I grew up around the corner from Belmore Sports Ground and as a 5 year old all my extended family tried to convince me to become a Bulldogs or Dragons fan. One day my father took me to my first footy game in the early 80's and Balmain Tigers were playing the Bulldogs. You were able to run on to the field after the game and meet or get an autograph or simply pat the players in the back for those who remember that back than. Ever since that moment I found my team and became a Balmain Tigers die hard and since than I am just as passionate about the Wests Tigers and even better I've convinced my 4 younger siblings and now my children, nephews and nieces all to become passionate Wests Tigers fans in the Bulldogs heartland.
Did you start supporting the Wests Tigers before the merger or after?
- Thread starter Tacky
- Start date
sideline_eye
New member
Wests since I was 12 years old in 1961\. So many years of hope and ultimately disappointment. 2005 was some compensation though. In my study I have a framed Magpies jersey signed by all of the greats such as Tommy Ridiculous, Noel Kelly, Keith Holman, Trevor Cogger, Peter Dimond, Kel O'Shea, Jim Cody, Bob Cooper, Les Boyd, John Dorahy….. and the list goes on. It is my most prized possession, even surpassing my framed and signed photo of the 1948 Invincibles led by Don Bradman (also have 2 signed photos by Bradman).
G
Guest
Guest
Supported Balmain from 1987\. I've got an old genuine leather Steeden football lying around somewhere with Balmain's 1988 Grand Final team's signatures on it. Wests Tigers all the way these days even though the club and team are deep in a hole at the moment.
stevied
Well-known member
I've always liked the mighty Balmain Tigers since I heard a radio news report announcing that Balmain had upset Souths in the 1969 Grand Final. I was 9 years old then and I supported them despite growing up Avalon, in the heart of Manly territory. My favourite era was the one involving Ellery Hanley, Garry Jack, Ben Elias and Wayne Pearce. Of course, the 2005 premiership was incredibly exciting. The underdog, young Tigers came out of nowhere to run everyone else off the park. Hodgson, Prince, Marshall and Farah - what a set of play makers!
Wests fan. It was kind of weird because I grew up in Bankstown and my brother supported the Bulldogs.
He dragged me to a doggies game, the team they played was Wests. I went for them because of that initially, but also because I was born in Campbelltown and I identified with the area. It stuck from there. This was around 92, when we made the top 5 with Jason Taylor playing for us.
My wife ironically is from Glebe and Identified with Leichaert and Balmain. We both went for the WT before we met so it all worked out well.
He dragged me to a doggies game, the team they played was Wests. I went for them because of that initially, but also because I was born in Campbelltown and I identified with the area. It stuck from there. This was around 92, when we made the top 5 with Jason Taylor playing for us.
My wife ironically is from Glebe and Identified with Leichaert and Balmain. We both went for the WT before we met so it all worked out well.
Supported Balmain since 1950 when my uncle took me to my first game at LO. Used to live in Balmain in those days, around the corner from the Munro's (old man Munro used to put up the scores at LO for years), who boarded out players, as you had to live in the area to play during that time. Keith Barnes and Geoff Hawkey used to board there from around 1955\. I used to wash their cars and Keith gave me one of his Balmain jumpers and Hawkey some of his socks - thought I was the ace at the time. Still have them and am still trying to keep the moths away.
Staunch WT supporter these days of course and hope we can get back up the ladder where we should be.
Staunch WT supporter these days of course and hope we can get back up the ladder where we should be.
Really interesting to see all the different perspectives from supporters.
As for myself, I started casually following the Wests Tigers in 2004/5 after I just picked them because I liked them. I was the only person in my family to support the Tigers. Grew up watching Benji, Hodgson, Payten and Heighington. I watched the 05 Grand Final on TV and thought it was the best thing ever, I even started trying to replicate the Benji flick. Now it's 13 years later and I'm the most passionate I've ever been about the Tigers.
As for myself, I started casually following the Wests Tigers in 2004/5 after I just picked them because I liked them. I was the only person in my family to support the Tigers. Grew up watching Benji, Hodgson, Payten and Heighington. I watched the 05 Grand Final on TV and thought it was the best thing ever, I even started trying to replicate the Benji flick. Now it's 13 years later and I'm the most passionate I've ever been about the Tigers.
Spud_Murphy
New member
@ said:
Who was your uncle shakey?
Magpie_Magic
Well-known member
@ said:
No doubt former Balmain fans make up the majority of WT fans and probably even more so on the forum. I guess Wests fans went through too much getting rorted of comps in 63 and 78 and then twice cut from the competition in 83 and 84\. Not so much a problem with the WT for so many of us had had enough by Super League.
But there are many former Wests fans out there and now that the maggies get more of a mention in the media like the footy show tonight at Lidcombe oval many more may get back into it adding the the supporter group.
For me I followed the maggies snce 75 but only in 78 did I really get into it. Back then mum offered to take me to 3 Lidcombe oval games my first being the infamous game against Manly in May. Back then not many sides came from nowhere it was a bit like a clubby juniors competition with the same clubs and rorts up there every year so I really got into what seemed to me as a kid like a passionate fight against establishment. Anyway Wests won every home game and the minor premiership and were rorted out of a premiership that year. After that everything was a bit of a hard act to follow.
But in 2005 the way we won it that year from nowhere with that style was just what I needed. Looking back that was no ordinary premiership.
I have been a Magpie fan since 1974\. My dad is a Balmain man since before WW2.
When the merger occurred I was really worried if I was going to be able to get onboard. Old habits an all. Anyway round 1 Vs Bronco. Skando grabs the ball from a bomb scores the try. I jump to my feet and scream "go you tigers"
Dad just started laughing at me, and suddenly I knew it was all going to be okay :slight_smile:
When the merger occurred I was really worried if I was going to be able to get onboard. Old habits an all. Anyway round 1 Vs Bronco. Skando grabs the ball from a bomb scores the try. I jump to my feet and scream "go you tigers"
Dad just started laughing at me, and suddenly I knew it was all going to be okay :slight_smile:
Bengaliwolf
New member
I was a Wests fan since about 1989\. We lived close to Orana Park and I could hear the cheering every weekend. I asked my dad if we could go and he took me even though he had no interest in league.
I didn't mind the merger as long as I still had a team to follow. I tried to work out who I would support if Wests were to fold and I wasn't happy with any other choices. That first game at Campbelltown gave me great hope. A draw with Brisbane… This team might be alright.
My only complaint is the lack of quality games at Campbelltown. I want to see them play the Bulldogs or so Dragons there but these games are always at ANZ with nowhere near capacity crowds. The WT seemed to have turned their back on the massive opportunity for expansion into south west Sydney instead favouring staying in the inner west.
I didn't mind the merger as long as I still had a team to follow. I tried to work out who I would support if Wests were to fold and I wasn't happy with any other choices. That first game at Campbelltown gave me great hope. A draw with Brisbane… This team might be alright.
My only complaint is the lack of quality games at Campbelltown. I want to see them play the Bulldogs or so Dragons there but these games are always at ANZ with nowhere near capacity crowds. The WT seemed to have turned their back on the massive opportunity for expansion into south west Sydney instead favouring staying in the inner west.
mike
Well-known member
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