My petrolhead 5 years ago (11 at that time) had no interest having been taken along since the age of 7 Now the keenest of the lot to go to games , obviously everyone is different and even if not keen at first doesn't mean it's game over
I recall taking my son to the Valley for a game against Ipswich. The crowd were singing 'sheep shaggers' and he asked me what they meant. I said they were singing 'sheep shearers' as there are a lot of sheep near Ipswich.
Attending football should be on the school curriculum for all of our entitled, closeted and wrapped in cotton wool generation of youngsters...
A few years of watching Charlton will give the lad an invaluable grounding. It will teach him about hope, loss and compromise. He'll learn that life is unfair most of the time but when, on rare occaision you fluke one, savour it, milk it's greatness, because you could be waiting a while for the next one.
Enjoy the day. He will know life in its purest form for 90 minutes, sorry 115 minutes in 2024 measures.
Oh South London (oh South London) Is wonderful (is wonderful). Oh South London is wonderful. We've got chips, The Valley and Charlton. Oh South London is wonderful.
Was on the train after with my son and two kids sat next to us one in white away shirt and saying it was their first game. Spoke briefly to their dad as they commented about their mum's cooking 😆
Was that you @bromdog? Hope you all enjoyed the game if so (or even if it wasn't hope your boy enjoyed it...mines hooked now so have well and truly passed on the albatross that is CAFC!)
What a turd of a first game to witness. At least when he is older he can brag to his mates that his first ever match wasn't a cup final or a nail biting promotion finale, but a drab non-football 1-1.
Thanks all. We’ve only just got back home to Tonbridge! Was a fantastic day, honestly it exceeded all expectations and all the advice helped. He managed the full 90, but in truth lost concentration around the hour, I said if he wanted to go home that that’s ok but he insisted he wanted to stay until the end. But was well behaved. I even managed a couple of pints in the fans bar after and all he wanted to do was sit on the ledge and look out on to the pitch. One of my best CAFC days for sure!
Thanks all. We’ve only just got back home to Tonbridge! Was a fantastic day, honestly it exceeded all expectations and all the advice helped. He managed the full 90, but in truth lost concentration around the hour, I said if he wanted to go home that that’s ok but he insisted he wanted to stay until the end. But was well behaved. I even managed a couple of pints in the fans bar after and all he wanted to do was sit on the ledge and look out on to the pitch. One of my best CAFC days for sure!
Excellent! Glad he enjoyed it and to be fair if he enjoyed that he will be able to enjoy any game.
Great father son bonding time too, however you have now condemned him to a life of pain and frustrations.
Thanks all. We’ve only just got back home to Tonbridge! Was a fantastic day, honestly it exceeded all expectations and all the advice helped. He managed the full 90, but in truth lost concentration around the hour, I said if he wanted to go home that that’s ok but he insisted he wanted to stay until the end. But was well behaved. I even managed a couple of pints in the fans bar after and all he wanted to do was sit on the ledge and look out on to the pitch. One of my best CAFC days for sure!
Wow, he did far better than I did then! Glad you had a great day.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
I’d say keep it simple. Get to the ground half hour before, see if you can get him a programme to flick through whilst he is bored, sweets and chocolate. Id be inclined to wait until the spring with the better weather, but seeing as it’s the local game to you then it may suit you better, just wrap him up. You’ll do well to get to half time but it’s one of those great things to do. I don’t think you will regret it
Oh South London (oh South London) Is wonderful (is wonderful). Oh South London is wonderful. We've got chips, The Valley and Charlton. Oh South London is wonderful.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
Lucky Alfie didn't end up going to Huddersfield or that could have been a very awkward discussion at the game...
"Daddy, why is Alfie wearing the oppositions kit....."
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
Personally, I'd take him to a home game first. Just in case it's the gound he falls in love with before the team. As you've got a long journey with that, I'd take him somewhere else to make a event of it. I'd like to think Greenwich Park and the Cutty Sark would be of interest.
As for Charlie May, I'd get that out of the way and tell him quite quickly. That said, when my boys were little I didn't even tell them that there were other football teams. I just said we're watching Charlton and that's that.
He’ll be fine up at Huddersfield. Sit to the left of the away end…away from the home fans who share same stand (to keep away from usual banter / language you get in shared stands) & you’ll be good.
Last time I went up there we lost 5-0. Hopefully we get a better result for your boy this year.
Oh South London (oh South London) Is wonderful (is wonderful). Oh South London is wonderful. We've got chips, The Valley and Charlton. Oh South London is wonderful.
Always sang tit's, fanny and Charlton 🤷♂️
When my eldest was young we used to sit in the family stand. In front was a kid who was a couple of years older, who was always there with a bloke, that I presume was his dad. The kid used to love singing along to 'tits, fanny and Charlton '. He'd belt it out with a big smile on his face. One day he did it then looked up seeking his dad's approval, only to see his mum glaring down at him. The look on their faces was an absolute picture. I imagine there was quite a 'is that what you let him get up to?' conversation when they got home.
Wished my dad (RIP) had got me a programme from the 1st game he took me can't even say what year it was....either 70 or 71. No way of knowing which I find quite sad. Get the lad a programme and ticket stub and frame it....wished my dad had.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
Personally, I'd take him to a home game first. Just in case it's the gound he falls in love with before the team. As you've got a long journey with that, I'd take him somewhere else to make a event of it. I'd like to think Greenwich Park and the Cutty Sark would be of interest.
As for Charlie May, I'd get that out of the way and tell him quite quickly. That said, when my boys were little I didn't even tell them that there were other football teams. I just said we're watching Charlton and that's that.
Thanks for the input everyone. I would like The Valley to be his first one as it was that walk under the railway arches and looking up at The Valley that first drew me in. Also a bit worried how cold it could be in November.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
He loves his football, loves Charlton, has a couple of kits. He does still think Alfie May plays for us though, so will have to break that to him at some point.
My Daughters first game was at Huddersfield when she had just turned two. a last minute Igor Vetokele goal against 10 man Huddersfield to claim a 1-1 draw. A Classic Charlton game. I remember thinking at 80 minutes that I didn't care if Phoebe saw a win, I cared more she had seen a goal for our team in her first match. Then on the 93rd minute, Igor made my dreams come true and Phoebe got to see what pure joy from a last minute goal looks like. "We Did it Daddy" as the crowd calmed down
Unless its changed, sit towards the left corner as there's a gap where its too small to fit seats but a gap big enough for them to run up and down. if they get bored
Its a great stadium and easy enough to get to. Its no Valley though :-)
I took my eldest to her first Spurs game when she was 5. It was a pre-season friendly so it wasn't a disaster but she lost interest within 10 minutes. It was a good job we went with 3 other on a Dads/daughters day out and the kids kept themselves entertained.
Took her back to her first proper PL game a couple of years later and she absolutely loved it.
She ended up going Charlton quite a bit when her Uncle was working there so she considers herself more Charlton than Spurs now.
My bloody niece decided she wanted to go to Millwall for her 7th birthday, so we ended up there first game of the season against Watford. I know, the absolute shame of it.
Anyway, I told the wife our girls (5 and 3) were far too young, I'd stay at home and you can go and represent the family but she insisted they went. The 5 year old enjoyed it to a certain degree but the 3 year old was an absolute pain in the arse the entire game and ended up watching you tube on my wife's phone. I'm just glad I got lumbered into doing the chip run because I ended up sitting at the opposite end of our block seat booking lol. Never again until they are older.
Comments
Now the keenest of the lot to go to games , obviously everyone is different and even if not keen at first doesn't mean it's game over
Attending football should be on the school curriculum for all of our entitled, closeted and wrapped in cotton wool generation of youngsters...
A few years of watching Charlton will give the lad an invaluable grounding. It will teach him about hope, loss and compromise. He'll learn that life is unfair most of the time but when, on rare occaision you fluke one, savour it, milk it's greatness, because you could be waiting a while for the next one.
Enjoy the day. He will know life in its purest form for 90 minutes, sorry 115 minutes in 2024 measures.
Oh South London (oh South London)
Is wonderful (is wonderful).
Oh South London is wonderful.
We've got chips, The Valley and Charlton.
Oh South London is wonderful.
you'll have a much better time and won't need winter clothing
And, most importantly, did he kick the back of the seat in front of him all game?
Was that you @bromdog? Hope you all enjoyed the game if so (or even if it wasn't hope your boy enjoyed it...mines hooked now so have well and truly passed on the albatross that is CAFC!)
Great father son bonding time too, however you have now condemned him to a life of pain and frustrations.
We live in Yorkshire. Am I mad for thinking about taking my son (5) to his first game away to Huddersfield in November?
Or should I wait until Spring at head down to The Valley?
"Daddy, why is Alfie wearing the oppositions kit....."
As for Charlie May, I'd get that out of the way and tell him quite quickly. That said, when my boys were little I didn't even tell them that there were other football teams. I just said we're watching Charlton and that's that.
Last time I went up there we lost 5-0. Hopefully we get a better result for your boy this year.
Unless its changed, sit towards the left corner as there's a gap where its too small to fit seats but a gap big enough for them to run up and down. if they get bored
Its a great stadium and easy enough to get to. Its no Valley though :-)
I took my eldest to her first Spurs game when she was 5. It was a pre-season friendly so it wasn't a disaster but she lost interest within 10 minutes. It was a good job we went with 3 other on a Dads/daughters day out and the kids kept themselves entertained.
Took her back to her first proper PL game a couple of years later and she absolutely loved it.
She ended up going Charlton quite a bit when her Uncle was working there so she considers herself more Charlton than Spurs now.
My bloody niece decided she wanted to go to Millwall for her 7th birthday, so we ended up there first game of the season against Watford. I know, the absolute shame of it.
Anyway, I told the wife our girls (5 and 3) were far too young, I'd stay at home and you can go and represent the family but she insisted they went. The 5 year old enjoyed it to a certain degree but the 3 year old was an absolute pain in the arse the entire game and ended up watching you tube on my wife's phone. I'm just glad I got lumbered into doing the chip run because I ended up sitting at the opposite end of our block seat booking lol. Never again until they are older.