Why parramatta winning means so much

When I was a young boy my parents separated. Mum, wanting me to have a father figure would drop me off at dads place every Friday. I'd return home Sunday night.

There were two options every weekend, go down to the oval and kick the footy and go to watch parramatta play. Looking back it was clear dad didn't know what else to do. He didn't know how to "parent". Frankly, he didn't know how to be dad. But it was the emotion I saw in him when parra scored, when parra won, it was those moments that brought us together. It was those moments I saw in dad that he was indeed alive someone inside him.

At some stage dad started a new family. I become a teenager and hanging out with friends, meeting girls, doing teenager things, soon I wasn't getting dropped off on Fridays anymore. Worst still dad never called. Like, never. He just moved on. Sure, you could argue I could have called, but I was just a kid. Of course there was also the fact I thought he was a little odd. But he was dad and he was the dad I knew.

Anyway, parramatta was still in my blood and I never stopped watching. I never stopped cheering. Soon I just drifted away from dad and I haven't heard from him in years. But I guess, it's in those little moments, those moments when parra score, when parra win I guess a little part of me feels like I have a dad. It's those moments I feel close to him knowing he too would be cheering. It's why it means so much to me I guess.

Go parra!

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  • Nitram, this is one of the most touching blogs ive ever read here mate, thanks for sharing this, my hearts with you bro..

    Im real sorry to know youre feeling deeply hurt by the situation with your dad mate, that must be real hard to think about sometimes bro.

    Promise me mate, you'll never hang any of your self worth on this, and know that some people may not have been cut out to be dads and show love the way they should as a dad.

    That doesnt change the fact youre a fine man capable of being a great dad with a great heart.

    Hope we get up on the weekend for you buddy, thanks for sharing this Nitram.

    • Nicely said Snake

    • I don't care what anyone says but a GF win will mean so much more to long suffering Parra supporters than it does to the Panthers. May the footy GODS smile on Parra 🤞

  • Great read and thanks for sharing mate, I to am from a dysfunctional family ...can be difficult. Self belief and unwavering knowledge my own family would never go thru what i did, kept me going. Mate always remember your never alone and you are a good enough, go Parra

    • Nitram you have handled this very well. 

      The fact that you have been able to look back and nearly understand your Dad say's so much for you and your empathy.

      We can all talk about family and that family can have many identities and personalities, to come together for what ever reason makes our lives worthwhile.

      I truly hope you can regain contact with "Dad" and maybe even show him this blog/post so that he may understand how you feel. He presumably is still a Parra supporter and maybe having similar thoughts, don't feel embarrassed or put out to making contact........It maybe that this game this weekend can allow you to resume a bond with each other, if we win or lose your family is something we all need at different times of our life.

      Your blog says to me how good things can happen out of following a team or sport in general if it inspires us to thing beyond its transient nature. 

      Good luck for everything in the next few days.

  • Here's hoping Parra scores plenty for you, and win big! 🤞🙏

  • Nitram, this is courageous to open up and tell this story. Thanks for sharing this part of your self. It is a very thoughtful reflection on your Dad, and on the experience of being a fan. I suspect it your Dad knew these thoughts, he would be deeply moved. I can share a reflection that leads me to that thought. I too had a fraught relation with me Dad. He was a very bad individual, objectively speaking. I have not been involved with him at all for 25 years: he got the formal boot, shall we say. But as a father, whenever my daughter tells me I'm a good Dad, I often think my own Dad really missed out on something. He missed out on feeling pride and joy in his child's development, and he missed out on the joy one can feel to know someone trusts and loves you. So I suspect if your Dad knew this connection still existed for you, these moments where you feel at one knowing he would be expericning the same emotion with you, he would feel that a bond was made that isn't broken. With my own daughter, I cherish that bond, reminding myself not to squander it in the way my own Dad squandered the bond. 

    • Well said champ

  • Call your dad mate, he may not know how to be a great dad but you can show him what a great son is and he can learn to be a great dad. 

    It's neve too late until it's too late. Don't let it be too late.

    • Well said Matt. 

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