My first memory was being at the 1980 GF with my parents (Mum is Belmore born and bred).
Whilst I don’t specifically remember the moment of Steve Gearin’s signature try from the Greg Brentnall kick (we’ve all watched a million replays), I do remember Ted Glossop jumping up from his chair on the SCG sideline showing emotion he rarely showed. An exciting day and I’ve been hooked ever since.
At the 1984 GF as we were walking into the Noble Stand at the SCG decked out in our Bulldogs kit, we walked past Bullfrog who pinned a ‘Bulldogs to Win’ ribbon on my sister (who so think still has it).
1985 was a good year as I was at the Origin at the SCG when Turvey was chaired off for Captaining NSW to their first Origin series victory followed by winning the GF at the same ground a couple of months later.
Will never forget watching Ellery Hanley in Disneyland after Baa smashed him in the 1988 GF, the first one at the then new SFS. That sort of hit would see Baa sent off today, but then…also Mike Hagan’s great try that day - who later bought our old house when we moved, I was so happy a Bulldog player bought our house
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Countless Belmore memories from being there when Max Mannix ran the length of the field against Saints and dropped the ball over the line. Funnily enough the bloke who consoled him was Steve Gearin, our 1980 hero then playing for the Dragons. Max was quick but never recovered and didn’t play in the GF that year.
Was also there in ‘89 sitting with then Knights Chairman Michael Hill when Baa potted a field goal and the Dogs lost 12-11. We looked at each other with a ‘What The’ look. Baa swore he thought scores were level but the joke was he was cashing in on FootyTab (when betting was hardly the business it is today).
Was at Belmore in ‘91 when the ‘Welsh Wizard’ Jonathan Davies was playing fullback. Some of his mates from the UK turned up to surprise him and as he walked off the field at half time they were yelling ‘Jiffy!’ to him. He looked surprised and happy to see them and must’ve been thinking about post-game pints at the Belmore Hotel because he looked distracted in the second half, we dropped a lead and lost.
Speaking of Polly, he used to drive to training and had number plates CPM-007, which I’m sure was more his jersey number than for drinking martinis and wearing tuxedos but his team mates teased him mercilessly about that, asking where his ejector seat was etc
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So many memories, but this post is long enough…