I spent the first 7 years of my life in Weston st at Harris Park.
Dad used to take myself and my brothers there. This was late sixties and early 70's. I would sometimes sit on his shoulders as he stood in front of the commentary box to the left of the old Cumbo Oval grandstand, but in those early days, I would mostly spend the afternoon sliding down the back of the north hill on empty ice-cream boxes.
In 1971, we moved to Dundas (growing family). Dad continued to take us (and mum would come occasionally as well). Then we started going with friends from the new street in Dundas.
I was hooked from the very early days.
By the time I was 13/14, and with my RL schoolboy free pass, I was heading into Cumberland Oval at 11 am to queue up outside the gates to then run over to the grandstand, lay a picnic blanket over about 3 of the wooden bench seats, and save a spot for my mum and dad who would come in later.
I was hooked at a very young age.
Again, at that age, I would go with other Parra loving school mates to every Parra away game in Sydney by public transport. Endeavour, Penrith Park when it was still an oval, Kogarah, Belmore (before the west stand was built - it was just a tall bitumen terrace), North Sydney Oval, Leichardt, Henson Park, Redfern Oval, Roosters at the old Sydney Sports Ground.
Brookvale I used to get to by the buses provided by the club.
I was very lucky to grow up during the anticipation years, when Parra was on the rise. Cumberland had great crowds and away games had huge amounts of Eels fans.
My (our) mum spent weeks sewing up a banner at home saying "The Ray Price Stand", which my brothers or myself took to almost every game, both home and away, and to semi and grand finals. We used to hold it up with tall pieces of timber dowel which slotted into sewed holes on either side. Taking the poles to away games on the train was quite the pain in the arse as they were so long but nobody seemed to give a shit then. The sign was seen on tv dozens of times.
Anyway, I could go on and on, which I already have. Needless to say, if not for my recently and dearly loved departed father, I'm not really sure where my RL allegiances would lay today.
I cannot really imagine following anyone else tbh.
Dad used to take myself and my brothers there. This was late sixties and early 70's. I would sometimes sit on his shoulders as he stood in front of the commentary box to the left of the old Cumbo Oval grandstand, but in those early days, I would mostly spend the afternoon sliding down the back of the north hill on empty ice-cream boxes.
In 1971, we moved to Dundas (growing family). Dad continued to take us (and mum would come occasionally as well). Then we started going with friends from the new street in Dundas.
I was hooked from the very early days.
By the time I was 13/14, and with my RL schoolboy free pass, I was heading into Cumberland Oval at 11 am to queue up outside the gates to then run over to the grandstand, lay a picnic blanket over about 3 of the wooden bench seats, and save a spot for my mum and dad who would come in later.
I was hooked at a very young age.
Again, at that age, I would go with other Parra loving school mates to every Parra away game in Sydney by public transport. Endeavour, Penrith Park when it was still an oval, Kogarah, Belmore (before the west stand was built - it was just a tall bitumen terrace), North Sydney Oval, Leichardt, Henson Park, Redfern Oval, Roosters at the old Sydney Sports Ground.
Brookvale I used to get to by the buses provided by the club.
I was very lucky to grow up during the anticipation years, when Parra was on the rise. Cumberland had great crowds and away games had huge amounts of Eels fans.
My (our) mum spent weeks sewing up a banner at home saying "The Ray Price Stand", which my brothers or myself took to almost every game, both home and away, and to semi and grand finals. We used to hold it up with tall pieces of timber dowel which slotted into sewed holes on either side. Taking the poles to away games on the train was quite the pain in the arse as they were so long but nobody seemed to give a shit then. The sign was seen on tv dozens of times.
Anyway, I could go on and on, which I already have. Needless to say, if not for my recently and dearly loved departed father, I'm not really sure where my RL allegiances would lay today.
I cannot really imagine following anyone else tbh.
