Despite a 5’ 2” frame that often got knockedaround by opponents, John Farnese displayed a tenacity that helpedhim become the third Briton soccer player to achieve MIAAAll-Conference first-team status at least twice in a career. Johnearned MIAA All-Conference first-team honors in 1984 and 1987, andearned second-team honors in 1985 and 1986.
“John was very small, but he had great ball control,and he never gave up on a ball in the (penalty) box,” saidRalph Teagle, who coached the Britons in 1984 and 1985. “Hewas able to create magic in the penalty box.”
He added, “John wasn’t a selfish player. Youcan tell that by the number of assists. He was a good teammate whowouldn’t let the team get down.”
Twenty years after he graduated, John’s 57 goals and129 career points still stand as Albion records. He ranks fourth onthe MIAA career lists for goals (46) and points (106) scored inleague competition.
John scored 13 goals and four assists in 1984, lifting theBritons to an 11-4-2 season which included a third-place finish inthe MIAA with a 7-3-2 league record. Albion again won 11 matches in1985 with John scoring 14 goals and providing eightassists.
He continued to play competitive soccer in the metroDetroit area until 2005.
A member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, John graduatedfrom Albion with a degree in physics, and he earnedbachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering fromWayne State University. He currently serves as an engineeringmanager for Warren Screw Products. John and his wife, Carolina,have two daughters, Talia and Giovani. They live inMacomb.
