Neither my parents were big league fans. My old man followed the bulldogs and my mum followed the tigers but they never went to any games and still have not to this day. My first memories of following the Eels was attending rugby league grand final parties / BBQ's in the early 80's!!
We lived close enough to Cumberland oval to hear the noise on game days so the whole suburb was dressed in blue and gold around GF time!! I remember the local baker seliing blue and gold bread!! Never went to a home game until the Stadium opened in 1986 and to this day one of my biggest regrets was never seeing a game at the old Cumberland Oval!!
My first game I attended was the Stadium opening against the Dragons as a 11 year old. My soccer coach at the time was a bit of an Eel and took a handful of us to the game and we sat on the Nth Hill. Since that day I have probably missed approximately a dozen home games in 19 years.
It's weird the things you remember;
Such as getting in for free with your school footy pass and then passing it to your mates through the fence for them to get in.
The comeback game against Canberra losing 22-0 half time and getting booed off the field.
Beating Norths 11-10 with Sterlo kicking a 40 metre drop goal early in the game
The old Parra boys sitting on the nth hill drinking
Being the only Oz team to beat the UK on the same night Martin Ofyer got beat in a sprint race against Odinryan
The rimbles for the ball on the hills.
Jumping the fence in the corners of the hill / terrace in the lead up games to get a seat in the terrace, or if we were really game we hiked round the back of the terrace jumped the barbed wire fence to get up into the Grand stand!!
Riding the pushy down to Parra Park and chaining it up to go watch the game
The secret parking spots you could park the car
Going to KICKS nightclub after Friday night victories (althought I didn't need an excuse to go to KICKS)
The entire 2001 season
Putting the old enermy (Scumdogs) to the sword at home this year
Hopefully we are about 11 days away from another great memory - The best memory possible. I sense the boys are so committed to this one - It has to be our turn!!
Go you mighty Matters!!
We lived close enough to Cumberland oval to hear the noise on game days so the whole suburb was dressed in blue and gold around GF time!! I remember the local baker seliing blue and gold bread!! Never went to a home game until the Stadium opened in 1986 and to this day one of my biggest regrets was never seeing a game at the old Cumberland Oval!!
My first game I attended was the Stadium opening against the Dragons as a 11 year old. My soccer coach at the time was a bit of an Eel and took a handful of us to the game and we sat on the Nth Hill. Since that day I have probably missed approximately a dozen home games in 19 years.
It's weird the things you remember;
Such as getting in for free with your school footy pass and then passing it to your mates through the fence for them to get in.
The comeback game against Canberra losing 22-0 half time and getting booed off the field.
Beating Norths 11-10 with Sterlo kicking a 40 metre drop goal early in the game
The old Parra boys sitting on the nth hill drinking
Being the only Oz team to beat the UK on the same night Martin Ofyer got beat in a sprint race against Odinryan
The rimbles for the ball on the hills.
Jumping the fence in the corners of the hill / terrace in the lead up games to get a seat in the terrace, or if we were really game we hiked round the back of the terrace jumped the barbed wire fence to get up into the Grand stand!!
Riding the pushy down to Parra Park and chaining it up to go watch the game
The secret parking spots you could park the car
Going to KICKS nightclub after Friday night victories (althought I didn't need an excuse to go to KICKS)
The entire 2001 season
Putting the old enermy (Scumdogs) to the sword at home this year
Hopefully we are about 11 days away from another great memory - The best memory possible. I sense the boys are so committed to this one - It has to be our turn!!
Go you mighty Matters!!
