What's the ideal age for a first game?

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:59 pm

Delighted to say my fiancee is heavily pregnant with what will be our first (and, we are planning only!) child, my daughter is due in the pre-season.

My fiancee's side of the family are huge Chesterfield fans, and all season ticket holders, and we also live in Chesterfield. I have already taken control of that situation by insisting on her being a Clarets fan, which I have received something approaching agreement on. I also took advantage of the 50% off kit offer and purchased a 3-6 month full kit for a mere £15 from the club shop.

The question is, what do you all feel is a good age for a first game? I remember my first match clearly just before I was 5 years old against Mansfield Town - but with the potential for swaying to the blue side of the family, what do you recommend?!

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:04 pm

The first game after she is born so there is no way they can change their mind and make her a Chesterfield fan!

Good luck.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:05 pm

Firstly congratulations.

For adult and child to enjoy the game I would say about 8yrs old. Any earlier and you're just babysitting at the game.

My first game was 1983 when I was 5 but I had an empty Bee Hole end to run up and down while my dad watched the football.

andyh · Post by **andyh** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:05 pm

I've 5 children.

All I would say is that if they are interested in football take them to a game.

If they are not then it is counterproductive - just wait and they may find football later in life.

Enthuse about the matches you attend and let their inquisitive nature request going... then you are sorted!

ClaretEngineer · Post by **ClaretEngineer** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:05 pm

Jedi, the earlier the better. I took my son on the game as soon as he could walk.

BUT it also depends on the minimum age requirements set by the safety officers / Club.

We were almost refused entry to Nottingham Forest some years ago as he was deemed too young (he was nearly 3). They only let us in on the strict assurances that we sat near close to a stairway and exit.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:06 pm

Premier league season commences on Saturday 12 August

...seems about right to me!

MK-Claret · Post by **MK-Claret** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:06 pm

Personally i would say around 6. Took my eldest 2 on at that age, and my youngest who is 6 went on her first game v Bournemouth earlier this season.
I took her in the CFS she loved it, although we did move down near the front lol..

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:13 pm

My Dad and Grandad tried taking me to the football when I was about 6, 7 or 8, to Burnley and couple of times up at Rossy Utd. Not interested at all, I was more interested in climbing the floodlights (at Dark Lane that is, not Turf Moor). It was only when I was about 10 when I took an interest.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:14 pm

I'd say six also, I took my lad at that age and he followed the game for 90 mins well enough. Totally hooked now, nearly five years on.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:23 pm

Before we renewed for next season we were discussing if we should start taking nephew on.

He'll be 3 by the time the season starts and decided it's too soon for him just yet but will maybe try him on any friendly or cup games we get

He has already been on Turf for Duff's testimonial and he managed to get to around 70mins before got too restless.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:28 pm

Kids seem to be taken at a younger age these days. I was 7 when I first went through the turnstiles and then it was just the reserves. I was just three months short of my ninth birthday by the time I was promoted to the first team.

BruceJennersManFanny · Post by **BruceJennersManFanny** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:32 pm

Firstly Congratulations on the impending arrival on your daughter.

I too am expecting my first child (Ebay) when he finally arrives I wouldn't let the first game dictate the future of her support for out Great Club!!

When born into the Claret world she will understand that Spires and the ites that follow them have nothing on us, might I recommend the collection of Burnley Themed Mister Mens books from the clubshop and the ABC books (Another Burnley Chanpionhip) that can also be purchased from there!! Both of which I have alredy splashed out for

I dont post that often but our similar situations struck a chord with me.

She might attend the blues but will always be a Claret!!!

In response the question you actually asked about 5 seems the right age

(Might I ask will you be trying the placenta) Its all Claret goodness!!!!!! UTC!!!!!

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:35 pm

Four or five I'd say, although be prepared for her not to pay too much attention. I actually took my daughter when she was about 3 and she picked up some lovely new words. "Did you enjoy the football, Beth"? "Yes, bastards"!

Fortunately she didn't retain that word for future use, although that remains her only trip to the football, she's no interest in the beautiful game.

It probably depends on the child as well. I remember my brother starting to come to the football and up until about eight he was either perstering to go to the loo (I missed goals because of it) or when we did score and managed to see the goal, he'd burst out crying because it was too loud (sorry MD

).

Fortunately he's a big boy now but he still jumps at any noise out of the ordinary! No tears just spilled beer each time he jumps!

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:38 pm

It's really interesting hearing everyone's thoughts, seems that the average is between perhaps 4-6.

I will be sorely tempted to go younger than that ala ClaretEngineer though!!! I would feel like I have failed as a parent, and a Claret, if she is not singing No Nay Never by 10 as opposed to "There's only one Ian Evatt".

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:13 pm

Unless you have reliable babysitting planned for the next 8 years, I would say take her on from day 1. To a new born baby, everything is brand new so nothing will surprise her; by the time she's old enough to have a proper opinion, it will be a fact of life that you go to football matches and it won't occur to her that there's a choice.

If you don't take her on from babyhood, then 7 or 8.

I went to a rugby match at Keighley one good Friday, where the match mascot was celebrating two anniversaries - her first birthday, and exactly one year since her first Keighley Cougars match. The parents had taken her to the game, on the day of her birth, on the way home from the hospital.

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:23 pm

Congrats

Good planning by the lass to ensure that the baby arrives pre-season.

Could you imagine missing games because of false alarms etc !!

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:33 pm

jedi_master wrote:Delighted to say my fiancee is heavily pregnant with what will be our first (and, we are planning only!) child, my daughter is due in the pre-season.

My fiancee's side of the family are huge Chesterfield fans, and all season ticket holders, and we also live in Chesterfield. I have already taken control of that situation by insisting on her being a Clarets fan, which I have received something approaching agreement on. I also took advantage of the 50% off kit offer and purchased a 3-6 month full kit for a mere £15 from the club shop.

The question is, what do you all feel is a good age for a first game? I remember my first match clearly just before I was 5 years old against Mansfield Town - but with the potential for swaying to the blue side of the family, what do you recommend?!

Hi jedi, congratulations - and good luck to everyone.

I'm sitting here with my 3 week old granddaughter.

Good to know that there is a 3-6 month size full kit.

I read the question as ideal age to play in first game. I think I was 7 when I turned out for the cubs. We lost heavily - the other team were older and I don't think I was the youngest on our side. OK I stopped playing at 62 - though still got a longing to play again.

I think I was 8 when I saw my first game - at Peel Park in 1962: Accrington Stanley v Burnley. A fund raising friendly, if my (then young) memory understood things correctly.

UTC

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:35 pm

dsr wrote:Unless you have reliable babysitting planned for the next 8 years, I would say take her on from day 1. To a new born baby, everything is brand new so nothing will surprise her; by the time she's old enough to have a proper opinion, it will be a fact of life that you go to football matches and it won't occur to her that there's a choice.

If you don't take her on from babyhood, then 7 or 8.

I went to a rugby match at Keighley one good Friday, where the match mascot was celebrating two anniversaries - her first birthday, and exactly one year since her first Keighley Cougars match. The parents had taken her to the game, on the day of her birth, on the way home from the hospital.

I went on that game as well,well done to the parents

claret wizard · Post by **claret wizard** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:07 pm

My twins went on at 3 weeks old, end of January. We were in the JH Boxes though. They had season tickets from about 5 years old.

Hazzyclaret1955 · Post by **Hazzyclaret1955** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:15 pm

I saw my first Burnley match when I was 7 back in 1962, although my first match was at Ewood. My dad was one of theses who went to watch both on alternate Saturdays, and there you could sit on a bench pitch side. I saw the light and from 7 it was only the Clarets. I took my oldest lad on the Turf when he was 5, it was a 0-0 thriller against York in the League Cup 1994. We were in the Bob Lord and he played with his Tomas the Tank engines on the wooden seats.

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:22 pm

A few months short of my 7th birthday when I went to Turf Moor for the first time in Nov. 1958. We lost and also lost the next game I went on two weeks later. Hooked for life.

PaintYorkClaretnBlue · Post by **PaintYorkClaretnBlue** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:30 pm

I took my son at 5 and he's as addicted to it as I am. Took my daughters at various ages but by the time they hit 14-15 they're more interested in shopping or working to enable shopping!!

turbo5 · Post by **turbo5** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:33 pm

Took my son on a few games at 4 years of age a bit to young but we were in one of the execs boxes so could play around. He attended 50% of the home games at 5 and got his first season ticket at 6. started away games last season age 7/8 only missed a few mid week games . This season he has 100% home and away (including cup games) even West Ham and WBA which were mid week. Took my daughter age 3 to the Bristol City FA cup game weather was horrible and she doest want to go again

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:40 pm

Old enough that they'll be able to pay attention. I'd say 4 is too young. 6-7 is more like it.

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:13 pm

Congrats to you both, Jedi. I was 8 but had been pleading to go for a year or so. Listening to the men talk about the matches had me transfixxed. I was always going to be hooked.
With my own 2 girls I took them both on at 8. The elder immediately fell in love with Wayne Biggins and loved it, the younger had no interest at all.
It's pot luck so good luck.

BFCBaz · Post by **BFCBaz** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:14 pm

I had the pleasure and privilege of taking my grandson to his first match last season, against Rotherham, just weeks before his 7th birthday, along with his dad. It was a very special occasion as he lives over 200 miles away and was visiting for the weekend. His dad is a life long Claret, but his other grandpa is Leicester, so we had some competition!
He absolutely loved every minute of the game, and a half time hot dog sealed the deal. We were surprised that he watched the whole game with a huge grin on his face, and he loved the goal music!!!
He's been once since, with the same excitement, and wears his Burnley kit most Saturdays at his football training in North London!
You have a lifetime of enjoyment ahead of you if your little one takes to football.
Congratulations, good luck and enjoy!

Burnleybabe · Post by **Burnleybabe** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 1:22 am

My Daughter went on every game from being 3 months old
My Son from just before 2, he isn't a Claret, but she certainly is.
And goes to as many games as she can Work permitting,

She actually works in Sport so must have helped.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:52 am

My first game I was just short of 2. My first away game 3. Dont think they had babysitters in them days

. Ive been hooked ever since.

Took my nephew to his first games at 3 and he has been equally addicted.

Dont think there is a right or wrong age.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 9:14 am

I was 6 (and a few weeks). On the old Victoria ground at Stoke, in '63.
I've still vivid memories of the crowd, noise and, smells. It was awesome!
Not much recollection of the actual game though. (4-4 draw)
But I was well & truly hooked. Constantly pestered to go to more games.

J50 · Post by **J50** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 9:18 am

There's no right or wrong and it depends on the child. Both of mine have a good focus and not the typical short attention span of many children so from age about 2-3 I took them to football matches and they would watch and enjoy. The first child continued til he was about 12 but gave up as football and sports watching in general wasn't his thing. The second one is now 13 and has been hooked since day 1 and is Surreys biggest fan. With both of them we have also been to small local clubs which is fine - Kingstonian, Hampton etc.

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