what ERA did u support THE CLUB

First game was Ellery Hanleys first game at LO for Balmain in 1988
I have had the same seats at LO since 1989 as a 10 year old
Was a member of Balmain tigers fc during merger remember the night well, the call came through Magpies had voted for merger and John chalk stood up urging members to vote yes then Laurie stood up and pleaded no. Thankfully we took the merger
Took up Wests Tigers membership at inception and ever since, 2005 outstanding
 
Had a realisation the other day. Most of us are over 30 and supported either Wests or Balmain prior. Since 1989, Balmain, Wests and Wests Tigers combined have made the finals 6 times in 33 years. Six times combined.
 
mikey said:
Since the 69 GF - growing up in Padstow was almost lost to the Dogs before I woke up.
Click to expand...
I almost became a Dogs fan too. I had a video of a Dogs-Parra game from the early 1990’s (Maybe 93), that I watched over and over. The Dogs won 42-6 and watching it started making me like them. Even had a Bulldogs shirt when I was about 8. Went on to hate them with a passion as a teenager as I went to high school in borderline Dog territory so everyone supported them, which made me hate them even more because they were shoved down your throat everywhere you looked. I’ve mellowed on them over the years though. Don’t really bother me these days.
 
My treks to Lidcombe Oval involved jumping down the canals with a couple of mates as a short cut.
6 years old I guess, so this started in . . . gulp . . . 1968 odd.
Obviously was a Wests supporter, and when the ultimatum was put forward by the League, I was ready to walk away from the game if we had to merge with the bulldogs. I saw Balmain struggling to swallow their planned merger/takeover by Parra . . . . and it seemed a good fit of a couple of battling teams with no real hatred between them.
Been a happy WT fan since.
Not happy with the overall results, so much . . . but you know what I mean.
 
Go_You_Good_Things said:
My treks to Lidcombe Oval involved jumping down the canals with a couple of mates as a short cut.
6 years old I guess, so this started in . . . gulp . . . 1968 odd.
Obviously was a Wests supporter, and when the ultimatum was put forward by the League, I was ready to walk away from the game if we had to merge with the bulldogs. I saw Balmain struggling to swallow their planned merger/takeover by Parra . . . . and it seemed a good fit of a couple of battling teams with no real hatred between them.
Been a happy WT fan since.
Not happy with the overall results, so much . . . but you know what I mean.
Click to expand...
I don’t think we realise how lucky we are sometimes. NRL could have easily wanted less teams and we could have both been lost along with Norths. As I’ve gotten older and am old enough to remember the Bears I’ve realised what a travesty it was that they were treated the way they were. We became a JV, Souths fought their way back in, and Manly ate the Bears while the NRL looked the other way.
 
Been supporting the Tigers since 1968.
I have fond memories playing touch footy on the hill before the game.
As a kid, one Saturday whilst we were getting flogged, I decided to leave with 5 min to go to beat the crowd.
When I was walking out the gate the match ball was was kicked straight to me, I caught it and ran for my life and pinched it.
I had that ball till I was 18 and my mum threw it out thinking it was rubbish 😒
 
My Dad and my cousins would take me to games starting when I was 4yrs old. They were Balmain Tigers fans. As a youngster I rarely watched much, just played touch footy on the hills with other kids.
I remember standing on the concrete hill, must have been the SCG, watching Len Killeen stand the ball upright and kick goals from anywhere.
My Dad and i watched the Tigers win in 69. He passed in 2005 in April and never got to see them win that year. I was there and cheered for both of us!!
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I don’t think we realise how lucky we are sometimes. NRL could have easily wanted less teams and we could have both been lost along with Norths. As I’ve gotten older and am old enough to remember the Bears I’ve realised what a travesty it was that they were treated the way they were. We became a JV, Souths fought their way back in, and Manly ate the Bears while the NRL looked the other way.
Click to expand...
Yes mate, so true. At the time of the ultimatum I saw it as the only way I'd see "my" footy team continue. Accept the watered down merged variety of Wests, or follow volleyball. You can't change your footy team.
I held no hatred towards Balmain ( like any true Magpie fan would have towards manly, Souths, Parra, dogs, Roosters, etc), and so for me personally it was an easy transition.
But I see that some are still struggling with accepting it.
There's a transport company here in Sydney that still has their trucks painted in red and black with a Bears logo. If ever I feel a little dudded by the "Tigers" bias in our name and logo, etc . . . I think of those trucks. And snap out of it and become a happy WT fan all over again !
 
I remember when i was probably about 10 my aunt and uncle taking me to games at Pratten Park in the early 60's. Running on the field getting autographs. Didn't become a serious fan until around 1968 and Wests had Lidcombe Oval as their homeground. Didn't miss a home game and most away games until i left Sydney in the early 80's.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I don’t think we realise how lucky we are sometimes. NRL could have easily wanted less teams and we could have both been lost along with Norths. As I’ve gotten older and am old enough to remember the Bears I’ve realised what a travesty it was that they were treated the way they were. We became a JV, Souths fought their way back in, and Manly ate the Bears while the NRL looked the other way.
Click to expand...
They tried to kick the magpies out of the comp a few times... Thankfully they fought hard to stay
 
Mid 80’s. Had older family members playing for Tigers lower grades. First match I attended was
At Leichhardt. I was about 5. Can’t remember who we played but I remember the awesome feeling of wonder upon entering the stadium. The colour, the smell of hotdogs on the bbq and sight of the crowd on a packed hill. From that moment I’ve been hooked on the feeling.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I almost became a Dogs fan too. I had a video of a Dogs-Parra game from the early 1990’s (Maybe 93), that I watched over and over. The Dogs won 42-6 and watching it started making me like them. Even had a Bulldogs shirt when I was about 8. Went on to hate them with a passion as a teenager as I went to high school in borderline Dog territory so everyone supported them, which made me hate them even more because they were shoved down your throat everywhere you looked. I’ve mellowed on them over the years though. Don’t really bother me these days.
Click to expand...
The kennel breathes a sign of relief.......😁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 661 (members: 21, guests: 640)
Back
Top