Have really enjoyed reading this thread, and posts over the past day have tugged on the heartstrings... Thanks all for sharing.
My Dad followed Parra from his mid-60s (Parramatta) high school days, attending Cumberland Oval games with his mates in the Thornett era. He mainly played local union himself but preferred to watch rugby league - attending games through the 1970s with his dad, including the fabled 1976-1977 Fearnley-era grand finals. He was born in the same year as the club's first season, and since I was born and grew up locally too it was a no brainer for me to follow his footsteps as a Parra fan.
I was taken to my first Eels game as a kid in 1978 and while it was too noisy for me in the wooden grandstand the first time, we found spots on the hill/benches around the Oval that suited better for us to watch Parra home games. Dad went along to the 1981 Grand Final with his dad (my grandad), as I was deemed too young to go down early and queue for a squeezed in spot on the SCG - I still remember watching our first premiership win on TV at my grandma's house, and when they both eventually made it back with smiles from ear to ear.
My parents split that year, and so from 1982-1985 Dad and I would attend Eels games every fortnight, either at "home" (Belmore - on folding chairs,and that guy walking around selling "candy coated peanuts" from a shoulder bag?) or "away" (my first real taste of other areas of Sydney plus Canberra and Wollongong). We were able to see Eels grand final wins over Manly in 1982 and 1983 from the terrace in front of the Brewongle Stand, and (in probably my favourite footy memory) witnessing from seats in the Pat Hills Stand the most recent Eels premiership win in 1986 over Canterbury.
From 1986 it was all about Parra Stadium, and Dad and I kept up our season tickets there (as well as finals, and losing grand finals attendance) for over 30 years. I have really good memories of that ground and our seats in the Cronin Stand, and the years of rituals that went along with it - from pre-game champagne breakfasts on Sundays at the Club in the early years, through to the ham rolls he'd make and bring along for us to eat in the later years. We called time on our tickets in 2016 after the club's 70th season (and ahead of their move to Homebush), mainly due to the clash between night games, his older age and my changing life responsibilities (parenthood and moving away from Sydney).
Dad's declining health meant that he and I could only manage one more live Eels game together - that opening day win at our new Parra Stadium in 2019, played on his 72nd birthday. Dad held on to life for another two years (and 12 hospitalisations) until last year, dying after his 74th birthday. He had told me that he wanted (against the odds) to hold on and turn 75 - so maybe Dad had some sort of cosmic inkling that this season could bring an end to the Eels drought?
Those who've lost their footy-loving dad know how hard it hits, and those whose dads are sick and/or eldery can well imagine... but I'm lucky to have a daughter who attended her first live Eels games this year, and who is excited and all dressed up next to me watching today's grand finals at home. I'm feeling pretty ok with today's result whatever it might be - but glad that my daughter has a chance of (possibly) seeing her first Eels grand final win, or continues the line of feeling the pain of our extended Eels premiership drought!
