How or what made you a West Tigers supporter
- Thread starter happy_tiger
- Start date
if you didn't follow Balmain at St Augustine's you got bashed
that was back in the day when Balmain primary schools had metal security mesh covering all their windows.
:laughing:
that was back in the day when Balmain primary schools had metal security mesh covering all their windows.
:laughing:
jirskyr
Well-known member
My Dad's family grew up in Lilyfield/Leichhardt and the entire crew were Balmain Tigers supporters. Those that married into the family got converted or over-ruled.
I clearly remember walking up to LO from my grandparent's place on a Sunday afternoon in the early 80s, watching Junior Pearce and getting in for free on my Mini League card.
I clearly remember walking up to LO from my grandparent's place on a Sunday afternoon in the early 80s, watching Junior Pearce and getting in for free on my Mini League card.
BORN IN ANNANDALE TIGER COUNTRY FAMILY COME FROM BALMAIN AND GLEBE WHO COULD I FOLLOW FOLOWED THEM ALL MY LIFE WHEN THEY WENT WITH WEST I WAS SO PLEASED SOOO HAPPY WE NEVER WENT WITH THE EELS I THINK I WOULD HAVE GIVE THE GAME AWAY UP THE WESTS TIGERS :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :wtf :wtf
@Cultured Bogan said:
x2.
My first memories of tigers support was my first live game was out at Campbelltown, my dad brimming with confidence about the game against the magpies, only have my new heroes go down 6-4 in a massive upset. They instilled confidence in me after watching the highlights of the game where the Balmain Tigers Murdered the Gold Coast Seagulls 46-2 during the 1989 season, then proceeded to murder wests 40-0 in the return game at leichardt.
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Then I got chicken pox around the grand final day, and watched the 1989 grand final layed up on the lounge, and we all know what happened there…
However, stuck with them through thick and thin during the nineties, and when they announce a merger with the magpies in 1999 for the 2000 season, I was thrilled, since not only were they not going to fold, but they would move to a more local grounding for me.
Have stuck with them through thick and thin since then. And as you guys know, 1998-2004 - there was A LOT of thin....
:sign:
@underdog said:
Thats true Underdog, but those days were great in the sense we knew that Balmain and the early years of the JV that WT were terrible, so wins were cherised when they came around!
you_know_who
New member
I was taken to leichhardt oval by my father and uncle when i was 3 to sit on the hill and watch Percy Knight (who was my favourite player) years ago. Went to the Grand Final against the dogs in 1988 and the raiders in 1989 which we all know we lost. Though did go to the game at Homebush in 2005 when we won on the supporters bus from Balmain Leagues. I still remember coming home on the bus to the leagues club it was like we lost as there was no singing on the bus or anything, everyone was in shock i gues and couldnt believe it. Went to School in Blacktown which nearly everyone went for spazzamatta which i dislike and still dislike these days. Was born in Auburn Hospital and played under 10's with Simon Radounikis, tommys son, so always had a soft spot for the magpies.
When I was young - in primary school, all the kids were selecting teams. Every kid in my class followed either Parramatta or Canterbury as they were the most sensational sides of the time.
To be different I chose Balmain. Wasn't any more scientific than that.
My uncle then moved to Balmain and took me to quite a few games when I visited. I then attended St Gregs in Cambpelltown and was exposed to the Maggies as they trained at the schools ovals on occasion.
They became my second side….the merger woked for me!
I've managed to snag tickets to all three Tigers grand finals since and some 22 years after beginning to follow the club, I saw us win one. Hopefully more to come.
To be different I chose Balmain. Wasn't any more scientific than that.
My uncle then moved to Balmain and took me to quite a few games when I visited. I then attended St Gregs in Cambpelltown and was exposed to the Maggies as they trained at the schools ovals on occasion.
They became my second side….the merger woked for me!
I've managed to snag tickets to all three Tigers grand finals since and some 22 years after beginning to follow the club, I saw us win one. Hopefully more to come.
T
Trigger_Tiger
Guest
I'm only a young fella, don't have any family links to Balmain etc but simply just fell in love with the 2005 tigers side and have been following them since. Hoping to see plenty more years like 05 during my time as a tigers fan.
tigerbenji
Well-known member
I grew up @ Forest Lodge near Glebe & followed Newtown, when they got the flick i followed wests & by this time i lived @ Bradbury near Campbelltown. Then wests & balmain merged & i couldnt be happier & all my family follows the tigers & we go to most games work permitting & we love them win loose or draw.
tiger4ever
Active member
We went to all games from 74-95 travelling from wooloomooloo where i grew up but later on moved to balmain rd leichhardt which was much better.We all went for balmain my gdad and dad was born in balmain so it was inherited.Lots of good memorys specially winning 3 mid week comps.
shiretiger
Well-known member
spent the formative years of my life [actually from 0 to 1.5] living at Rozelle before moving to The Shire. The Shire celebrated by setting up a team called The Gummies for me the same year as we moved there but how could one cheer for a Gummie?
Old man is Balmain through and through.
It is in the blood.
Old man is Balmain through and through.
It is in the blood.
Wagga_Tiger
Well-known member
My oldest brother was engaged to Paul Sironens sister many years ago( it didn't work out) and the first time i met Paul i was hooked and will be a tiger forever.
fulleightyminutes
New member
I grew up on the Central Coast and we didn't have a team, so all chose Sydney teams. My dad took me to a local sports store and told me to pick a jersey. How could a 5 year old go past that Tiger logo. I think I broke my dad's heart that day - he played for the Bunnies in the 60s.
Following the Tigers was cool in the 80s, not to so cool in the 90s, and mostly cool since the Merger. Best it yet to come I suspect!
Following the Tigers was cool in the 80s, not to so cool in the 90s, and mostly cool since the Merger. Best it yet to come I suspect!
I was, also, indoctrinated into a mad Magpie supporting family (mum, in particular) from an early age and I followed them religiously from the mid 60's onwards. Although I knew it had to happen, I never really liked Wests' relocation to the Campbelltown area. Nothing against the area, it just didn't feel like Magpie territory to me, but I continued to support them and go to all the games, nonetheless.
I always liked Balmain and loved going to Leichhardt Oval, so the merger was a happy occasion for me, especially if it meant I would still have a team to support in the comp. Even though WT operations/support spreads all the way from Leichhardt to Campbelltown and beyond, this merger has centred the team back into the Burwood/Concord area that I grew up in, so now I feel like I'm supporting my old local team again. Don't ask me why, but this is important to me. My only regret with the merger is that mum could never embrace it and now I can't talk about the footy with her anymore 😢
I always liked Balmain and loved going to Leichhardt Oval, so the merger was a happy occasion for me, especially if it meant I would still have a team to support in the comp. Even though WT operations/support spreads all the way from Leichhardt to Campbelltown and beyond, this merger has centred the team back into the Burwood/Concord area that I grew up in, so now I feel like I'm supporting my old local team again. Don't ask me why, but this is important to me. My only regret with the merger is that mum could never embrace it and now I can't talk about the footy with her anymore 😢
Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan
New member
My late father came from Hurstville and played Presidents Cup for St George in the late 40's early 50's and then moved to Bathurst, dad never made much of a deal about him playing footy but I did find a team photograph of a Bathurst Railway side he played in that won the Reserve Grade comp in the mid 50's.
Always knew that dad was a Dragons supporter so I guess that the Tigers in the mid 60's were the main oppostion for the Dragons and the anthesis of St George but what really converted me was 1969 when I got behind the Underdogs in the lead up to the Grand Final.
Since then I was hooked despite living all my years out here in Group 10 Land, got to the occaisianal game and was pleased to see the odd ex Railway boy get a run with the Tigers like Terry Regan and see Paul Dunn play for Australia along with a few other lesser likes.
When I got to play Juniors with Bathurst Railway the coach in the Seniors was Greg Hay who played first grade in the early 60's with Balmain.
Both my teams failed to prosper with the change in fortunes in the 90's, good old Bathurst Railway won 5 premierships in 10 seasons but failed to keep with the times, while Balmain had a renaissance in the late 80's I had to pull the boots on for Railway to try and help the club keep going.
One of the worst years I had to endure was 1989 when not only my father died but Railway had to fold for the season because we ran out of Juniors, the only bright light for the year was the Balmain Tigers.
Losing the Grand Final in 1989 was just as bad as my other 2 losses, my local club and my Dad.
Good old Railway came back briefly just like Blamain but then succumbed, at least all us Balmain and Wests fans got a second chance with the merger, and what a merger it was.
Always knew that dad was a Dragons supporter so I guess that the Tigers in the mid 60's were the main oppostion for the Dragons and the anthesis of St George but what really converted me was 1969 when I got behind the Underdogs in the lead up to the Grand Final.
Since then I was hooked despite living all my years out here in Group 10 Land, got to the occaisianal game and was pleased to see the odd ex Railway boy get a run with the Tigers like Terry Regan and see Paul Dunn play for Australia along with a few other lesser likes.
When I got to play Juniors with Bathurst Railway the coach in the Seniors was Greg Hay who played first grade in the early 60's with Balmain.
Both my teams failed to prosper with the change in fortunes in the 90's, good old Bathurst Railway won 5 premierships in 10 seasons but failed to keep with the times, while Balmain had a renaissance in the late 80's I had to pull the boots on for Railway to try and help the club keep going.
One of the worst years I had to endure was 1989 when not only my father died but Railway had to fold for the season because we ran out of Juniors, the only bright light for the year was the Balmain Tigers.
Losing the Grand Final in 1989 was just as bad as my other 2 losses, my local club and my Dad.
Good old Railway came back briefly just like Blamain but then succumbed, at least all us Balmain and Wests fans got a second chance with the merger, and what a merger it was.
MightyMaggy
New member
Wow! What a great topic this is turning out to be. Congratulations to all the members, who have posted to date, as I have found it great reading! I hope there are many more stories to read.
