Magpie_Magic
Well-known member
Jimmy Craig won premierships with both famous early player.
Did you start supporting the Wests Tigers before the merger or after?
- Thread starter Tacky
- Start date
MightyMaggy
New member
In 1948, My father took me to my first Western Suburbs Magpies game at Pratten Park, Ashfield. We used to arrive before the Third Grade match, which started at 12 noon. We always sat on the western side of the ground on half-way in the back row of seats. There was a group of adults, who became friends, including Big Ben, who lived in Church Street Lidcombe, his two adult sons, Ray and Anthony, and Frank from Haberfield. Keith Holman and his family often sat in front of us, so, naturally, he was my first football hero.
I played football for Auburn United Under 18’s in 1958, when Lidcombe United won the Premiership. Lidcombe Oval was our home ground, before the Magpies moved there in 1967.
I met my wife in 1961, whose family was steeped in Magpies tradition. Her Aunty was the daughter of Ernie McFayden, who was a member of the businessman’s group, that formed the original Club. Her Uncle played for the Magpies First Grade in 1930, when they won the Premiership. After he returned from country teaching in 1934, he was in the First Grade team that won their second Premiership. Her cousin played for the Magpies for a few years in the late Fifties.
More recently the family started to attend matches again and are all Tigers supporters. In fact, one grandson now works for the Wets Tigers Club.
I played football for Auburn United Under 18’s in 1958, when Lidcombe United won the Premiership. Lidcombe Oval was our home ground, before the Magpies moved there in 1967.
I met my wife in 1961, whose family was steeped in Magpies tradition. Her Aunty was the daughter of Ernie McFayden, who was a member of the businessman’s group, that formed the original Club. Her Uncle played for the Magpies First Grade in 1930, when they won the Premiership. After he returned from country teaching in 1934, he was in the First Grade team that won their second Premiership. Her cousin played for the Magpies for a few years in the late Fifties.
More recently the family started to attend matches again and are all Tigers supporters. In fact, one grandson now works for the Wets Tigers Club.
Club_Sandwich
New member
Balmain fan since 1980\. Continued on after the merger. A footy club is like your family, you're stuck with them for life, for better or for worse.
@ said:
Balmain always had a larger supporter base than the magpies and when the magpies moved to campbelltown some of the supporter base wouldnt go with them.I had 2 mates who were magpie supporters who used to give me hell as a Balmain supporter who wouldnt accept them at campbelltown instead of more centrally based
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Well, i'm kind of ashamed to admit that i was originally a Bulldogs fan. We had a video tape of a Dogs-Parra game that i used to watch over and over. The Dogs won by a big margin so it stuck. I supported them in the 94 gf and was shattered when Canberra beat them. Started supporting the Magpies in about 1996 when i was 9\. My mum's side of the family were Parra fans, and my Dad's were Wests fans. Luckily he took me to a few games before i had a chance to go to the dark side. To this day one of my all time favourite footballing moments was Andrew Willis kicking a 50m field goal on the siren to beat Norths on a Monday night to propel the Maggies into the semis. By 98 and 99 i was fully invested and was that much of an optimist about them when they had a side filled with Group 6 players that looking back i'm surprised my parents didn't get me checked out for mental health problems.
Embraced the JV right away. It was probably very easy being so young, i didn't have many hang ups. My dad still supports them, but he's told me that it isn't quite the same, which i can understand. It would be hard following the same team you've followed since you were a kid, then suddenly you are 40 and you no longer find yourself a Magpie supporter, you are suddenly a Tiger.
Embraced the JV right away. It was probably very easy being so young, i didn't have many hang ups. My dad still supports them, but he's told me that it isn't quite the same, which i can understand. It would be hard following the same team you've followed since you were a kid, then suddenly you are 40 and you no longer find yourself a Magpie supporter, you are suddenly a Tiger.
Harvey
Well-known member
When I was too young to remember rugby league and opinions came directly from your parents I supported the Roosters (my dads team). When I was about 5 I asked my dad who the local team was (living in Campbelltown) and he said there wasn't really one, closest was probably Parramatta.
I supported them for a few years and Newtown when they started playing at Orana Park (1983). Back to Parra when the jets folded.
When the Magpies moved out there in 87, I jumped on board and followed them until the merged.
My first thought was I am done with rugby league (especially when only about 3 magpies joined the Tigers), but come the start of 2000 I jumped back on board & have largely suffered ever since.
I supported them for a few years and Newtown when they started playing at Orana Park (1983). Back to Parra when the jets folded.
When the Magpies moved out there in 87, I jumped on board and followed them until the merged.
My first thought was I am done with rugby league (especially when only about 3 magpies joined the Tigers), but come the start of 2000 I jumped back on board & have largely suffered ever since.
The first game of rugby league I ever watched was the 1997 grand final (ARL). I was in kindergarten, and my sisters were at the game so mum told me I might be able to see them on tv if I watched the game. Ever since that magical game, I've loved rugby league. I used to rewatch that game over and ore again on VHS. One of my sisters was a massive balmain fan… Following on from my paternal grandfather who grew up in Eastwood. My sister also had a big crush on Tim brasher. So she got me on to supporting the tigers. In 1999 Gary Larson came to my primary school for a footy clinic and have out a bunch of bears merchanidse, so I flirted with supporting the bears. I was also a north sydney bears junior and played for them in an under 13s development squad, so I'll always have a soft spot for the bears, and would love to see them back in the NRL in some capacity. But thanks to my pop and sister, I will be a tiger till I die
I'm afraid asking this question on this forum with will give a skewed view of the average Wests Tigers fan. Weather true (or perceived) ex-Magpie supporters felt alienated on this forum in the early years and dropped off. This is actually the 4th time I've joined and it's so much better (fairer/civil/equal) today than it used to be.
cqtiger
Well-known member
A bit off topic, I know both sets of supporters would have been in anguish when JV's were first proposed. There was talk of Canterbury/Western Suburbs and Balmain/Parramatta was nearly signed off as well as other things like teams being kicked out.
Parramatta's Denis Fitzgerald was in the papers constantly telling everyone the Balmain merger was nearly done. Then he came out and said that the coach would be from Parra and 90% of the players would be current Eels players. I think he even quoted that the merged colours would be blue and gold but with the Tiger emblem. Correct me if I'm wrong but one quote was "the Tigers emblem is all we wanted anyway".
I was gobsmacked. I seriously considered either walking away or following St George Illawarra because I was born in the Illawarra but to me, that was a take over by St George, not a JV.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, it was announced that Balmain would join with Western Suburbs - I was actually quite happy because I thought that they were the perfect fit.
There were teething problems but it has been a very good relationship I feel. My only sadness is losing the Balmain Leagues Club. Unlike some, I don't blame Elias for that fiasco, I blame the state government and the council.
Having said that it is good that Ashfield is in charge now.
How did other feel about our "marriage"?
Parramatta's Denis Fitzgerald was in the papers constantly telling everyone the Balmain merger was nearly done. Then he came out and said that the coach would be from Parra and 90% of the players would be current Eels players. I think he even quoted that the merged colours would be blue and gold but with the Tiger emblem. Correct me if I'm wrong but one quote was "the Tigers emblem is all we wanted anyway".
I was gobsmacked. I seriously considered either walking away or following St George Illawarra because I was born in the Illawarra but to me, that was a take over by St George, not a JV.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, it was announced that Balmain would join with Western Suburbs - I was actually quite happy because I thought that they were the perfect fit.
There were teething problems but it has been a very good relationship I feel. My only sadness is losing the Balmain Leagues Club. Unlike some, I don't blame Elias for that fiasco, I blame the state government and the council.
Having said that it is good that Ashfield is in charge now.
How did other feel about our "marriage"?
Spud_Murphy
New member
@ said:
It is, will never be the same.
innsaneink
Well-known member
I didn't get into the JV for the first few years… Followed results in the paper and watched when on TV... I'd followed Wests for 25 years or so earlier.
Found it difficult to chant 'tigers' when it goes up at games after nearly 30 years of yelling 'magpies'...
Even tho we suck arse it's still good to have a team to follow
Found it difficult to chant 'tigers' when it goes up at games after nearly 30 years of yelling 'magpies'...
Even tho we suck arse it's still good to have a team to follow
Black_n_White
New member
@ said:
they say only the greats are born on that date…
swag_tiger
Well-known member
@ said:
Really?
Black_n_White
New member
@ said:
yeah, definitely…. both you and I are born 6th January, so that makes a strong case for it
swag_tiger
Well-known member
@ said:
We must not let this information get into the wrong hands.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Happy was born January 6th also… And Ben cousins
Went for Balmain as soon as I was told too.
Held a grand final party when I was in primary school and was the only one that watched the game out of all my team.
When I was told we were going to merge I was out.
Tim Brasher came to Bathurst and played a game of tennis where I worked as a teenager. Was jingle enough to play two sets against me..
I asked him what he was going to do and he said he would always be a tiger. Gave me the enthusiasm to follow them again.
He then promptly went to Souths…...
To be fair he also remembered me and sent me a tigers
Jersey with the signatures of every player I could ever imagine on it.(years passed included) Would be worth a fair bit two, except I signed my own name on the back of the jersey assuming it was only a matter of time.
Held a grand final party when I was in primary school and was the only one that watched the game out of all my team.
When I was told we were going to merge I was out.
Tim Brasher came to Bathurst and played a game of tennis where I worked as a teenager. Was jingle enough to play two sets against me..
I asked him what he was going to do and he said he would always be a tiger. Gave me the enthusiasm to follow them again.
He then promptly went to Souths…...
To be fair he also remembered me and sent me a tigers
Jersey with the signatures of every player I could ever imagine on it.(years passed included) Would be worth a fair bit two, except I signed my own name on the back of the jersey assuming it was only a matter of time.
