Boro’ wasted little time with some of our summer 2022 transfer dealings; Carl Piergianni announced as one of our first arrivals. The centre back – 28-years-old at the time – was one of three new faces (if you count Michael Bostwick) to be unveiled barely a fortnight after the 2021-2 campaign had come to an end. The player signed on a free transfer after his release from Oldham Athletic; the side that lost out to Boro’ (among others) in the battle for League Two survival. But it’s important not to judge Piergianni on his presence in a side relegated from the Football League. He was indeed the stand-out player as the Latics beat us 1-0 at the Lamex shortly before the season came to a close.
Indeed, his presence at the back looked set to prove a real asset to Steve Evans’ new-look Boro’ squad as it took shape ahead of the 2022-3 season. And with plenty of Football League playing time under his belt, the experience was there in bucket loads too. On his arrival, Piergianni said: “I am delighted to be here… I will always give 100% commitment, that willingness to die for the shirt and I hope to spur my teammates on to fight to win every game. I am looking forward to meeting the supporters and getting started.”
Carl Piergianni: Before Boro’
As mentioned, the Latics weren’t Piergianni’s first Football League rodeo. Prior to his two-and-a-half years at Boundary Park (the first six months of which was on loan), there was a two-and-a-half year stint at Salford City; playing his part in the Ammies’ National League playoff success in 2019. It was also the culmination of his own personal development. As his club rose into the League for the first time, so too did Piergianni. And it was a path that had started in 2009 when he started out as a youth team player at Peterborough United.
At Posh, Piergianni’s first taste of senior football came out on loan at Spalding United. He then found inclusion in many first team squads towards the back end of the 2009-10 campaign; something that earned him a one-year development contract. The following season saw him make his Football League debut, before going out on loan to Altrincham. But it wasn’t going to be at London Road. In summer 2011, Stockport County moved in to sign him on a free transfer as they sought to rebuild after relegation from the Football League.
Piergianni then went on to have spells at Corby Town and Boston United. At the latter, he’d make more than 100 appearances over a period lasting nearly four years. That came to an end in January 2017 when the chance to sign for Australian side South Melbourne came about. Mind you, his time Down Under wasn’t a long one. Five months after he swapped Boston for Bondi (yes, yes – different Aussie city), he was back. In doing so, he’d accumulate more than 100 Football League outings in his time at Salford and Oldham.
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