It’s been a long time coming, but Tarek Elrich says he’s eager to do his bit for football in Western Sydney after last month’s announcement that he will re-join the club for the next two seasons.
Elrich was one of the Wanderers very first signings back in 2012 and has Western Sydney running through his veins after growing up and playing his junior football in the region.
The fullback grew up watching the NSL and supporting his brother while he played for Parramatta Power before embarking on his own football journey at a grassroots level with Parramatta Melita Eagles.
Looking back on the growth of football in the Western Sydney region, Elrich credits much of it to the introduction of the Wanderers and believes he has a huge role to play in being a role model to people from his local cultural community.
“In those first few seasons when Western Sydney were introduced, I feel football in that region has grown so much and I’ve obviously missed it being in Adelaide,” Elrich reflected.
“I’m really glad to be part of it now, in Western Sydney, where it all started for me.
“I have a lot of cousins and friends who look up to me and want to be like me. Now to be able to come watch me week-in and week-out, hopefully, I can help them achieve their goals and hopefully one day they can be professional athletes as well.
“It’s all about doing my bit for the footballing nation in Western Sydney and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Being part of the club’s inaugural squad is still one of Elrich’s favourite memories from his first stint with the club, but the one thing he can’t let go of is that Grand Final loss at the end of the 2012/13 season.
“It was a long time ago now, but for me, being one of the first players signed to my hometown team was my greatest memory,” said Elrich.
“There’s one thing though I can’t really get over and that’s losing that Grand Final.
“It still haunts me to this day and I just feel that I didn’t get to play the role that I feel I could have had in that Grand Final.
“That is something I will never forget and hopefully we can turn things around once I put the Red & Black hoops on again.”
