When you’re siblings with an A-League Mens veteran, football is hard to avoid.
While others may shy away, Rachelle Sotirio has embraced her inevitable footballing fate with enthusiasm.
“For as long as I can remember, Saturday mornings were spent at the local grounds with my extended family,” Sotirio told Football Canterbury.
Watching her brother Jaushua play locally at the time, Rachelle was motivated to get involved herself.
Curiosity about her older brother’s professional journey propelled her to take up in football in high school, before being lured by friend Alexandra Georgopoulos to Strathfield FC in 2016.
“It wasn’t until I saw how fulfilling it was to watch my brother progress from local grassroots to professional football in Australia that I decided I wanted to see what all the fuss is about,” she said.
“My Sundays have never been the same since joining Strathfield.”
A regular in Strathfield’s Grace Martin Trophy side for the past seven seasons, Rachelle’s attachment to her club has become inextricable in recent times.
While a French background helped her family gravitate towards the beautiful game, local clubland is where their bond has been truly forged.
“Growing up, the trips back home after each game would be filled with what should’ve happened and what we can do next game.”
Sotirio’s dad, Eric and her brother, Jaushua have gone from offering loving advice from the sidelines to now running the show in a hands-on capacity.
Left coach less mid-way through the 2022 season, the father-son team put their hands up to coach Rachelle and her teammates.
“The relationship with my coaches has improved for the better and brought us closer, it’s always a buzz discussing football in the car rides, at the dinner table, over a phone call.
“Although, when we take a loss or I don’t play well, the ride home can be pretty awkward – if I’m lucky enough to be let into the car that is!”
Family support and commitment runs deep with the Sotirios, who – until a recent move to the Indian Super League – congregated to watch Jaushua in the A-League Mens.
Fostering her passion for football to begin with, Rachelle is still inspired by the exploits of her older brother.
“We’ve witnessed the high and lows of the game through my brother and his professional football career thus far and we’ve been there through it all.
“I’d say the family coming together to support him in every game, whether it’d be in person or on TV – we’ve got our jersey on and we’re right there at kick-off.”
Family and football may seem inescapable for the Sotirios, but Rachelle, now forging her own journey, wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We win, score, draw, lose (not often), but we go through all that together and keeps me coming back every time.”
