Poppa s blog on the player market motivated me to post this. I am probably one of the very few who is out of sync with all sports market value approach to winning a comp.I can understand the winning at all costs approach to getting a title.
Do we lose something to a market approach in sport?
I am thinking of Brissy being identified withe the Dolphins. I can also understand fans from out of geographical areas supporting Parra..
Is it following a local team, bond to player identity, club heritage, or something else which makes you follow Parra. ?
For me it was at around 14 years of age going to Cumberland oval with some schoolmates and being overwhelmed by the crowd's enthusiasm and watching players like Ken Thornett, Bob ,Orielly do their stuff. For me it is simply following good players' identity with a club and wishing and a hoping for success.. The heart and soul of a club identity rather than simply going for how much you can spend on replacements takes a secondary role. Would I like to have Turbo playing for us?--yep probably---trying to find the right balance is difficult.
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Nice blog Tad, I remember watching the challenge cup final aged 11 Brett Kenny instantly became my idol - big league posters covered my bedroom then the following year I watched a major semi final eels v dogs at the SGC Bert scoring 2 tries I was in footy heaven. Bert is the reason why I follow the mighty Eels, in my case it has nothing to do with location.
Here's a difficult one for you mate. What would you do or how would you feel if Brett left to play with Manly for better money.? Would that affect the quality of your attachment to Parra as a kid?
I always followed the Eels I was born in Wentworthville and my Dad played in the first jersey flegg team for Parra and he seen all legends play like Ken Thornett right through till now I am 49 and seen all the glory years in the 80s with Price, Kenny, Sterling and Cronin and all the crap seasons in between I love the eels I just hope dad gets to see another premiership before his time is up it's been way to long I would never follow another team it's character building being an Eels supporter that's for sure
I was brought up in Bass Hil which is the heart of Bulldog territory but couldn't stand the Dogs.
I really got into football in 1980 which was good timing for the Eels dynasty and I loved all the players especially Steve Ella and Brett Kenny.
Ray Price live in Bass Hill on the other side of the Hume Highway so we used to see him from time to time at the shops.
I thought the good times would last forever as that side was incredible
Born into it
Ditto . Only escape will be when I am 6 feet under the ground or my ashes are spread over our stadium just like my fathers were .
Yep, I still have my charred bit of Cumberland Oval grandstand that my grandmother, the only more fanatical Eels fan than me, kept for me after the 81 GF.
Yeah mate, my Nan was there that night, she was at the SCG for the game, when Bert ran down the touch line for his 2nd try, she shadowed him down the concourse despite the fact she was a 55 ye old who's chain smoked since she was 14 !!! My grandfather died from his 4th heart attack in the Bill O''Reilly stand during the major semi against St.George in 79, she wasn't going to miss the 81 GF for nothing.
My older brother is a mad Eels fan, he made me do it. I hate him every day for it. Only jokes, I wouldn't change one bit of it, not even the very painful GF losses.
I was born in 1977, and can remember watching the 1986 GF. I'm sure I would have watched games before then, but don't remember any of them. There is a photo of me when I was about 4 or 5 years old. My older brother had put an Eels jersey on me. I've been bleeding blue and gold ever since.
I started following Parra in 1976. Seen every grand final since then . After the 1981 grand final I made my way from the SCG to see the Cumberland oval grandstand on fire . I grabbed a picket fence and bolted . Great memories carrying gold up chairs to Cumberland oval . Jumping in the river on way home - Massive Parra flags on trains and huge crowds. Watching Kenny destroy teams was and remains my greatest sense of enjoyment.
great club and I want to enjoy that feeling once more !!!
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