Remember when footy used to be fun? Your team might not have won many games but it didn’t really matter. There was always next week or even next season and you supported them religiously through the highs and lows.
As much as winning was the icing on the cake, the camaraderie, the atmosphere, the friendship, the sense of tribalism also gave plenty of fulfilment as well as a sense of belonging.
You mightn’t have liked what the coach was doing but you never let that waver your support. There was no need to abuse the players personally. There were always comments from the peanut gallery while the games were in progress but when the siren sounded all was forgiven and you’d be off to the clubrooms for a drink and a chat with supporters from both clubs, the players and the coach. Everyone was a good mate because they shared a common bond
In some ways, same as a footy club is the hub of a community, PRE is also a gathering place for people who share a common passion.
Two things have really saddened me this week and made me realise how far following Richmond has become from grass roots footy.
One thing is the abuse on the message board. A lot of anger and personal insults directed towards not only the RFC and all involved there but also towards other PREnders and the moderators too.
The second thing that has really upset me is learning 8 out of the 12 clubs in the Goulburn Valley League have had players who’ve taken their lives recently. The relevance of that to this post is the knowledge that at times like this footy communities band together to support each other.
I’m not trivialising the GV situation by likening it to Richmond being out of form, it’s hard times and I’ve certainly got friends I’m never going to see again, but it makes me think when the chips are down a pat on the back, a hug or a kind word of support will lift spirits more than any amount of abuse ever will.
Life's short and footy is a game that's meant to be fun.
As much as winning was the icing on the cake, the camaraderie, the atmosphere, the friendship, the sense of tribalism also gave plenty of fulfilment as well as a sense of belonging.
You mightn’t have liked what the coach was doing but you never let that waver your support. There was no need to abuse the players personally. There were always comments from the peanut gallery while the games were in progress but when the siren sounded all was forgiven and you’d be off to the clubrooms for a drink and a chat with supporters from both clubs, the players and the coach. Everyone was a good mate because they shared a common bond
In some ways, same as a footy club is the hub of a community, PRE is also a gathering place for people who share a common passion.
Two things have really saddened me this week and made me realise how far following Richmond has become from grass roots footy.
One thing is the abuse on the message board. A lot of anger and personal insults directed towards not only the RFC and all involved there but also towards other PREnders and the moderators too.
The second thing that has really upset me is learning 8 out of the 12 clubs in the Goulburn Valley League have had players who’ve taken their lives recently. The relevance of that to this post is the knowledge that at times like this footy communities band together to support each other.
I’m not trivialising the GV situation by likening it to Richmond being out of form, it’s hard times and I’ve certainly got friends I’m never going to see again, but it makes me think when the chips are down a pat on the back, a hug or a kind word of support will lift spirits more than any amount of abuse ever will.
Life's short and footy is a game that's meant to be fun.
