He's got nothing left to prove in football, but Mark Bridge has shown that he is willing to give back to the game.
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Reigning Illawarra Premier League champions Corrimal have shown a united front after all players - including former A-League star Bridge - agreed to take to the field for free in 2020.
It's been a difficult financial year for Football South Coast clubs, however, the Rangers have retained the majority of their squad when the IPL returns next month.
Japanese duo Kenta Fujishiro and Taira Yoshimura have headed home, but the Rangers are buoyed that former Western Sydney Wanderers striker Bridge will stick around this year.
The club announced Bridge's signing in February and he is set to form a dynamic attacking trio alongside Van Elia and Tarrawanna recruit Ricky Goodchild.
Bridge will likely make his Corrimal debut next month after Football South Coast released framework for the 2020 senior men's competition. Players will return to the field for a three-week Bert Bampton Cup in early July before the shortened IPL season gets under way.
Corrimal coach Rob Jonovski said Bridge's commitment was a massive boost for his side, and the wider football community.
"A lot of people won't believe me but Mark Bridge is coming down and will play for no money," he said.
"He will be massive for the league. We will try play some Saturday night games so people can come out and see him. There's a lot of Western Sydney Wanderers fans and kids who will want to see him.
"At the beginning of the season, we had a very well balanced squad. My two Japanese guys have left, there was no work during that [football shutdown period]. I lost two critical positions there, a centre back and midfielder. I had prepared my squad to a tee. There is still a lot of quality but there are a couple of kids who will get their first grade debut this year. I spoke to my players one by one and told them there was no money. But at the end of the day, they just want to play football."
He will be massive for the league. We will try play some Saturday night games so people can come out and see him.
- Rob Jonovski, on Bridge
Bridge played more than 250 A-League games and represented the Socceroos during an illustrious career.
The 34-year-old told the Mercury in March that the lure of winning and mateship were key reasons why he came out of retirement.
"I didn't think I'd miss the game that much. You miss the change room, you miss the banter. You miss the competitiveness and the thrills of the win," he said.
"As much as you don't like it at the time, you miss the disappointment of the losses and where you can improve too. I'm looking forward to getting back into it.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've loved getting out on the field and playing. If you don't want to win and don't want to get better, there's something wrong. That goes in football and life as well."
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