This week, Mary Kaye looks back at the 2015 Blue and Gold season. You can catch up on Mary Kaye's blogs at Ladies who League here
There you have it Parramatta Eels fans - another season done and dusted. Where did 2015 go?
Although Sunday afternoon certainly was not the way I wanted our season to end, I was still grateful to get one more opportunity to head to Pirtek Stadium and to cheer our team on in their final game of the season. I miss the football over the off season, so at this time of the year I take the opportunity to savour every last moment because I know in a couple of weeks I will be complaining about lack of footy.
I know many of us will be disappointed after 2015. It certainly did not pan out the way I wanted it to - but that's all part of being a footy fan, right?
Despite what happened on the field, the Parramatta Eels as a football club achieved a lot off the field this year. We saw the team travel to Darwin and Alice Springs and engage with the community up there. We became the first Club to launch a Domestic Violence Action Plan (something of which I am remarkably proud) and just this week we saw David Gower nominated as part of the NRL Academic Team of the Year. An outstanding achievement for one of my favourite players. I could go on, but you all know how much pride our team takes in its commitment to the community off the field.
The Parramatta Eels are such a proud Club with one of the best supporter bases in the League. It's for this reason that despite what happens off the field, the Eels will always be a strong Club. Part of this is thanks to us - the fans - so make sure you are there for Season 2016.
To all of you out there who are members, I urge you to renew your memberships next year. Not only is it fundamental to our club's survival financially, but it also means you are part of something special. To those of you who do not have a Parramatta Eels membership, maybe 2016 is the year you take the plunge. My Parramatta Eels membership is extremely valuable to me and something that I would never part with - I'm proud to be a member of the Parramatta Eels and will be proud for many years to come.
To all those players leaving our Club at the end of the year, thank you for all you have done for our Club and I wish you all the best in the future.
See you all in 2016 - have a safe and happy off season. Enjoy the cricket and of course, watching the rest of the world fall in love with Jarryd Hayne. Wear those San Francisco 49ers jerseys with pride.
