How I Became a Blue Bomber & CFL Fan

[Waffler]

A bit off topic but if you want to relive past Bomber glory be sure to follow jpascucci015 on instagram. He's been putting up great game highlights almost every day all summer. Today he has  Aug 29, 1959 vs Regina.

[GOLDMEMBER]

A bit off topic but if you want to relive past Bomber glory be sure to follow jpascucci015 on instagram. He's been putting up great game highlights almost every day all summer. Today he has  Aug 29, 1959 vs Regina.

not on instascam 

[bwiser]

I started following the Bombers around 1965 when the Bombers went to the Grey Cup. My first game was a few years later. I was a Tribune carrier and the Tribune used to have promotions when if you got a certain amount of starts you would get tickets to a Bomber game. My first game was a year the Bombers were really bad but I was at one of the few games they won that year. Ken Nielsen scored a long TD right in front of us who were sitting in the Salisbury section. What a thrill and I just loved the excitement. I went to as many games as I could afford in the early 70's until 1978 when I bought season tickets for the first time and have been a season ticket holder ever since. I have missed very few Bomber games in the next 45 years.

[BBRT]

Watched my first game as a young kid in Osborne Stadium.  Players like Jack Jacobs, Tom Casey, Norm Hill, Bud Korchak and Tommy Ford became heroes to me and I was hooked for life. 

Became a season ticket holder during the Winnipeg Stadium days until moving the BC.  The loyalty to the Bombers has never left me and never will.  The organization has one of great sport histories in the world IMHO.  Great teams, great new stadium and a great fan base that are the envy of the CFL.

Been around this forum for 16 years and I'm very proud to serve and be a part of the membership we have supporting the team.

Wow if you can remember Osborne Stadium than good for you. My first experience with the Bombers goes back to around 1961 or so I think. I delivered papers for the Des Moines Register and got to see Leo Lewis on TV (Wide World or Sports). Then when I came to Winnipeg in 1971 (after getting out of the Army) I got to meet a number of Bomber players that worked part time for my soon to be father-in-law. One Bomber actually introduced me to his bosses youngest girl (who has been my better half for 51 years now). - but despite that I have been  hooked ever since! 

[blue_or_die]

Wow, some insane longevity here and great stories! Mine is boring and seems very recent by comparison.

I started following the Bombers around 1965 when the Bombers went to the Grey Cup. My first game was a few years later. I was a Tribune carrier and the Tribune used to have promotions when if you got a certain amount of starts you would get tickets to a Bomber game. My first game was a year the Bombers were really bad but I was at one of the few games they won that year. Ken Nielsen scored a long TD right in front of us who were sitting in the Salisbury section. What a thrill and I just loved the excitement. I went to as many games as I could afford in the early 70's until 1978 when I bought season tickets for the first time and have been a season ticket holder ever since. I have missed very few Bomber games in the next 45 years.

Dang, so you became a fan right after our OG dynasty? '84 must have felt real good for you! What was better, that, or '19?

[bwiser]

Wow, some insane longevity here and great stories! Mine is boring and seems very recent by comparison.

Dang, so you became a fan right after our OG dynasty? '84 must have felt real good for you! What was better, that, or '19?

The cup in 1984 was the first cup I remember the Bombers winning. I was 26 years old so needless to say there was quite a celebration that night. We went down to Portage after the game and what a party. The 2019 Grey Cup was enjoyable but felt more like a relief. I hope we never have long gaps between cups like the Bombers have experienced in the past.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

The cup in 1984 was the first cup I remember the Bombers winning. I was 26 years old so needless to say there was quite a celebration that night. We went down to Portage after the game and what a party. The 2019 Grey Cup was enjoyable but felt more like a relief. I hope we never have long gaps between cups like the Bombers have experienced in the past.

yeah for sure that 29 year drought was painful for me mainly because i grew up watching the Bombers in their glory years of Bud Grant, Leo Lewis and Kenny Ploen.    My first Grey Cup game ever was in 2019 and I flew to Calgary from BC for that game thinking I might never have another crack at seeing the Bombers in one.   I wore my Leo Lewis autographed Bomber Jersey which of course was #29 which ironically was the number of years we hadn't won a Cup.    It was the experience of a lifetime and it's been great to be a Bomber fan these past 4 seasons.

[Norm W]

I had my 1st beer(s) in 1963, it was during a grey cup game. My parents were Bomber fans and they were hosting a Grey Cup party at home. As the story goes everybody had left the room for a few minutes I proceeded to slam down at least two glasses of beer that were within reach of me, I was four years old! Parents listened to the end of the game on a transistor radio in the Misericordia Hospital while my stomach was being pumped. Apparently that gave me the taste for both football and beer. I grew up around football and the Bombers. I learned to throw a ball at an early age and probably the 1st guy in line to sign-up for pop warner football at 9 or 10 years old. I played the game until I was 23 years of age, a ruptured left kidney... the end result of being speared with a helmet ended any pro asperations I may have had. Parents eventually transitioned from CJOB to season ticket holders. I held season tickets with a group of friends for a few years but employment eventually took me out of the province and to a location that is too far away from any stadiums. I occasionally make it home and take in a live game, I can honestly say I haven't missed a televised game in years, I can't even put a date to when I missed the last one. TSN live steaming has been a god send and has come into play on a couple golf courses. 

[blue_gold_84]

Wow, some insane longevity here and great stories! Mine is boring and seems very recent by comparison.

No such thing as a boring story when it comes to fandom.

[GOLDMEMBER]

I had my 1st beer(s) in 1963, it was during a grey cup game. My parents were Bomber fans and they were hosting a Grey Cup party at home. As the story goes everybody had left the room for a few minutes I proceeded to slam down at least two glasses of beer that were within reach of me, I was four years old! Parents listened to the end of the game on a transistor radio in the Misericordia Hospital while my stomach was being pumped. Apparently that gave me the taste for both football and beer. I grew up around football and the Bombers. I learned to throw a ball at an early age and probably the 1st guy in line to sign-up for pop warner football at 9 or 10 years old. I played the game until I was 23 years of age, a ruptured left kidney... the end result of being speared with a helmet ended any pro asperations I may have had. Parents eventually transitioned from CJOB to season ticket holders. I held season tickets with a group of friends for a few years but employment eventually took me out of the province and to a location that is too far away from any stadiums. I occasionally make it home and take in a live game, I can honestly say I haven't missed a televised game in years, I can't even put a date to when I missed the last one. TSN live steaming has been a god send and has come into play on a couple golf courses. 

what position did you play?

[Norm W]

what position did you play?

Multiple spots, my size, speed and abilities changed over the 13 or 14 years I played. Slotback, Tight End/Tackle, Linebacker and eventually an inside halfback, the position that got me! I was stepping up to make a tackle on a running back that was coming off tackle, a receiver blind-sided me, spearing me with his helmet just below the area that the shoulder pads of the day provided for chest/ribs protection. The "block" pushed a couple ribs through my left kidney.

I think the term inside halfback seems to have fallen out of favor these days, your just a DB now.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Multiple spots, my size, speed and abilities changed over the 13 or 14 years I played. Slotback, Tight End/Tackle, Linebacker and eventually an inside halfback, the position that got me! I was stepping up to make a tackle on a running back that was coming off tackle, a receiver blind-sided me, spearing me with his helmet just below the area that the shoulder pads of the day provided for chest/ribs protection. The "block" pushed a couple ribs through my left kidney.

I think the term inside halfback seems to have fallen out of favor these days, your just a DB now.

cool. The term halfback I feel is commonly used still.

[KINGCHARLES]

Born an raised as a Bomber fan since October 8, 1980.

[Tiger]

Watched my first game as a young kid in Osborne Stadium.  Players like Jack Jacobs, Tom Casey, Norm Hill, Bud Korchak and Tommy Ford became heroes to me and I was hooked for life. 

Became a season ticket holder during the Winnipeg Stadium days until moving the BC.  The loyalty to the Bombers has never left me and never will.  The organization has one of great sport histories in the world IMHO.  Great teams, great new stadium and a great fan base that are the envy of the CFL.

Been around this forum for 16 years and I'm very proud to serve and be a part of the membership we have supporting the team.

Great history and story. My grandfather and family often told stories about these players, especially Kack Jacoba rocket arm and unique throwing motion off the shoulder.  I have never seen it in video.aunt one day.

[Tiger]

Some great stories.


I was indoctrinated young.   My grandfather talked and watched football.  He had played and had friends that played.  He had helped a young Bud Grant when he moved to winnipeg and become friends with him. He had tickets for years and I went at a young age on occasion.  As I played and became older I went to more games and had my own ticket at 14 that I delivered papers and cut grass and shovelled to pay for. My father was also friends with several bombers like Steve Patrick and Les Allen. When I was young Jim Helton lived 2 doors down.   Rick house did not live that far away. I kept going to games, played, coached.  Moved away for approx 2  decades and still followed them. When in the USA I went to some games in USA. Came how and renewed my season tickets. The rest is history.