I was just thinking the other day in regards to supporting Parramatta, what do we get out of supporting them. I have been a supporter for 30 years and others have been fans for longer but there has been very little to cheer for besides all that devotion. At least with other clubs they have their share of bad times but in the end their fans get rewarded e.g. Souths and Cronulla. In the 30 years I have seen multiple preliminary final heartbreaks, 2 minor premierships, 2 grand final appearances (one of which everyone expected us to win comfortably, and 3 wooden spoons.
I am not going to jump ship or burn jerseys like that St George fan did but I guess I need to be less full on and not get so worked up about the team and have less of an involvement about them in my life.
So what does everyone else on here get out of supporting them even though they disappoint us so much and we are ridiculed by other fans.
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A little blue key ring and some stickers and a whole bunch of heartbreak! Bring on 2019!
I think fans in general feel a connection with these players, and a great example was at Hindy's retirement match when although we were coming last, a massive turn out showed up to play his final game.
Chief, good post, and I know how you feel and thinking, many put Hindy down but he along with a lot of other players over the years have put their bodies on the line and never really given up in both losing and winning games, most have not been part of the 4 premierships, yet to me they deserved to win. Players like them is what holds supporters together.
A veiled justification for my punting addiction.
It's a terrible drug
Welcome aboard Steel.
Supporting parra is like supporting a family member or friend who's a heroin addict.
You love them, you wont give up on them, youll keep on supporting even though theres little in return.
You try and embrace the small wins, the off seasons like when they go into rehab, theres fresh hopes and dreams, only for them to be shattered once the season starts.
They take and take and theres very little in return but its not about that, its about loyalty, family and blood, theres no option to give in.
Couldnt have said it better myself snake. It's a freaking hard hard road.
Cheers mate, having said that theres nothing wrong with wanting more and wishing for it to go both ways one day, nobody has to just sit back and accept their family member is a heroin addict.
Its about searching for new ways to get a result, being brutally honest sometimes, a bit of tough love is important instead of mollycoddling them and being a facilitator.
That’s a really good analogy snake. I never thought of it that way but from now on that’s exactly how I’m going to explain it. Excellent comparison and damn accurate.
Snakey, that is a very very good post and I think you sum it up VG as well.
For me, its not about what I get out of supporting the eels, but its also second nature to me, sheesh having followed them from the mid 50's, seeing the best and worst of them, forgot how many dissapointments in the losses, but never failed to back up when I could. For me as a true supporter, I have one great desire and that is to see them hold the premiership mug up again, will I be at the ground, probably not but will be there in spirit as I watch from a great seat in front of the box.
Even in the losses, and poor seasons, such as we have now, they don't give me ulcers, but they do give me some heartaches, but rising above that, I get more out of following and supporting them than I could possibly give to them.
I am a proud westy, and eels supporter, been part of me and my family including those who have passed away, so no way am I not going to support them, if the eels were not part of the game of RL, then I would have no RL team to follow let alone support.
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