Laurie Nichols (rugby league)

Laurie Nichols (Born 1 January 1922 in Cooma, New South Wales) is an Australian supporter of the Balmain Tigers, well regarded as the "greatest" fan in Balmain Tiger's history.

Laurie Nichols

File:Laurie Nichols.jpg Nichols at Leichhardt Stadium
Personal information
Born	(1922-01-01)January 1, 1922 Cooma, Australia
Died	February 2, 2000(2000-02-02) (aged 78)

Early Life

Laurie was born on the 1st of January 1922 in to a family of 12 other siblings of which he was close to the middle. His father was a wood carter and Laurie would accompany him on the horse and sulky to other homes in the area. At an early age he developed both an interest in sport and primary produce, and aged 10 he was first introduced to boxing at the local Police Boys Club. Aged in his early teens he started working in the General Store, still in Cooma, working off and on tanning and selling rabbit skins.

The Number One Fan

In 1969 after the Balmain Tigers 11th Premiership, at age 47, the Balmain Leagues Club presented Laurie Nichols with a Balmain Jersey, scribed on the back with ‘Number One Fan’. This was the first recognition officially granted to the man who was not just a fan, as the title suggests, but was a true fanatic in the essential meaning of the word. Throughout the 70's and 80's despite the hard times the Tigers were facing, Nichols still "religiously followed" the club. Benny Elias, the hooker for the Balmain Tigers said “He’d be on the bus going to the games with the players and was at training as much as the players were. He was from Springwood and it’s a long trip and he’d make the journey just to see us train. You don’t get more fanatical than that”."

Fox Sports

In 2017, Fox Sports Commentator Andrew Voss, has declared Laurie Nichols to be the NRL's best fan.

Laurie's Lane

In 2015, Leichhardt Lane was officially changed to Laurie's Lane after the residents of Lilyfield made a mural in honour of Nichols.

Balmain Tiger's Merger

In 1999, during the Super League War, the ARL and Super League (Australia) agreed to merge with 14 teams, in their new competition, the NRL. During the war, the 17 teams of the ARL and Super League, had to fight for survival. The Balmain Tigers although always loyal to the ARL, the new financial requirements of the competition meant Balmain couldn’t afford to go it alone. In 1999 talks of Balmain merging, first with the Parramatta Eels, and then with the Western Suburbs Magpies. At several public meetings, Laurie cried openly, tears flooding as he spoke passionately against any merge.

However, after much anxiety and a vote, it was decided that Balmain would merge with Wests, becoming the new ‘Wests Tigers’ for the 2000 competition.

It is agreed that Laurie spoke to the team at their final training session before their first game the following week. Wayne Pearce, who was coach at the time, says that Laurie voiced his acceptance of the team, that he told the boys to keep the heart of the Tigers and that he wished them all the best. Benny Elias and close friend Johnny Lewis say that Laurie would never have said such a thing, and that he was always heartbroken about what happened to the team and to the club.

Media Appearances

Throughout the 1990's and early 2000's, Laurie starred in multiple TV Shows, including Pizza (TV series), where he played a shadowboxing and gymnasium-using hero., and the Footy Show, where he made a guest appearance, during a birthday special for Steve Roach (rugby league).

Death

In February of 2000, Laurie Nichols died due to an ulcer rupturing in his stomach, he died just two weeks before the Wests Tigers made their debut. At his funeral, over 1000 people attended, including Wayne Pearce, and Ben Elias.