Defender Rikki Smith has returned to Inglewood United for a third time after agreeing terms for the 2018 National Premier Leagues season.   Smith, 30, will add to coach Andy Keogh’s defensive options and compete with David Cyrus, Scott Blackmore and Scott Robertson for a spot in the eleven.

“It’s really exciting to be back at Inglewood,” said Smith, who initially joined the club in 2009 and returned again in 2015 to take his Inglewood game tally to 166 appearances.   “This is where I’ve played most of my football and I could not be happier about re-joining the club.”

“Andy and I spoke a few times during the off-season about the prospect of coming back to Inglewood and the vision he and the club have.   Although I loved my time at ECU Joondalup the opportunity to return to a club as great as Inglewood and play with so many close friends was too hard to refuse.”

Smith has spent the past few weeks becoming reacquainted with his Inglewood teammates on the training track.   “The focus has been on fitness and conditioning so far but as the start of the season gets closer we’ll move into more of the technical side of the game.”

“There’s a real buzz amongst the group.   The boys did brilliantly last season and in the end were unlucky not to finish with a trophy.   Our goal for 2018 is straight forward – to go one better and win the league … and I hope to play a big part in bringing home that elusive title.”