Fanatical Manly fan David Rutherford changes name to include Eagle

HOW much do you love your team? Probably not as much as Manly supporter David Rutherford who has changed his name to include the word “Eagle”.

Manly fan David Eagle Rutherford who has legally changed his middle name.

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MEET the Manly-mad milko from Milton — David Eagle Rutherford.

That’s right, the Sea Eagles fan legally changed his name to show his maroon and white obsession.

Rutherford, 52, who lives in Milton on the South Coast, was born without a middle name.

So, 12 months ago, after a bet with a local radio station, Rutherford did what few supporters around the world would ever contemplate – changing his name to include Eagle.

Rutherford also has a Manly coloured car and a man cave full of Sea Eagles memorabilia and gear.

“I wanted to be a true supporter — I just love the Manly Sea Eagles,” he said.

“I didn’t think the name ‘Manly’ would suit so I went with ‘Eagle’. I’m known as a nut case on the South Coast — the mad Manly milko.

Manly fan David Eagle Rutherford who has legally changed his middle name.

“I thought I would show some extra support and have Eagle as my middle name.

“About 12 months ago, I thought I better get it done. I’ve been a Manly fan for 46 years.”

Even though he was born without a middle name, his driver’s licence for 30 years showed his middle name to be George, his father’s name.

“It’s a little bit confusing because everyone thought my middle name was George, which it wasn’t,” he said.

“There was no middle name on my birth certificate but my licence for the past 35 years has had George.

“When I decided to use Eagle, I had to go to the registry office with my birth certificate to get it changed back to just David Rutherford.

“Then I had to get onto Births, Deaths and Marriages and add Eagle. Then it was back to the RTA to add Eagle onto my driver’s licence.”

Rutherford has plenty of support from wife Jennie and daughters, Briana (15) and Paige (11). He has an older son, Corey, who is a Bulldogs supporter.

“Paige will blow the trumpet on a Manly night in the lounge room when we score a try,” he said.

Entertaining and passionate, Rutherford has again renewed his Manly membership for 2019.

He tries to get to around five games a year – a difficult task given he works seven days a week as milkman around Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton.

What games he fails to attend, Rutherford will wander down to the local club and watch his Sea Eagles on television.

“Because I work seven days a week on the milk run, it’s limits the amount of games I can get to,” he said. “I try and get to at least five games before the semi-finals.”

Jennie has approved a man cave extension but Rutherford must first sell the milk run.

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Originally published as Fanatical Manly fan David Rutherford changes name to include Eagle