Joe Scally Signs a Pro Soccer Contract at the Age of 15
New York Youth Soccer News: His mother Margaret also made soccer news when she was 15 years old.
“It is a dream come true,” says Scally.
New York City FC signed Joe Scally, who turned 15 on New Year’s Eve, to his first pro contract. The right defender had spent much of the Major League Soccer preseason with the first team in Florida, California, and Mexico and is one of the youngest ever to sign with MLS in its 23-year history.
Joe first registered in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) when he was six years old. He played for Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams Sachem Starburst, Sachem Falcons, Sachem Lynxes, Sachem Destroyers and the Mastic Destroyers. He also competed for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP).
Joe’s mother, the former Margaret Peragine, also made news when she was 15 years old as she played on the LIJSL’s Sachem Tomahawks, who won the 1987 Patricia Louise Masotto Cup as Girls-Under-16 national champions.
Joe, who has also competed on the United States Boys-Under-17 Youth National Team, will finish out the school year at Sachem North High School before starting full-time training with the seniors in the summer.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Joe said. “I’ve wanted to be a professional soccer player ever since I was a little kid and to get to do it right here at home in New York, at this club, makes it extra special. It was an easy decision, there are so many great professional coaches and players here who can help me improve every aspect of my game. I played other sports growing up but I always came back to soccer as I really love the sport.”
Joe has been playing three years up with the NYCFC’s Under-18/19s. Six academy players spent parts of the preseason with NYCFC’s first team.
“Joe has been one of the top performers in the academy for the past few seasons and represented US Soccer at U-15 and U-17 level,” explained NYCFC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna. “He has all of the attributes we look for in a right back: he’s strong in defense and can support in attack to help create chances from wide areas.”
Photo Credit: NYCFC.
From left to right, members of Joe’s family: sister Anna, father John, mother Margaret, Joe Scally and NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira.
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: With over 100,000 youth soccer players–both boys and girls–and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) reaches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
