Right of passage!

[TBM]

but isn't 5 a bit young to take a kid to football?

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Nope.

Took one of my twins a few times last season and he really enjoyed it. He was 6 in April and now has a ST.




Cue some banal joke, most probably from Kes, about child cruelty....

[Platypuss]

but isn't 5 a bit young to take a kid to football?

Not really.

[Bandini]

but isn't 5 a bit young to take a kid to football?

Provided that they get their round in at the pub, no.

[TBM]

In that case i may start taking my lad, he'll be 6 in October......i just felt he wouldn't have a clue what's going on and get a bit bored.

For those who took a 5 or 6 year old to football, did he/she have an understanding of football beforehand?

[T.R.O.L.I.]

A low level of understanding (not dissimilar to a lot of football fans then) - generally garnered from:

1) Being dragged to watch his older brother play football on a Saturday morning.
2) Watching football on TV (abnd being subjected to Sky Sports News by his older brother on a Sunday morning)
3) Playing FIFA games on his DS.

His interest has grown a lot more in the past 6 to 9 months - pretty much as I started taking him to live games.


If I were you, TBM, I'd take him to a couple of "low-profile" - we've got Watford and Donny coming up in September - games for free and see how it goes from there. Even when he passes six, you can easily blag it past the stewards as they don't tend to challenge ages if you say "he's 5, mate" before they have a chance to question you.

[TBM]

Nice one, cheers

Do they not have to pay at 5 years old then?

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Nope - as long as they don't take up a seat (the idea is that you sit them on your lap).

Having said that, it's not as if we're selling out at the moment so if the seats either side of you are taken, you're bound to find a couple of seats together nearby.

[Platypuss]

if the seats either side of you are taken, you're bound to find a couple of seats together nearby.

^This.

[muddyfeet]

the only problem is if they're young they find it hard to concentrate for the whole 90 - well my nephew did anyway.

on sat - the couple in front of me had two daughters - prolly 5&7 = reckon they watched about 5 mins of the game

[roadrunner]

I am currently sorting out bringing my 5 (nearly 6) year old son to his first game.

I know lots of nobbers will have great advice and wanted to experience from your expertise (e.g. is the Lower West the best place to start?)

Not only this, but there must be.... "The things you MUST do the first time you go to a football match".

Mine was having a hot chocolate and not being able to see anything as my Dad wouldn't let me go down the front at Elm Park - and I remember going home sad as we lost, but still to this day don't know who we played!

Grateful for any advice.

I started taking mine when they were 5. They used to sit on my lap. Buy them a coke to take to their seat and they were happy as. The only problem was their fasination of Kingsley the flee bitten lion. Once he was out of site the girls would tell me they were bored and was it time to go yet? Then it developed into "Can we go down and see him".

Keeping them from getting bored at that age is a nightmare but now at 10 they love going, they're worse than me now, and they're great company too.

[ZacNaloen]

the only problem is if they're young they find it hard to concentrate for the whole 90 - well my nephew did anyway.

I'm still like that, constantly missing major events.

[Royal Lady]

There's a guy with 2 little girls who now sits next to me - one sits on his lap and the other has a seat. But it means I can't swear, at all, and I'm finding it very difficult. Please people with children, sit in the designated family area, wherever that is and if we haven't got one, make one soon RFC. Cheers then.

[Row Z Royal]

The guy I sit next to regularly (well, 5 home games a season) brings his grandson along. Now 7 and he loves it. Slow burner at 4 going on 5, but was really into it last year.

[Cypry]

Started taking my lad to carefully selected home matches when he was 3, just used to carry him through the turnstile, never got challenged.
He's 4 now, 5 in November and has a ST this year. We sit with my Sister-in-Law and her clan, so he gets to sit with his older cousins (which he loves) and rarely gets really bored - back end of last year and early this he's started paying more and more attention to the game - I just set him little challenges like pointing out where the ball is, or where his favourite players are - if he does get bored a bit of food normally does the trick.
One thing that has worked for him is where we sit - we're at the back of the Upper West (OK not the best atmosphere, but I can get my fix at away games - never take the lad away) - means he doesn't have anyone shouting from behind him which is less stressy for a youngster, but also means that he gets a great overview of the pitch (from being elevated) which really helps him to understand what's going on......

It helps that he's a bit of a character, makes him quite popular with the guys who sit near us - had to laugh last season, when Kebe got the ball and he bellowed at the top of his little voice "RUN JIMMY RUN" - loud enough for people 7 or 8 rows in front to turn round and look.....

[M-U-R-T-Y]

but isn't 5 a bit young to take a kid to football?

There was a woman in Y26 on Sat with a baby that would've been no more than 2 or 3 months old.

[notloyalenuffroyal]

There's a guy with 2 little girls who now sits next to me - one sits on his lap and the other has a seat. But it means I can't swear, at all, and I'm finding it very difficult. Please people with children, sit in the designated family area, wherever that is and if we haven't got one, make one soon RFC. Cheers then.

There you go you see - RL is spot on - I don't want to affect other's enjoyment of the game, but don't really want to have my young'un having too much language thrown at him.

Bovril sounds good - I haven't had one since 1984. Is it like Marmite in liquid form?

I have considered whether 5/6 is too young, but he is quite determined. I go on the principle it is like the cinema, which he can cope with, but this time he has 15 minutes of chips/chocolate eating to look forward to in the middle. I think I will have to go with the the thought that I might need to get up to go to the loo at a crucial corner as well, but never mind.

[notloyalenuffroyal]

but isn't 5 a bit young to take a kid to football?

There was a woman in Y26 on Sat with a baby that would've been no more than 2 or 3 months old.

Potential breast-feeding at football scandal.

"Get your t*ts out for the baby"?

[Platypuss]

Took my eldest when she was about 10mths to the last non-testimonial game at EP (Sheff Weds in 98) just so she could say she'd been there in future years.

[notloyalenuffroyal]

To be honest. North West is as good a place as any.

Cheaper than the west stand and relatively sparse attendance quiet so won't be much swearing or other unwanted behaviours.

^ This. Plus if you're in the opposite corner to me, I won't try and hug your missus again.

I don't think I swore too much at Wembley but was steaming so can't really remember.

You were a complete gentleman. And the wife still talks about it to anyone with a pulse so you are more than welcome to fuel her fantasies.