach at Isthmian League
side Arlesey Town, but in November 2006 joined Leicester City
as chief scout.
On 21 March 2008, Lil Fucillo was appointed chief scout for Newcastle United
. On 3 September 2009 he left Newcastle United to take up a similar position at Championship rivals Swansea City
.
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
) is a former footballer and is currently chief scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for Swansea City .
Playing career
Fuccillo was born in Bedford to ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
parents and joined Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
from school. He established himself in the their starting line-up, and there was even talk of a call-up to the Italian national team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. Disaster struck, however, when a tackle by Brighton and Hove Albion's
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
Paul Clark
Paul Clark (footballer)
Paul Peterson Clark is an English former professional association football player. His clubs included Southend United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Gillingham.-Career:...
shattered his leg. He broke his leg for a second time during his comeback match for the Luton youth team. He did manage, eventually, to regain his place in the team and played an important part as they won Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1982.
In 1983 Fuccillo left Luton following a contractual dispute and played 19 games for the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
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:...
.
Fuccillo then joined Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, before John Wile
John Wile
John David Wile is an English former footballer and manager.Wile played as a central defender for Sunderland, although he did not play a Football League match for them. In 1967–68 he signed for Peterborough United, having had a trial there first...
brought him to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. He helped Posh get to the 5th round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1985/86, had a brief spell as caretaker manager in 1986/87 prior to Noel Cantwell
Noel Cantwell
Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...
's return to the club, but was released during the summer of 1987.
He played briefly for Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
side Valletta
Valletta F.C.
Valletta Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Valletta F.C. has the strongest support on the island...
before short spells at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
and Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. He finished his playing career at Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
side Wivenhoe Town
Wivenhoe Town F.C.
Wivenhoe Town F.C. is an English football club based in Wivenhoe, Essex. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Broad Lane.-History:...
.
Coaching career
Chris TurnerChris Turner (footballer born 1951)
Christopher James "Chris" Turner is an English former professional footballer and manager, best known for a nine year association as a player with Peterborough United.-Playing career:...
brought him back to Peterborough United in 1991 as his assistant manager, and had an unsuccessful spell as manager when Turner became chairman. He joined Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as coach, and then moved back to Peterborough United to be his assistant. His third spell at Peterborough United did not last long, however, as Fry sacked both Fuccillo and coach Mick Halsall
Mick Halsall
Michael "Mick" Halsall is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He scored 43 goals in 389 appearances in the Football League, playing for Birmingham City, Carlisle United, Grimsby Town and Peterborough United....
in December 1996 as an economy measure.
Fuccillo had spells as a scout for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and as John Still
John Still (footballer)
John Leonard Still is an English former footballer and current football club manager. He is currently in charge at Dagenham & Redbridge...
's right-hand man at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, but in November 2000 he returned to Luton Town as a scout. A week later he was promoted to assistant manager, but, with the club at the foot of the league, Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
was sacked within weeks so Fuccillo then stepped up into the managerial seat. Following an unsuccessful reign, Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
was brought to the club in February as Director of Football, but took it upon himself to replace Fuccillo as manager as well. Surprisingly, Fuccillo remained at Luton Town as a coach until the end of the season. Their third manager of the season, however, was unable to save the club and Luton Town were relegated to the basement division for the first time since 1968.
During the summer of 2001 he joined United Counties League side Wootton Blue Cross
Wootton Blue Cross F.C.
Wootton Blue Cross F.C. is a football club based in Wootton, near Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. In the 2002-03 season, they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the United Counties League Division One...
as a coach for John Taylor
John Taylor (footballer)
John Taylor is an English ex-professional footballer who is currently assistant manager of Walsham-le-Willows. As a player, striker Taylor made over 500 league appearances, scoring 153 goals, the majority of which were for Cambridge United.-Playing career:Taylor started his career as a trainee...
, making an immediate impact with the team starting with a ten-match winning sequence. After a season Fuccillo linked up with Peterborough United for a fourth time as a scout, but again this spell did not last long as he moved to perform a similar role with Premiership side Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, combined at the start with some part-time coaching at Taylor's new club St Neots Town
St Neots Town F.C.
St Neots Town F.C. is an English football club based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League and play at New Rowley Park.-History:...
. He was reunited once more with Taylor as he began the 2006/07 season as a coach at Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
side Arlesey Town, but in November 2006 joined Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
as chief scout.
On 21 March 2008, Lil Fucillo was appointed chief scout for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. On 3 September 2009 he left Newcastle United to take up a similar position at Championship rivals Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.