5 year-old's first game - advice?

[Nedski]

I'm making a rare trip to Sheffield at the end of the month so I'm hoping to take my eldest to the Blackpool game. I've only just realised tickets are available and my first choice (Bramall Lane/Westfield corner) have all gone.

My dad has a season ticket on the kop but I don't fancy taking him there, so the remaining choices are restricted view seats in the family corner, or Bramall Lane Upper tier. I've only ever sat in the kop so have no idea what either or these are like. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Side note - This is my first time using the ticketing system and whoever designed it needs a slap.

 

[Rusty view]

Took my daughter when she was 5.

Got her a season ticket on Westfield corner. Moved to John Street 3 games ago due to increased swearing around us. And as she's now nearly 8 she's more aware of it.

John Street is probably best imo. Due to facilities and choice from bars e.g chips.

I take a bag with snacks and drink keep her fed and watered and saves queuing. Never had any issue taking it in from stewards.

She's been really good and lasted most of match when she 1st started going and now sits all the way through. Even more impressive to say she has adhd.

I go prepared that I may need to leave early. Avoid crowds at end.

Hopefully he loves it.

 

[MightyBlades]

Bramall Lane upper tier every day of the week.

Best view in the ground and plenty of room up there, so if you do get sat near some undesirables, who insist on swearing like troopers, you can just get up and move elsewhere without a problem. Also, you won't have to queue for the toilets.

Do take a small rucksack along for him, with a large bottle of water, plenty of food to snack on, a coat if it turns cold and also a small toy/comic, in case he gets bored.

Fingers crossed that there are a few goals for him to enjoy. x

 

[Selly]

BLUT is the best view in the ground, and the steep rake means that even a 5yo will be able to see over the person in front of them.

Take plenty of snacks.

Accept you may miss some parts of the game due to toilet trips.

 

[madeinsheffield]

The club were doing a 'Home debut' scheme pre lockdown, starts in the room under the pukka pie corner on John St, kids get a gift and a walk through into the ground before it fills up and see the pitch up close and pick out where you'll be sitting. My mate did it with his lad and they really enjoyed it. Not sure if they still do it though, worth asking

 

[Tezza1889]

Do yourself a favour, take some earplugs.

If it gets noisy the nipper won't be used to it.. My cousin took his girls to the Peterborough game, they went home after ten minutes due to the noise.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Another vote for BLUT. After a few games, grandson at age 5-6 decided he wanted the noise of the Kop experience, and I managed to get him a season ticket behind the goal with us. Had several years of him on my knee, and timing to perfection when to lift him up. Kept me fit, and he loved it.,He’s still there, age 17, he’ll soon be lifting me up! But that would not suit everyone.
On another thread, me and Silent Blade realised that we both went to our first matches against Blackpool, both defeats, both still going many decades later. Beware of the lifelong traumas you may be responsible for

 

[Long Time Lurker]

I'm making a rare trip to Sheffield at the end of the month so I'm hoping to take my eldest to the Blackpool game. I've only just realised tickets are available and my first choice (Bramall Lane/Westfield corner) have all gone.

My dad has a season ticket on the kop but I don't fancy taking him there, so the remaining choices are restricted view seats in the family corner, or Bramall Lane Upper tier. I've only ever sat in the kop so have no idea what either or these are like. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Side note - This is my first time using the ticketing system and whoever designed it needs a slap.

Hope your lad enjoys it Nedski and it's the start of a life time (no doubt tough) love affair for him. I can still remember seeing the grass for the first time at BDTBL 47 years ago and it gives me goose bumps thinking about it now. Pity the football has often been grim over the years but it's a bond that can't be broken. COYRAWW!!

 

[raul]

Do yourself a favour, take some earplugs.

If it gets noisy the nipper won't be used to it.. My cousin took his girls to the Peterborough game, they went home after ten minutes due to the noise.

Good call, think there is some sort of singing section on the BLUT.

All the good advice has already been given, but would recommend the JSS for starters with its better facilities, more toilets ( you'll be going a few times) and the lack of steep stairwells you'll need to negotiate too.

 

[YoullneverbeatPaulBeesley]

They will always let you down , but you will love them like we all do anyway .

 

[Jan Age]

I took my 4 year old son to his 1st game against Derby.

We sat in the BLUT and it was perfect -

Great view not only if the game but the entire stadium and gave him a good appreciation of the entire set up.

It’s not too busy so access to toilets and half time snacks is not a worry.

There are no idiots so no worry of any trouble.

He loved it and the only time he was worried about the noise is when they really ramp it up before the layers come out the tunnel.

I came out 5 mins early so as to negate any potential trouble with the away fans.

 

[benn5712]

Think I was at one of those Blackpool games in the 60's. Remember the Tangerine shirts, and standing at the railings BL lower.
BLUT is a brilliant view. May see if I can shift ST.

 

[Grumps]

I'm making a rare trip to Sheffield at the end of the month so I'm hoping to take my eldest to the Blackpool game. I've only just realised tickets are available and my first choice (Bramall Lane/Westfield corner) have all gone.

My dad has a season ticket on the kop but I don't fancy taking him there, so the remaining choices are restricted view seats in the family corner, or Bramall Lane Upper tier. I've only ever sat in the kop so have no idea what either or these are like. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Side note - This is my first time using the ticketing system and whoever designed it needs a slap.

John Street

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Do yourself a favour, take some earplugs.

If it gets noisy the nipper won't be used to it.. My cousin took his girls to the Peterborough game, they went home after ten minutes due to the noise.

In more general terms, perhaps the advice is try to take into account what the kid is like. My grandson loved the noise, and wanted to go on the Kop to be amongst it. I got the impression that he loved being able to jump up and down and shout (at the right moments!), and nobody telling him off for doing it. Indeed, everyone else was doing the same. Great shared experiences.
My granddaughter is small, and she likes to go in the front of the South Stand, to get a clear and close-up view. So far she (and her mother) hasn’t had driving rain and a northerly wind - they would get soaked.

 

[Greystones Blade]

Another vote for BLUT. After a few games, grandson at age 5-6 decided he wanted the noise of the Kop experience, and I managed to get him a season ticket behind the goal with us. Had several years of him on my knee, and timing to perfection when to lift him up. Kept me fit, and he loved it.,He’s still there, age 17, he’ll soon be lifting me up! But that would not suit everyone.
On another thread, me and Silent Blade realised that we both went to our first matches against Blackpool, both defeats, both still going many decades later. Beware of the lifelong traumas you may be responsible for

Funnily enough my first 2 games were v Blackpool….both wins…at Hillsborough. My dad was a Wendy fan and he took me to see them v Blackpool 1964/65 season - Wendy win 4-1 and then the next season Wendy win 3-0. They are the only games my dad ever took me to - I started watching United in 1965 - first game I think was a 5-0 win v Aston Villa with 2 United goals disallowed (I think) for offside. Never went to watch Wednesday again…..

I think he was only a Wendy fan because we lived at Stannington and he worked at the brickyard in Loxley on Saturdays until 1pm and he could just get home, get changed and get to Hillsboro for ko.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

BLUT given your choices. Will have a great view.

 

[SUFC Guy]

John Street family stand. Best for toilets, bar etc. Really quick to get in and out. Beats all other stands imo. We're bang on the half way line several rows from the back so the view of the pitch is excellent.

 

[Bayingblade]

April 4th 1972. Bramall Lane Upper tier. I shall forever be grateful to my dad for taking me there for my first game.

 

[breeny]

I'm making a rare trip to Sheffield at the end of the month so I'm hoping to take my eldest to the Blackpool game. I've only just realised tickets are available and my first choice (Bramall Lane/Westfield corner) have all gone.

My dad has a season ticket on the kop but I don't fancy taking him there, so the remaining choices are restricted view seats in the family corner, or Bramall Lane Upper tier. I've only ever sat in the kop so have no idea what either or these are like. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Side note - This is my first time using the ticketing system and whoever designed it needs a slap.

Always seats available in front of us (1st row in south stand)...

 

[breeny]

Do yourself a favour, take some earplugs.

If it gets noisy the nipper won't be used to it.. My cousin took his girls to the Peterborough game, they went home after ten minutes due to the noise.

I take ear defenders for my lad!

 

[Micky Narker]

Hope they have a reyt day and that it sparks a lifelong passion.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Another shout for the BLUT. Excellent view. Decent amount of space. Good on the front few rows.

HH

 

[Pedro Verde]

If it gets noisy the nipper won't be used to it.. My cousin took his girls to the Peterborough game, they went home after ten minutes due to the noise.

My grandaughter started coming to games about 4 seasons ago with me and her Mum, she was ok to start with but then started not wanting to go because of the noise. We kept her Season Ticket and she started coming at the beginning of this season and she loves it shes eight now and that bit older
We go in the John Street stand

 

[Geordie Blade]

+1 for the advice on taking snacks. A big back of Starburst should see them through. They’ll spend most of the match watching the adverts on the big screen!

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

I'm making a rare trip to Sheffield at the end of the month so I'm hoping to take my eldest to the Blackpool game. I've only just realised tickets are available and my first choice (Bramall Lane/Westfield corner) have all gone.

My dad has a season ticket on the kop but I don't fancy taking him there, so the remaining choices are restricted view seats in the family corner, or Bramall Lane Upper tier. I've only ever sat in the kop so have no idea what either or these are like. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Side note - This is my first time using the ticketing system and whoever designed it needs a slap.

Upper tier mate, best view in ground and roomy. Also try to pick a game with a good atmosphere for her first, she’ll be hooked for life

Actually now I think about it that’s maybe not such a good idea

 

[Tezza1889]

Yeah and we settled on john Street, it was best place for kids..

Used to sit bang on halfway line, best days ever as he no longer wants to go now he's 19...

 

[Rusty view]

The club were doing a 'Home debut' scheme pre lockdown, starts in the room under the pukka pie corner on John St, kids get a gift and a walk through into the ground before it fills up and see the pitch up close and pick out where you'll be sitting. My mate did it with his lad and they really enjoyed it. Not sure if they still do it though, worth asking

Actually great tip that. The room under pukka pie corner accessed from the road is brilliant for kids pre match. Free to get in computer games, pool table, table tennis. Good set up

 

[JT89]

The club were doing a 'Home debut' scheme pre lockdown, starts in the room under the pukka pie corner on John St, kids get a gift and a walk through into the ground before it fills up and see the pitch up close and pick out where you'll be sitting. My mate did it with his lad and they really enjoyed it. Not sure if they still do it though, worth asking

Yes they are running it this season, its free too (obviously you have to have purchased tickets for the game)...

All info & contact details are on the club website here; https://www.sufc.co.uk/fans/families-juniors/home-debut-scheme/

 

[Flumps]

Poor little bastard if he enjoys it. My mom did that to me when I was about the same age and look at me now. Witnessed countless relegation and 3 PL seasons, only one of em good.

The Kop for me has never been too bad but if language is a problem then I'd avoid, obviously family stand is your best option. Not sure if you're up for it but getting there early ish will avoid the hustle and bustle which I assuming is a pain in the arse with a nipper

I do remember my mom taking me in to the club shop before hand, I loved it back then, just wall to wall Blades shirts and I remember begging her to get me one and she wouldn't. Was a cold Tuesday night match too.

Not a clue who we played or the result but I remember that so vividly

 

[BladesOnToast]

My dad took me and my brother to a non-league match first when I was 5 to check that we could handle a full 90mins. (We could, at primary school age, so why can't Mousset as a grown man?). After that we made our debuts watching the Blades - 2-1 defeat at Gillingham, if anyone's interested.

Incidentally, in dealing with the language issue, my brothers and i were allowed "1 swear word per match". I distinctly remember, during a drab 0-0 draw at Highfield Road, asking my brother at half time if he'd "used" his swear word yet. "Yes, but i don't think Dad heard so i'm going to have another one for the second half".