Willy Giummarra

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Willy Giummarra

| image = Willy Giummarra photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg

| image_size = 205px

| caption = Giummarra in 2022

| fullname = William Giummarra

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|8|26}}{{Cite web |title=Willie Giummarra |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/willie-giummarra-34497/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=11v11.com}}

| birth_place = Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

| height =

| position = Midfielder / Striker

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1994–1995

| youthclubs1 = UAB Blazers

| years1 = 1996–1997 | clubs1 = Philadelphia KiXX (indoor) | caps1 = 16| goals1 = 10

| years2 = 1996–1997 | clubs2 = St. Louis Ambush (indoor) | caps2 = 11 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 1996–1997 | clubs3 = Toronto Shooting Stars (indoor) | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 12

| years4 = 1996 | clubs4 = Montreal Impact | caps4 = 6| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 1997–1998 | clubs5 = Montreal Impact (indoor)| caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 4

| years6 = 1997–1998 | clubs6 = Harrisburg Heat (indoor)| caps6 = 44| goals6 = 28

| years7 = 1997–1998 | clubs7 = Darlington F.C. | caps7 = 3 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 1998 | clubs8 = Toronto Lynx | caps8 = 5| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 1998–1999 | clubs9 = Florida ThunderCats (indoor) | caps9 = 12| goals9 = 11

| years10 = 1999–2000 | clubs10 = York Region Shooters| caps10 = | goals10 =

| years11 = 2000–2001 | clubs11 = Toronto ThunderHawks (indoor)| caps11 = 31 | goals11 = 15

| years12 = 2001 | clubs12 = Toronto Olympians | caps12 = | goals12 =

| years13 = 2002–2003 | clubs13 = Vaughan Sun Devils | caps13 = | goals13 =

| years14 = 2004 | clubs14 = Toronto Croatia | caps14 = | goals14 =

| years15 = 2004 | clubs15 = Brampton Hitmen | caps15 = | goals15 =

| totalcaps =

| totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 = 2022

| managerclubs1 = Toronto Falcons

}}

Willy Giummarra (born August 26, 1971) is a Canadian former soccer player who played as a forward and midfielder. Most recently, he was the head coach of Canadian Soccer League side Toronto Falcons.

Career

= College career =

Giummarra began playing at the college level in 1994 with the UAB Blazers where in his debut season was named the newcomer of the year and first-team selection.{{Cite news |last=Stephens |first=Tim |date=10 November 1994 |title=Count on parity in GMC soccer |pages=33 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald}} In his sophomore season, he assisted the team in securing the Conference USA title and for the second consecutive season was named to the first-team selection.{{Cite news |date=9 November 1995 |title=UAB's Getman coach of the year |pages=E2 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald}} Throughout his tenure with UAB, he finished as the top goal scorer in both seasons.{{Cite news |date=12 December 1995 |title=Update - Briefly |pages=D2 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald}}{{Cite news |date=20 January 1996 |title=Giummarra named to Umbro team |pages=D5 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald}} In 1996, he was named to the Umbro Select team which featured all-stars from across all colleges.

= Montreal Impact =

He began his transition to the professional level by being drafted in the 1996 USL A-League draft by the Montreal Impact.{{Cite news |date=5 December 1995 |title=No Canada Not-so-Golden Barr, pals miss cut for PGA Tour play |pages=C4 |work=Montreal Gazette}} He would ultimately secure a permanent deal with the club and appear in 6 matches in his debut season.{{Cite web |title=Willy Giummarra soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/stats/p-giummwil001 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.statscrew.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=30 March 1996 |title=Impact players strut stuff |pages=21 |work=Montreal Gazette}}

= Indoor career =

In the winter of 1996, he played at the indoor level in the National Professional Soccer League by signing with the expansion franchise Toronto Shooting Stars.{{Cite news |date=19 October 1996 |title=Soccer Stars lose in debut |pages=C7 |work=Toronto Star}} He would make his debut for the club on October 18, 1996, against St. Louis Ambush. He would further contribute by recording several goals against Buffalo Blizzard which marked the club's first victory on October 27, 1996.{{Cite news |last=Da Costa |first=Norman |date=29 October 1996 |title=Stars soar to first victory in fast-paced home debut |pages=D12 |work=Toronto Star}} His time in Toronto was short-lived as the organization experienced several financial issues resulting in Giummarra not showing up for a match against Edmonton Drillers.{{Cite news |last=Ireland |first=Joanne |date=17 December 1996 |title=Getting a kick out of playing with the Drillers |pages=D3 |work=Edmonton Journal}} He was ultimately traded to Philadelphia KiXX when a change occurred in the coaching staff.{{Cite news |date=28 December 1996 |title=Cleaning House |pages=24 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}{{Cite news |last=Allaway |first=Roger |date=4 January 1997 |title=Homecoming night for a winner in town |pages=29 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}}

For the remainder of the 1996-97 season, he was traded to St. Louis Ambush in exchange for a second-round draft choice.{{Cite news |date=27 February 1997 |title=Ambush Pick Up Philadelphia Forward |pages=28 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} He helped St. Louis clinch a postseason berth by winning their division and reaching the conference finals.{{Cite news |last=Schildroth |first=Keith |date=23 April 1997 |title=With Doran Out, Bush Face Battle |pages=2D |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} In total, he appeared in 11 matches and recorded 2 goals.{{Cite web |title=Willy Giummarra {{!}} SoccerStats.us |url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/willy-giummarra/ |access-date=2017-06-02 |website=soccerstats.us}} After the conclusion of the season, he was released from his contract.{{Cite news |date=31 January 1998 |title=Free Willy |pages=22 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}

Following his brief stint abroad in England, he returned to his former club Montreal Impact where he played with the club's indoor team for the initial portion of the 1997-98 indoor season.{{Cite news |date=2 November 1997 |title=Soccer - NPSL |pages=B5 |work=Montreal Gazette}} His second stint with Montreal was rather short as he was waived by the team on January 16, 1998.{{Cite news |date=16 January 1998 |title=Deals Soccer - National Professional Soccer League |pages=B4 |work=Nanaimo Daily News}} His release stemmed from the team being re-organization by head coach Johan Arnio.

For the remainder of the indoor season, he signed with Harrisburg Heat as a free agent.{{Cite news |last=Tull |first=Bill |date=25 January 1998 |title=Giummarra right at home in Harrisburg |pages=C4 |work=The Sentinel}} He assisted in securing a postseason berth for the club.{{Cite news |last=Dewees |first=Jeff |date=10 April 1998 |title=Heat kick blow-out aside |pages=C3 |work=York Daily Record}} He signed a multi-year deal with Harrisburg on October 13, 1998.{{Cite news |date=13 October 1998 |title=Heat agrees to terms with Giummarra |pages=C4 |work=The Sentinel}} Though he extended his contract with Harrisburg he was still traded to league rivals Florida ThunderCats in exchange for Marcello Fontana, Leonel Pernia, and for cash consideration on February 26, 1999.{{Cite news |date=26 February 1999 |title=Heat makes trade with Florida |pages=C4 |work=The Sentinel}}

He played his final indoor season with expansion side Toronto ThunderHawks for the 2000-01 indoor season.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/thunderhawks-set-flight-on-friday-1.253385|title=Thunderhawks set flight on Friday|last=Davidson|first=Neil|newspaper=CBC Sports|access-date=2016-12-07}}{{Cite news |date=20 October 2000 |title=Soccer: Indoor soccer back in T.O |pages=B4 |work=Brantford Expositor}} Throughout the season, he appeared in 31 matches and recorded 15 goals for Toronto.

= England =

Once the indoor season concluded in late 1997 he played abroad in the English third division with Darlington F.C.{{Cite news |date=29 September 1997 |title=Strikers off target in bore draw |pages=49 |work=Nottingham Evening Post}} He would make his debut for the club on September 2, 1997, against Scarborough F.C.{{Cite web |title=Willie Giumarra {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} No Club {{!}} 1996-1998 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10858 |access-date=2016-12-07 |website=www.soccerbase.com}} In total, he would appear in three matches for Darlington.

= Toronto Lynx =

He returned to the A-League in 1998 to sign with his hometown club the Toronto Lynx.{{Cite web|url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/william-giummarra/|title=William Giummarra {{!}} SoccerStats.us|website=soccerstats.us|access-date=2017-06-02}} He made his debut on June 7, 1998, against Long Island Rough Riders.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/lynx9813.htm|title=Toronto Lynx vs Long Island Rough Riders|last=Glover|first=Robin|website=www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|access-date=2016-12-07}} In his single season with Toronto, he appeared in 5 matches.

= CPSL =

In 1999, he played in the Southern Ontario-based Canadian Professional Soccer League with York Region Shooters.{{Cite web |date=22 September 1999 |title=CPSL Announces Its All-Star Team |url=http://cpsl.org/releases/1999/1999september22.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020329034054/http://cpsl.org/releases/1999/1999september22.htm |archive-date=29 March 2002 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=cpsl.org}} In his debut season with the Vaughan-based club, he was selected to the CPSL All-Star roster against the National Training Centre squad. He re-signed with York Region for the 2000 season where he was awarded the league's MVP award.{{Cite news |last=Rumleski |first=Kathy |date=2 October 2000 |title=Croatia bags Primus Cup by upsetting Olympians |work=London Free Press}}{{Cite news |date=3 October 2000 |title=Wolves' Ianiero named CPSL coach of the year |pages=C1 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} After two seasons with York Region, he was traded to Toronto Olympians for the 2001 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpsl.org/movement.htm|title=CPSL - Player Movement|date=2001-07-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010708064043/http://www.cpsl.org/movement.htm|archive-date=July 8, 2001|access-date=2020-04-04}}{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=Jim |date=20 June 2001 |title=Wolves hang on to earn draw with Supra: Young Roma squad learning as it goes |pages=C1 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} During his tenure with the Olympians, he was selected twice to the all-star team which faced the Morocco U-23 and Portuguese side C.S. Marítimo.{{Cite web |date=6 July 2001 |title=CPSL Selects vs. Morocco |url=http://cpsl.org/releases/2001/2001july6.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011224124613/http://cpsl.org/releases/2001/2001july6.htm |archive-date=24 December 2001 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=cpsl.org}}{{Cite web |date=21 July 2001 |title=CPSL All Stars announced |url=http://cpsl.org/releases/2001/2001july21b.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011224124644/http://cpsl.org/releases/2001/2001july21b.htm |archive-date=24 December 2001 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=cpsl.org}}

In 2002, he signed with league rivals Vaughan Sun Devils.{{Cite web |last=Glover |first=Robin |title=August 9, 2002 CPSL Vaughan Sun Devils vs St Catharines Roma Wolves (by Rocket Robin) |url=http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports02/02cpsl62.htm |access-date=2016-12-07 |website=www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com}} He re-signed with Vaughan for the 2003 season where the club reached the CPSL Championship final.{{Cite web |title=2003 Vaughan roster |url=http://www.cpsl.ca/gallery/vaughan_sundevils.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030822034258/http://www.cpsl.ca/gallery/vaughan_sundevils.asp |archive-date=22 August 2003 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=cpsl.ca}}{{Cite web |title=CPSL 1998 to 2005 |url=https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CPSL_1998_to_2005.pdf |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=canadiansoccerleague.ca}} Following his two-year tenure with Vaughan, he moved on to play with Toronto Croatia in 2004.{{Cite news |last=Waddell |first=Dave |date=7 June 2004 |title=Windsor wins debut: Midfield dominance pays off for Border Stars |pages=C4 |work=Windsor Star}} His stint with Croatia was short-lived as he played the remainder of the season with the Brampton Hitmen.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpsl.org/gallery/brampton_hitmen.asp|title=CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League|date=2004-08-31|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831093455/http://www.cpsl.org/gallery/brampton_hitmen.asp|archive-date=August 31, 2004|access-date=2016-12-07}}{{Cite web |date=8 July 2004 |title=A CFL Tiger-Cats Assist for Hamilton Thunder |url=https://www.cpsl.ca/news_news_322.html |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=www.cpsl.ca}}

= Amateur level =

In 2008, he won the Masters Eastern National Club Championship with Markham Lightning men's over-35 soccer team.{{Cite news |last=Hayakawa |first=Mike |date=23 October 2008 |title=Lightning strikes national title |work=Markham Economist and Sun}} He helped Markham successfully defend their title the following season.{{Cite news |last=Hayakawa |first=Mike |date=14 October 2009 |title=Men repeat as Eastern Canadian champs |work=Markham Economist and Sun}}

Managerial career

In 2022, he was named the head coach for the Toronto Falcons in the Canadian Soccer League.{{Cite web |last=Adamson |first=Stan |date=May 24, 2022 |title=High Expectations for Toronto Falcons |url=https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/high-expectations-for-toronto-falcons/ |access-date=May 25, 2022 |website=Canadian Soccer League |language=en-US}}