Rleague Interview: Eels Legend Eric Grothe Snr (audio)

[Hellsy]

Parramatta legend Eric Grothe Snr was yesterday voted onto the Parramatta Eels Football Club board and caught up with Rleague for an exclusive interview following the result.

Grothe came second in the voting with 201 votes behind Brett Kenny and along with Ray Price and businessman John Chidiac was successful in gaining four of the seven seats on the Parramatta Football Club club.

Grothe described the result of the election as a good result and that the fans will be most happy. Grothe said the wave of support prompted him to run for the board.

The Leagues Club election Grothe believes is most important and needs to win seats there so the ticket he was involved with can take full control of the Eels.

Grothe says that anyone who gets a season ticket should become a member of the Parramatta Football Club and get the supporters more involved with the Eels.

Grothe described Denis Fitzgerald as an astute businessman and said he can work alongside him.

During the 1980's Grothe played in all four of Parramatta's successful premierships and whilst he said all four were special to his heart, he said the first one the Eels won in 1981 remains his favourite of the four successes.

Grothe said that the Eels need to be strong in their front office highlighting what his former coach Jack Gibson used to always say about the strength of a club and Grothe said that Parramatta needs to purchase a few big name players having a balance of big names and juniors coming through the ranks.

Everyone has to be on the same page according to Grothe if they are to be successful into the future and he's very confident that the Eels are firmly on the up from here.

Grothe paid tribute to several people that helped out with his election campaign.

Grothe finished up by saying that the Eels meant plenty to him and he was very fortunate to play in an era where they were successful and winning premierships. He wants the Parramatta players of the future to taste the same success that the teams he played in enjoyed.

Click on the link and there is an embedded You Tube audio
http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=32055

 

[Hellsy]

For those of us that were up in Sterlo's for awhile... this is the interview that that guy pulled Eric over to the side for.
The wind on the microphone is a tell-tale!!!

 

[mickdo]

For those of us that were up in Sterlo's for awhile... this is the interview that that guy pulled Eric over to the side for.
The wind on the microphone is a tell-tale!!!

Yeah, it was a little wierd at the end hearing the club staff trying to help out the guy who had collapsed too...

 

[yy_cheng]

Grothe finished up by saying that the Eels meant plenty to him and he was very fortunate to play in an era where they were successful and winning premierships. He wants the Parramatta players of the future to taste the same success that the teams he played in enjoyed.

Hope so, what was that count on the number of ex-parra players who went on to win a premiership elsewhere?