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Wanderers defeated a spirited Blacktown Spartans 2-0 at Blacktown International Sportspark last night with second half goals from Mark Bridge and Ricky Zucco.

On a bitterly cold night, more than 4000 fans turned out for the free entry match and Elrich said the crowd figure was another sign of the growing bond. 

“It’s just a pre-season game but you saw, the fans were chanting, throwing flares. It’s great. You feel like you’re playing an actual comp game,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“It’s only the second game we’ve played and we’re loving it. There’s a massive hype. I’m buzzing for it. Everyone I speak to in the streets it’s a massive buzz. My cousins and friends, they can’t wait for it.

“Out in the west is where a lot of professional footballers have been developed. It’s good to see some of our local talent can play for our local team. It gives the kids inspiration to represent where they come from.”

Elrich, 25, is one of the faces of the club. The former Newcastle Jets favourite said it was a dream come true to be in a position to promote the club through the media in a region he calls home.

“I don’t mind that challenge. In Newcastle it was a similar thing," he said. "I do like working with the people - not so much to support me, but to support my team-mates.

“When you’re down, and your backs are against the wall, the crowd come in and they push you over the line and get you that result.

“In season three at Newcastle, we didn’t have the greatest of teams but the support was great and it got us through that year, and I don’t see why we can’t do that in Sydney with the massive support base and members.

“It’s been our first day [of the membership offers] and we’ve already got close to a thousand. And my Twitter page was going nuts with people saying they’ve got their ticket at 1pm [when memberships opened].”

With six nephews playing locally, Elrich feels he and the Wanderers players are part of the local community already with a few players are doing community work on their day off. 

"I think people appreciate that and it’ll create a strong bond between Western Sydney Wanderers and the fans," he said. 

 Elrich’s Saturday morning is now about ferrying his nephews to local games. It has given him an appetite and he made this offer to one Sydney club that’s close to his heart.

“I came from Parramatta Eagles as a kid so I’d love to help them out," he said. "Get those kids involved so the parents will have no choice but to come to the games.

“I don’t need an invitation to come!"

Meanwhile Blacktown City Mayor Alan Pendleton told au.fourfourtwo.com his council was desperate to keep the Wanderers at Blacktown International Sportspark.

The football venue, built for the 2000 Olympics, holds around 7000 fans with approximately 1500 seated.

The club currently trains at the facility’s main football ground which features an excellent playing surface and is located adjacent to former Socceroo Jim Fraser’s goalkeeping academy.

The current training arrangement ends in September but the council would like to offer the club a chance to house both their training facilities and administration at the boutique stadium.

“They train here but they still need administrative accommodation and we’re looking to see how we can fix them up with that," he said. 

“We have facilities currently that are used but we’re in negotiation with those users about vacating part of it to accommodate Western Sydney Wanderers.

“We’d love to have them here,” added the Mayor, himself a former grade footballer. “One hundred percent.

“It’s in my blood. And while we welcome all sports but particularly an A-League side. There is a great demand for an A-League team in western Sydney.”

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