The Greater Narellan Chamber of Commerce couldn’t have selected as its first guest speaker for 2016 anyone who better embodies the spirit of Macarthur than Brett Emerton.
The former Socceroo was a high achiever during his football career. But he was so relentessly humble there was never a chance that he would ever become a household name.
Lots of success came to Brett Emerton during his career, but the amount of fame was never commensurate with his level of achievement.
Teammates like Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill got a lot of the plaudits for the World Cup success of the Socceroos in 2006 and 2010, but doing the hard yakka in the trenches behind them was the ever reliable quiet achiever Brett Emerton.
That’s right: the boy from Macarthur, who as a player was hard working, but fast on his feet as well as between the ears.
Brett Emerton, who is 36 years of age, is bound to field a few questions on his approach to success when he takes to the microphone on Wednesday, February 10 at the Harrington Grove Country Club, where the chamber will “kick off’’ its own new season.
Emerton went from the Macarthur Rams to Sydney Olympic in the old football competition, the National Soccer League (NSL).
He took his time to both develop his game and to build a solid reputation before going to Europe – Feyenoord in Holland first and then Blackburn Rovers, where he was captain when he finally became too homesick and returned Down Under in 2011.
His last assignment was at Sydney FC, alongside the ageless wizard – at the time – Alessandro del Piero.
But hundreds of EPL and Dutch league matches had taken a toll on his back and he finally decided to hang up his boots a couple of years ago.
In his kitbag are 95 Socceroo caps, third best of all time, behind two legends, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and defender Lucas Neill.
Tim Cahill is the only one likely to catch up these three, and maybe overtake them, but “Emmo’s’’ place in Australian soccer history will be safe forever.
And while he may not be a household name, Emerton will always be seen as a legend by three football families – here, England and Holland.
Maybe a chamber member will ask him if he has any regrets at being so humble.
Here’s an educated guess at his answer: “No’’.
♦ If you would like attend the dinner function (6pm for 6.30pm) go to the chamber’s website here to book your seats.
