Ronnie Sharp (footballer)

Ronnie Sharp (born 30 January 1948) is a former professional footballer who played in the North American Soccer League and Mexican Primera División.

Ronnie Sharp
Personal information
Full name Ronald Sharp
Date of birth (1948-01-30) 30 January 1948
Place of birth Scotland
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1973 Cowdenbeath 47 (12)
1973 Miami Toros 19 (1)
1973–1974 San Luis 3 (0)
1974–1976 Miami Toros 53 (4)
1977 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Scotland, Sharp began his football career with junior side Glenrothes. The Winger played part-time with Scottish Second Division side Cowdenbeath from 1968 to 1973.[1] Miami Toros' coach John Young scouted Sharp on a trip to Scotland, and he joined the NASL club in 1973.[2] During the off-season, Sharp and teammates Warren Archibald and Steve David joined Mexican side San Luis for five weeks of the 1973–74 Mexican Primera División season.[3]

Sharp returned to the Miami Toros for three more seasons before finishing his career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1977.[4] He was named to the 1975 NASL All-Star team.[5]

Sharp owned the Fort Lauderdale Sun of the United Soccer League in 1984, but was forced to sell the team shortly after winning the USL championship, because of his involvement in a Texas marijuana smuggling operation.[6][7] In September 1984 he testified as a witness for the U.S. government, as part of a plea deal. Sworn testimony indicated that Sharp was more likely a middle-man than an active participant in the operation.[8]

References
  1. "COWDENBEATH : 1946/47 - 2011/12". Neil Brown. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  2. Levin, Dan (June 16, 1975). "The pied piper of Miami". Sports Illustrated.
  3. Jiménez, Rolando (3 November 2012). "Los inmortales del futbol potosino" [The immortals of Potosino football] (in Spanish). Plano Informativo.
  4. "North American Soccer League Players: Ronnie Sharp". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  5. "Toros Steve David, Ronnie Sharp named NASL All-Stars". Miami News. 20 August 1975. p. B4.
  6. Connelly, Michael, and Sarni, Jim (June 27, 1984). "Soccer owner, I never sold pot". Fort Lauderdale News. p. 1B. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  7. Sarni, Jim (September 3, 1984). "Taste of championship sweet for Cubillas, Sun". Fort Lauderdale News. p. 11C. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  8. "Sharp testifies in drug conspiracy case". Fort Lauderdale News. September 5, 1984. p. 3B. Retrieved 11 May 2017.


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