Parramatta Eels fan decks out Waverley house in blue and gold
The NRL Grand Final is a Battle of the West but that’s not stopping one Parramatta supporter from adorning her eastern suburbs house in blue and gold.
NSW
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Parramatta supporter Melinda Wilson lives in a household full of Roosters supporters and her husband named their son after former skipper Brad Fittler but being the black sheep in the family suits the one-eyed Eel supporter, who has transformed her abode to reflect her love for the grand finalists.
Window panes have turned blue and gold, flags drape the front yard and 50 helium balloons were ordered from a party shop to form the striking display on Varna St.
“I had a few people yahooing and saying ‘Go Parra’,’’ Mrs Wilson said.
“Funnily enough, before they played the Cowboys I got a bit of extra decorations and I had a feeling they were going to win.’’
The 47 year old was born in Blacktown Hospital and spent some of her childhood in Port Macquarie before moving back to the western suburbs.
She moved to Waverley when she married Roosters supporter Ken and while their children have grown up to support their local footy team, and Mrs Wilson’s mum was a Roosters fan, her heart and soul remains in Parramatta.
“My dad followed them and I was a daddy’s little girl so I bleed blue and gold,’’ the home loans office manager said.
“Everyone tells me I should start following a different team but I follow them regardless. If they win they win, if they’re at the bottom, they’re at the bottom.’’
Not surprisingly, not everyone in the Wilson clan shares the matriarch’s excitement about the decorations. Mrs Wilson’s daughter Angela has already told her mum she ruined her 20th birthday celebrations on Thursday.
As for her 18-year-old son’s name, she is glad it at least reminds her of Eels coach Brad Arthur but things could have taken a nasty turn if the Roosters qualified for the decider.
“I think there would have been cause for divorce if Parramatta was playing the Roosters in the Grand Final,’’ she said.
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Originally published as Parramatta Eels fan decks out Waverley house in blue and gold
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