As a new father I'm keen to get my boy into his local team but at just under 5 months he's obviously still a little young. What sort of age did you start bringing your kids to matches? What do you think is the minimum age?
Depends on the kid, took my Daisy at just 3 just turned and loved it! Took her to the Barnsley game for her 4th birthday and we were pretty much last out of the ground, and had 2 hours in the boozer before hand!! Depends on the kid.
I'm hoping to take my little boy to the home pre-season game next season, which will be just after his 4th birthday. Figured a friendly was the best bet for a first game, won't be as packed or loud (therefore less scary for a small child) and I won't mind as much when I miss action due to fatherhood duties, or if we have to leave early due to the likely eventual boredom.
My son was 32 when I first took him to the valley (maybe he took me) it was the QPR League Cup Game the year after the play off final to which my wife won tickets in a raffle (she hates football) which re-ignighted my interest in going to football again which had lasped. (I was at the famous Blackburn 3-4 gameas a fourteen year old). We became regulars and started to take my grandson when he was about 6. We have been season ticket holders for the past seven seasons.
East Terrace brought his daughter (1 yr old) to the Barnsley game. He left his seat with her after 20 mins, as she was screaming the ground down. He gave up & left at HT. I took my 2 at age 5 & would say, if you take them at a younger age, you're really chancing that you won't see the game out.
Took my nephew at 5 to Selhurst, he was loving the game when a guy in a 3 piece suit got up in front of us and fired off a rant at the ref including a few f.s and a c. Scarred no way,after that he loved it even more, unfortunately 27 years later hes now a Millwall supporter, maybe he was a bit scarred. My own two are still to see Charlton as Im a long way from home (took the eldest to Southampton on Boxing Day last time Y was home,but we know what happened next) but saw their first games at the 2010 WC age 4 and 6, including Portugal scoring 7
Took my grandson when he was 4, never been to the toilet so much in my life! Half time he was standing on the seat when he slipped off and his leg ended up trapped down the back.
Poor little sod has been to three games, we have drawn one and lost two and the only time he has seen us score was against middlesborough!
Still he has asked for a Charlton duvet set as part of his christmas pressie, so he must be enjoying it, can't wait until he can actually see us win!
My daughter was eleven I think. I took her to Barnet when she was five and it was a total disaster, so I gave up after that. She didn't have a clue what was going on, but then she'd never watched football on TV at that point. Get the boy watching MotD etc from about three and talk to him about what he's seeing. I've seen a friend try this approach and it works. He should be ready by four or five that way.
Took my son Callum at 6 now he is 11 and an absolute fanatic anything Charlton. My older lad took at same age and is now a die hard rugby fan can't stand anything football!! So guess depends in the kid !!
I bought my lad along at 6 months as I knew it was our last premiership season for a while, he saw, between snoozes a three nil defeat to Liverpool the night they qualified for a champions league place I believe, but at least he can say I saw them in tge top flight. Not quite "I was born in the covered end" as the old song went but almost
My Dad took me when I was 6, I loved it and I've been going for the last 10 years since that game. I didn't need anything to keep me entertained other than the footy apparently, but then again it was the PL days so that might of had an influence on my interest levels.
I was 4 myself. I took my eldest boy to Selhurst when he was 4...he used to play footall with some other kids on the Sainsbury's terrace. My Middle lad was about 6....he never really got into it, and my youngest was a season ticket holder at 5.
Took my boy when he was four and to Wembley aged five. I was unsure about taking him at first and probably would have delayed a bit longer but he was given tickets by the Charlton community training he was on. He loved it and we've never looked back. He's on his third season ticket now, aged seven, and been to 15 league grounds and 7 non-league grounds.
Took my 2 eldest @ 3 and that was too young ... One is in to it and the other isn't but he's not even 5 yet .. I think 6 upwards (which is when I started going) is prolly the best age but we're all different
Took my 5yr old son to Barnsley match for his first game and he loved it - already bought him the home kit for Christmas. I thought if we made it to half time that would be a result - given the way we played, unfortunately we made it to 70 mins. He could have gone longer but his friend started to get a bit restless. Key thing I found was to have plenty to eat and drink for them, especially a treat they don't usually get - in our case a massive bag of Haribos.
Took my 5 year old to his first match this season against Hull. His next match was the loss to Barnsley. He's yet to see us score yet he's hooked already. Absolutely loves it.
I took sweets, cars and a Nintendo but he only had the sweets as he was engrossed in the footy. He loves the singing from the North stand (we're in the East stand) and can't stop signing Chrissy Powells Red Army at home, much to the annoyance of his Mum.
My advice would be, purely down to my own experience, take them at 5 upwards. Get them to wee just before the players come out at the beginning and also at half time! Also, take sweets.
I'm also starting to learn that this is getting very expensive as he now owns the home and away kit and his younger brother and sister now want the same. The missus minds but I don't as I'm just chuffed they love Charlton!!!
Having said that I also think it's important for them to make their own minds up on which team to support. He sometimes cheers for Chelsea on TV as a friend of his supports them. This is fine but I find that I don't tell him when Chelsea have won and certainly not when Charlton have lost but he's made fully aware when we win, especially when we score 5 goals!
My son has been a season ticket holder since 1996 i have been since 1992...he informs me since 1998 he hasnt missed one single home game in all that time. I have missed one since 1998.....as i am always working xmas it's a miracle only one as i live in Basingstoke. This year i am duty as well boxing day so that's 2 since 1998.
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;-)
My boy was 7 when he first came. I was expecting him to be bored and nag me to let him play his DS but he loved it.
He gave up & left at HT.
I took my 2 at age 5 & would say, if you take them at a younger age, you're really chancing that you won't see the game out.
My own two are still to see Charlton as Im a long way from home (took the eldest to Southampton on Boxing Day last time Y was home,but we know what happened next) but saw their first games at the 2010 WC age 4 and 6, including Portugal scoring 7
Poor little sod has been to three games, we have drawn one and lost two and the only time he has seen us score was against middlesborough!
Still he has asked for a Charlton duvet set as part of his christmas pressie, so he must be enjoying it, can't wait until he can actually see us win!
Get the boy watching MotD etc from about three and talk to him about what he's seeing. I've seen a friend try this approach and it works. He should be ready by four or five that way.
I think 6 upwards (which is when I started going) is prolly the best age but we're all different
I took sweets, cars and a Nintendo but he only had the sweets as he was engrossed in the footy. He loves the singing from the North stand (we're in the East stand) and can't stop signing Chrissy Powells Red Army at home, much to the annoyance of his Mum.
My advice would be, purely down to my own experience, take them at 5 upwards. Get them to wee just before the players come out at the beginning and also at half time! Also, take sweets.
I'm also starting to learn that this is getting very expensive as he now owns the home and away kit and his younger brother and sister now want the same. The missus minds but I don't as I'm just chuffed they love Charlton!!!
Having said that I also think it's important for them to make their own minds up on which team to support. He sometimes cheers for Chelsea on TV as a friend of his supports them. This is fine but I find that I don't tell him when Chelsea have won and certainly not when Charlton have lost but he's made fully aware when we win, especially when we score 5 goals!