The Oaks Hotel which was in Church St. Parramatta just up from Victoria Rd. was one of the first hotels built in Parramatta. It was the watering
hole of choice for eels fans to attend for many decades both before and after games.
When the eels won, unless you got there early it was almost impossible to get inside it was that crowded. Sometimes players would also have a drink there.
The place was a Parramatta icon.
The publican who ran the place was also an entrenched eels supporter.
Sadley he got cancer a few years back which was diagnosed as terminal and he passed away a few years back. Because he was well known to the club he asked them if they would supply several eels players to lower his coffin into the ground.
He told people that "The eels had let him down on so many occasions that they may as well let him down one final time."
Sadly too the hotel is no longer there now. It was recently demolished to make way for the light rail.
So if you attended the Souths/Eels game at Bankwest last week and heard or felt a rumbling sound in the ground as you left the stadium, it was
probably that publican turning in his grave and thinking "Here we go again."
Adrian
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Happy Days Pops I used to play for the local inn at west Ryde
Really I played soccer and cricket for the West Ryde hotel mate
Agree that is a great story Adrian. He probably went to the 1981 Grand Final and kept the pub open 24/7 for 3 days. If he went to the game, the crowd was 51, 333 that day. Spells eeels backwards. I am desperately looking for a similar omen for this year...I am grasping on to Matterson to 6 and Taka in the centres may revive our fortunes.