Taking Kids To The Match

[bricktop]

What is the best age to take them, i'm thinking of taking my 2 year old son to his first match in the next few weeks before the weather turns cold, as basically since he was born, i've wanted him to be a Blade and can't wait for the first time to take him.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

he won't remember it. save it til may or next august.

 

[Stockholm syndrom]

Far too young...he'll just want to run around and won't sit still for a minute! I have a lad who is nearly two and he's a little varment (sp). I remember the old man taking us to our first match I were about 7 and my younger brother 5, the little brother just spent the whole match whinging and then eventually just running round the old jss chasing a little girl had befriended! I'd say leave it until their at least able to grasp the basic rules of the game...two yrs old I think is a little too soon you may also get reported for child cruelty

 

[travellingblade]

I've taken my son & daughter, and four of my five grandchildren.

The ideal age is 5 / 6, i.e. I took my son on his 6th birthday in August, many years ago.

Make sure that they've plenty of things to do to keep them amused, especially a pencil & paper, so that they can draw things, or count things, and feel involved, such as get them to right down the different numbers of each player that they see on the pitch etc.

 

[stannyblade]

My lad is 5 and is pestering to be taken. Think I may give in this season.

 

[Kenilworth]

Far too early Brownie
Get them into football (playing it) first and buy them the kit.
My lad was about 8-9 when I first took him to the Lane but that's cos I had to factor in a long car journey.
He has particularly fond memories of going to night games in school weeks where the journey was a key part of the excitement of the trip, falling asleep on the way home.
If we lived in Sheff I would say 7-8 otherwise they spend all their time running about like others have said.
If they already play then they will generally watch the full 90 and at around 8 years their attention span will last for the game.

UTB (up The Brownies)

 

[sheepbridge]

I took my 7 year old for the first time last Saturday and he's going tonight. Mainly because it will be one of the few chances he gets to go to a night match.
I did consider taking him last season, but the football and atmosphere was so poor I thought it would put him off for life (seriously).
He certainly enjoyed seeing them win on Saturday and hasn't shut up about it.

I certainly wouldn't take him much before this time really though. Some of my mates took theirs at an earlier age and spent the whole match trying to entertain them and usually leaving early when the kids got really bored.

Got a 4 year old as well, and like the 7 year, has the kits etc., is a 'Blade' and does know it, but isn't going for a couple of years yet.

 

[alcoblade]

What is the best age to take them, i'm thinking of taking my 2 year old son to his first match in the next few weeks before the weather turns cold, as basically since he was born, i've wanted him to be a Blade and can't wait for the first time to take him.

Took my sons when they were 5. Much younger and you risk boring them to death, or frightneing them to death.

I'd leave it for a year or two, but then again you do see some take 'em younger.

Both my lads are now hooked after starting at 5.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

thought this was a thread about us playing a lot of kids


I think kids like to go , but dont really appreciate the nuances of the desperation and elation the game engenders , till theyre 8

 

[Wards]

I was 7 and didn't pay much attention until the next season.

2 years old is way too early, IMO of course

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I took my daughter when she was 7 although I suspected she might be bored of the actual match so we made a day of it.

Went out for lunch, then to the ground, into the shop for a top and scarf, and then the match. She loved it and didn't miss another game that season.


That said last season seems to have seen her off, but I think she'll be back once we start playing something like again.

 

[KPO]

My grandson is 5 in November, and is on his fourth season ticket! He loves every aspect of the match day. We get there early enough to see some of the players arrive in the car park and get autographs and photos. He enjoys watching the players warm up. He follows the game, although if the opponents score they are always offside! Don't know where you sit, but we are in the Family Stand, and when he needed to go in a pushchair, we could go in the disabled entrance and leave the pushchair under the stairs - the stewards were always very helpful. Always took plenty of snacks for him because he tends to eat all the way through. He has been to a couple of evening friendlies this season and really enjoys them.

I probably should add that my other grandson is nearly 3 and he has gone to a few matches - unfortunately at the wrong end of the city!

 

[Micalijo]

I'd say 5, preferably 7.

Brownie - good to see you got a season ticket. I assume Wilson has gone up a bit in your estimation or is it McCabe you were protesting against for appointing him? Just seems very stranmge to me how you can turn up in the car park and then 2 months later act as if it never happened. I know it's a passionate game and feelings run high but I struggled to support the club when Blackwell was in charge and I'd like to know how you are coping at the moment.

 

[alcoblade]

I'd say 5, preferably 7.

Brownie - good to see you got a season ticket. I assume Wilson has gone up a bit in your estimation or is it McCabe you were protesting against for appointing him? Just seems very stranmge to me how you can turn up in the car park and then 2 months later act as if it never happened. I know it's a passionate game and feelings run high but I struggled to support the club when Blackwell was in charge and I'd like to know how you are coping at the moment.

It might not apply here, but admitting when you're wrong is an admirable quality. Digging yourself into a trench in the comlete opposite.

UTB

 

[Micalijo]

It might not apply here, but admitting when you're wrong is an admirable quality. Digging yourself into a trench in the comlete opposite.

UTB

Totally agree with your point about admiting you are wrong - fair play to Brownie, not entirely sure what you mean about trenches.

 

[Sensiblade]

I promised my ex I wouldn't take my little girl till she was at least 4, so the start of next season it is for me & her

 

[blade too long]

Digging yourself into a trench in the comlete opposite.

UTB

that puts gas board and water workers in a difficult spot

 

[iggle-theblade]

I have been taking my daughter since she was 2 properly though her first game was at 4 months as we won a comp
this is her 3rd season ticket i don't take her to night matches on a school night its hard the first few games
but she got used to sitting on my knee and now she loves going and has been to wembley and the keepmote with us
i have been going with my dad since i was 3 so i don't think it can be too early as the younger the easier it is to get them used
to the atmosphere and the suroundings and how they act rather than at say 5 when they are bigger and not used to it round.

 

[Wards]

I think I'd be tearin my hair out if I was stuck next to a 3 or 4 year old for near on two hours

 

[bricktop]

I'd say 5, preferably 7.

Brownie - good to see you got a season ticket. I assume Wilson has gone up a bit in your estimation or is it McCabe you were protesting against for appointing him? Just seems very stranmge to me how you can turn up in the car park and then 2 months later act as if it never happened. I know it's a passionate game and feelings run high but I struggled to support the club when Blackwell was in charge and I'd like to know how you are coping at the moment.

I'm coping about as well as you would have if Blackwell had won that game against Burnley, and then brought success in the Premiership using an attractive and expansive passing game

:thumbup::thumbup::hello:

Seriously if the first couple of games are a marker of how things are going to go, then there won't be a happier Blade than me.

 

[Billyblade]

Started taking my lad when he was 7. At first he would piss about and keep asking when half time was so he could eat his sweets but now at 10 he seems to kick every ball and can watch the entire match without bothering me with stupid questions. Since he's been going he now lives, eats and sleeps football.
He'd been with other family members from when he was about 3 but I refused to take him until he was older because I knew I would spend most of the match trying to keep him occupied instead of watching it.
I've seen kids at the match playing on Nintendo DS's for the entire 90 minutes. What's the point of going? Surely theres someone you could have left them with.
Brownie, 2 is far too young. he won't have a clue what's going on. My advice is to wait but if you are desparate to take him for your sake, get ready for 90 minutes of never seeing the match!

 

[iggle-theblade]

At times she does get distacted and not watch the match and occasionally fell asleep on my knee at first
many a time i have woke her up jumping up for a goal
i see it as a bit of father daughter time plus i have told her the toliets shut an only open at half time and full time so i
don't miss any goals.
but i would say for me this is her 3rd season and her season ticket has been £10 each year so it doesn't matter if she misses a game
or doesn't watch i supose its different if your paying £10+ a game to take them

 

[lawlessdan]

I took my 7 year old brother to his first game tonight and that was hard enough work!