Another Delaware Valley native comes home to the Philadelphia Union, and the KYW Philly Soccer Show has him for you!

Union defender Jeff Parke joins KYW‘s Greg Orlandini and PSP writer Eli Pearlman-Storch as their guest this week.

The Downingtown, FC DELCO, and Drexel alumnus joins two fellow locals—assistant coach Jim Curtin (Oreland, Pa.; Villanova University) and defender Chris Albright (Philadelphia; Penn Charter School) on the team.

Greg and Eli talk with Jeff about his desire to see out his career in Philadelphia and the importance of bringing his family home.  They also look at his expanded role as a leader for the Union. One of the things the team lacked in their tough 2012 season was veteran leadership, and Parke says he hopes to provide that.

Greg and Eli also look at the team as they prepare to face off against Sporting Kansas City in the home opener at PPL Park. KC was the class of the Eastern Conference, in first place for most of the season in 2012. While they had some high profile departures in Roger Espinoza and Kei Kamara, Sporting is still a strong team.

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To listen to the pod, click on the link above or visit the Philly Soccer Show iTunes page.