NORTH EAST Stars have signed former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Leslie ‘Tiger’ Fitzpatrick and a free agent, Jamaican striker Sean Fraser, for the 2010 season.
Fitzpatrick spent part of the 2008 season with North East Stars, and he will be re-uniting with his former national team-mate, and now club Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brent Sancho.
“I have known Tiger for a long time and played both alongside him and against him,” said Sancho. “He has a great first touch and superb work rate. He will be a popular addition to the team.”
The 31-year-old Fitzpatrick, a former St Mary’s College and Columbia University standout, have the experience of 26 national appearances, at the “senior” level, from 2004 to 2007. He had stints for a number of clubs, locally and in the United States, including A-League teams Cincinnati Riverhawks (2002), Columbus Shooting Stars (2003) and Atlanta Silverbacks (2004), MLS squad Real Salt Lake (2005-2006), United Soccer League (USL) team Puerto Rico Islanders (2006), W Connection (in the 2007 Pro League) and USL First Division team Rochester Rhinos (2008-2009).
Fraser is a 27-year-old who previously played for his native clubs Harbour View (2000-2004) and Hazard United (2004-2006) before moving to Miami FC in the USL First Division from 2006-2008, where he netted 11 goals in 68 games.
He had a brief loan stint in Boavista, Brazil before moving to the Puerto Rico Islanders in January 2009 — he netted three goals in 23 appearances.
Fraser has also played in the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championships in New Zealand and the 2001 FIFA World Youth (Under-20) Championships. But he has struggled at the ‘senior’ level, having only earned three international caps.