Watching football as a neutral with a 5yr old in the North of England.

I started my lad off at a local non-league game – more intimate & less intimidating than a huge crowd – when he was 5 & things evolved from there.

Unfortunately he became a Chelsea fan however, thankfully he still prefers going to see the local team (in the Conference South) to a day at Stamford Bridge. He’s been a jumior member for a few seasons now & at least once a year gets to be the club mascot on match day (as part of the membership) which he loves and gets him in free to all home games. This all costs less than one kids ticket at any premiership club…

I took my son to see Aston Villa on the 3rd Jan as part of his Xmas present, i’m not a fan but we went in the family stand on the front row.

We both loved it, and will go again 😉

Or you could take him somewhere to learn how to be an underachieving failure, and think it’s something to boast about…

3-0.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Battles and wars, my friend, battles and wars…
(This is the Man Utd bashing thread though).

Another club worth a visit if you’re in the North is Sunderland.

I took my lad (just turned 6) to his first match on Boxing Day. He absolutely loved it.

There is a good park and ride scheme – it’s free and drops off/picks up at the ground. Food (for the kids) is relatively cheap and if you are selective about your seats (family area or main stand (expensive though)) there was no problem with sweary types*. The atmosphere was excellent too.

Another option, as mentioned previously, is non-league. I used to be a member at Morecambe when they were in the conference. Matchdays were great. A real intimate family affair. I was on first name terms with Margaret who sold the pies at half time and you could go for a pint after the match with the players in the club bar.

*unlike when I went in the away end at Wigan the other night!

So, as an update, I have today booked tickets to see Team GB at Old Trafford at the Olympics. As a non football fan and no doubt the purists and fans will say it doesn’t mean anything, I am genuinely excited about going and seeing, and being part of the Olympics with my son in my country during my lifetime.

Team GB at the Olympics

You’ll only be disappointed.

Team England you mean?

Not bothered about the result, just the event. As I said, I have no real interest in football.

TJ – isn’t there a token Scot in the squad? Its so if they lose, they become Scottish by default. Andy Murry stylee 😉

Not bothered about the result, just the event. As I said, I have no real interest in football.

Why go then?
Unless you go with the intent of getting behind a particular team it’s dull.
I have been to loads of games where I’m a neutral and I find them quite tedious. I try to get a game in when I go on holiday. Drives the wife potty.
I’ve been to the footy in Spain, France, US, Canada and dozens of games in the UK when it wasn’t my team(Carlisle United) playing. The only one I sort of enjoyed was Vancouver Whitecaps but that was because their ‘keeper was an ex carlisle player and now returned as GK coach and I had a crack with him.
Made me want to get behind the team.
I’m assuming Team GB will be your team but unless you experience the highs and lows of football and you have no real allegiance it’s not something you’ll look back and think “that was a brilliant event”.

Take him to your nearest league club.
It doesn’t really matter which one, as long as it’s not Sheffield Wednesday.
😀

If he gets into it, you’ll feel much, much better about him going with his mates in a few years time.
Cheaper in the long run too.

I’m a Sheff U fan, and was brought up by a fanatical Blade in Manchester – I missed a lot of games as a kid when my parents stopped going as I was too young to go on my own and when I was old enough, it cost me a bomb in train/bus fares.

full of effin and jeffin and gesturing

my 9year old daughter assures me that the Owls fans do have at least of couple of songs that don’t include “f*** you United”…. i’ve yet to here them sung though

Sung? Grunted, surely 🙂

Mate took his boy and mine when they were both about five, to see Leeds Utd for the first time. In the lull after a particularly lurid bout of singing / chanting his boy got a laugh from all around as he turned and said

“Daddy, I know about that second word, because we’re not allowed to say it at school, but what does “gay” mean?”

Why go then?
A. It’s the Olympics.
B. It should be a good atmosphere regardless of the quality of the teams
C. It is reasonably handy.
D. It’s probably as neutral as it can get. Which is a good thing in my mind.
E. Etc etc etc.

Where did you book the tickets? Sounds perfect for my nephew.

A. It’s the Olympics.
B. It should be a good atmosphere regardless of the quality of the teams
C. It is reasonably handy.
D. It’s probably as neutral as it can get. Which is a good thing in my mind.
E. Etc etc etc.

A. It’s the olympics, big deal, what’s SO special that you must see a game in the Olympics? What’s wrong with seeing a local team that will be there for more than one game? What if your boy thinks it’s the bee’s knees and want’s to go again?
B. Just because it’s the Olympic’s doesn’t mean the atmosphere is going to be great.
Not long after I met my wife she went to Chelsea v Bayern Munich in the champions league and said it had a rubbish atmosphere, a week later I took her to Carlisle v Aldershot in the Conference and she loved it.
Big doesn’t always mean best.
C. so is Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Stockport, Wigan, Bolton, Burnley, and the two Manchester teams…. Shall I name some more?
D. Do you think there’s still pitched battles like there was in the eighties. Why the “I want to be Neutral” stance? It’s not Switzerland, nobody is asking you to fight for a team.
E. Thats not an answer.

IHN – apparently there are loads and loads of Football tickets left. They’ve sold hardly any. Its because its only a minority sport in this country. What can you expect?

IHN…they were released just today.
Flatfish….we clearly have differing views so let’s agree to disagree here. I can’t see any need to justify this to you.

Good on you, go and enjoy it.
Be sure you get to some proper football too. 😉

Enjoy 🙄

I would always recommend Anfield being a liverpool fan.

However Blackpool is a great friendly atmosphere & plenty for kids to do either side of match, make a day of it!