One of the casuals at work who was my manager once years ago in another shop, he was talking about Fox showing highlights of when Kevin Walters and Alfie Langer playing and i mentioned to him how you tube have had lots of older games put up now and seeing he was a Souths supporter i mentioned a game that was on there between Easts and Souths at the Sports Ground in 1982 which i remember being at and when i watched it again it was exactly how i remembered it being live, he said to me that was the year he was born, i seem to forget there is about a 20 year age gap between him and me even though he has seemed to be around the company for years.
I remember going to Kogarah Jubilee as a teenager for a Raiders Dragons game in the early 90's. I got their early - coz "those were the days" were you had all three grades. It was also the days when the opposition (especially those from out of town) would all arrive around the same time - thus the First Grade team got to Kogarah well before 3pm kickoff - and would sit in the stands to watch the under 23's go around, reserves etc.
I remember seeing the Raiders in person for the first time. Meninga looked like a colossus, then i saw Lazarus... This was their golden era and they were all rock stars but still - they were happy sitting in with the general public and shaking hands, signing autographs etc - for those who could step out of gawking at them and go up to say hello. Then I saw Ricky Stuart walking past me around the concourse - he'd gone to get an ice cream from the kiosk. Even he looked enormous, and strong as an ox.
Now I'm feeling old for a few reasons.
1 - "those were the days"... All three grades, how a day at the footy should be
2 - Players who supported their club.... seeing the lower grades go around. Unlike today with headphones on in a dressing room, sitting in a corner mindlessly scrolling through a phone. There's no true team spirit.
3 - Being grumpy that footy "was better in the 90's". and we've lost our way since.
Nothing like sitting on the Northern hill at Shark Park, The Eastern Hill at Kogarah, the eastern Hill at belmore...... watching all 3 grades and then the scramble to get to you car, sometimes kilometres away parked outside someone's flash house in a cul-de-sac... and going home tooting your horn in victory, or in the deadly silence of defeat (apart the the tooting horns of the opposition fans).
It was also a time I was actually proud of the Dragons. the 90's were an era that we punched well n truly above our weight and made finals most seasons, and yes 4 GF's that we lost. But 1992-1996 were the glory years for me as a supporter. 2010 was amazing (and a relief)... but nothing still comes close to watching the Dragons in those 5 seasons '92-'96.... especially '96 - my all time favourite Dragons season and squad. They were a true team who played for each other - sadly lacking in many league sides these days - especially my own.
F*** I feel old. And a bit grumpy.
If you got through those diatribe of a post, thanks for reading.
