Kudos to Club for this, hopefully one of many this season. They're calling them "One Richmond Stories"
One Richmond stories: Elaine’s 85 years of Tiger love a Shaw thingMeet Elaine Shaw, member of the Tiger Army for an incredible 85 years.
By Richmond Media
2 days ago
As one of Richmond's longest-serving supporters, Elaine Shaw's love for the Tigers has spanned over 85 years.
Born into a family of Yellow and Black fans, the now-94-year-old became an official member of the Tiger Army in 1939.
Her earliest memories involve catching the train from Clifton Hill to Tigerland on the weekends to watch the team play.
There, her mother would lift her over the fence and she would sit on Punt Road Oval near the boundary and take it all in.
"I remember it vividly... You couldn't do that now!" she laughed.
"My mum used to take me when I was a wee little thing. I was born in Tasmania but came to Melbourne when I was five, and my mum and brother would take me to games as a tot.
"And I've never given it up. I just love my footy."
With four sons, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, Elaine has worked hard to get as many family members as she can on board the Tiger train.
"My husband Keith got two of our sons, Lionel and Lance, over to Fitzroy but I made sure I got the next two, David and Glenn, before they were even born," she said.
Eventually, she won Keith over too.
"It took a bit of work, but I got there!" she said.
"He won't hear one bad word about the Tigers now."
Hailing from Devonport, Richmond legend Matthew Richardson is of course one of Shaw's favourite all-time Tigers.
As for her most memorable moments over the past eight-and-a-half decades, the Grand Final wins will always stand out, but she "just loves watching the Tigers run out onto the ground".
While Shaw doesn't get to as many games at the 'G as she would like to these days, she is yet to miss a match on television.
"I wouldn't care if they put them on early in the morning, I would still watch them!" she said.
"I look so forward to my football... it's an outlet.
"I can't wait (for the season to start). When the season ends I feel like I've lost Tattslotto."
One thing is for Shaw. No matter the result, she will be cheering on the Yellow and Black.
"As long as I can see that the boys put in a good game and tried, that's all they can do," she said.
"I'm so proud of all of them."
Join Elaine and become a Richmond member today.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1498538/one-richmond-stories-elaines-85-years-of-tiger-love-a-shaw-thing
