I was 5 yrs-old and all the talk (some good, a lot bad) about this "Manly footy team" did enter my head a bit.
When they won again in '73 that talk was louder and a little more easier to understand. (And even as a kid I felt, despite this team's success, they were widely derided and disliked and I felt an empathy for them). Of course I didn't know what empathy meant. Then it was just feeling "sorry" for 'em and enough to take as much of an interest as a 6 yr-old as I could.
I liked whatever it was so many others seemed to dislike (which we know now was simple jealousy over our success). The consistent interest or "support" for Manly began (and was truly sealed forever by '76 and that 13-10 win over Parra!)
Remember when Holden utes, station-wagons, eh's, toranas and monaros etc., would do laps of the neighbourhoods with the streamers flying and car-horns honking endlessly?? Often after a Saturday arvo grand final too.
So I concede I jumped on a bandwagon (Manly) but it was at an early age; and I have stayed for better-or-worse, ever since.
There are too many things I wish I could change (about my past and my childhood)......Manly isn't one of them.
