First game

[Mr_Red]

Hi all,

Im planning to take my 7yr old to her first ever game soon, so she can share the misery with me. 
 

I haven’t been to SMS in a while. Any suggestions where to sit? The kidzone would make sense and be cheaper, but the only tickets left are up in the gods. I thought i might splash out on a slightly better view. Also - any hints about where to get kit from? is the club shop the best choice?

My first game was a boring 0-0 vs coventry at the dell in the early 90s. Hoping it might be better than that…

[suewhistle]

My dad has a lot to answer for as well.    Luckily I don't remember my first game but I think Sydenham was involved!

The Itchen sometimes has pairs of seats vacant round my way and very good views, plus the kids sometimes go down the front with their 'Can I have your shirt please?' bits of cardboard. More expensive but for a special occasion...

[John Boy Saint]

You still get a good view of the goings on even from where appears to to be "up in the gods". My youngest when she was 7 and sat in the old family stand, liked getting the binoculars out of the bag and spying on the bench "ooh x looks like he is coming on" - bloke sat next to me loved getting the inside info. 

As a silly aside Take her to West Ham on the weekend, any seat at SMS will seem a million pounds better than any seat in that place afterwards. 

[rallyboy]

23 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

My youngest when she was 7 and sat in the old family stand, liked getting the binoculars out of the bag and spying on the bench

Binoculars? Spying? 😮

[Nieldy]

First game was Saints v Spurs 1992-93 season, think it was the first game of the season. Those Saints legends David Speedie and Kerry Dixon making there debuts. It was a dull 0-0 and i dont think it got much better that season, with Branfoot in charge. I still went back for more thou.

[Birder Saint]

Kids see it differently to us. My daughter loved going with me to a dull home pre season v Utrecht. She was hooked lol.

Mine was 3-3 v Blackpool 1976 which was great but my first ever evening game seemed magical, even though it was a 0-0 fa cup replay v Grimsby!!

Cigar smoke and burger van aroma on a cold night...isn't it?

[CanadaSaint]

On 21/10/2026 at 16:35, Mr_Red said:

Hi all,

Im planning to take my 7yr old to her first ever game soon, so she can share the misery with me. 
 

I haven’t been to SMS in a while. Any suggestions where to sit? The kidzone would make sense and be cheaper, but the only tickets left are up in the gods. I thought i might splash out on a slightly better view. Also - any hints about where to get kit from? is the club shop the best choice?

My first game was a boring 0-0 vs coventry at the dell in the early 90s. Hoping it might be better than that…

Buy a programme and write some notes on it - her first game, the weather, the score and scorers, and maybe clip and attach the Echo report. And then put it somewhere safe, where you keep important family stuff.

Decades later, when you might even be pushing up the daisies and she might be going to the games with her kids, that program will carry more meaning for her than you can begin to imagine right now.

I know that because that’s what my Dad left me. That precious programme is like a magical time machine for me.

[Picard]

My first game was also v West Ham at the dell. 3-3. What year would that be?

[Patrick Bateman]

On 21/10/2026 at 23:35, Mr_Red said:

Hi all,

Im planning to take my 7yr old to her first ever game soon, so she can share the misery with me. 
 

I haven’t been to SMS in a while. Any suggestions where to sit? The kidzone would make sense and be cheaper, but the only tickets left are up in the gods. I thought i might splash out on a slightly better view. Also - any hints about where to get kit from? is the club shop the best choice?

My first game was a boring 0-0 vs coventry at the dell in the early 90s. Hoping it might be better than that…

Block 13 is full of parents with kids, so if you can find a couple of seats that's a good shout. Wouldn't worry about being further back, especially there are you have the boxes behind you anyway.

I took my son aged 3 to the FA cup 3rd round match against Norwich in 2018 I think it was as it was cheap. Bad idea, he was done by 33 minutes in and we left. But then we saw Quincy Promes and entourage in the car park when we left, fed up 3 year old must've put him off signing 😂

7 is a good age!

[explorer saint]

4 hours ago, Picard said:

My first game was also v West Ham at the dell. 3-3. What year would that be?

1971 ? Came back from 0- 3 down Terry Paine equalised and also on MOTD

[suewhistle]

Wasn't Tommy Jenkins playing as well? You see Mr_Red, you've set us all off! But CanadaSaint's idea is a good one..

[RedArmy]

I took my nipper to his first match last season when he was 5 and I’ve taken him to a few more this season. 
 

One thing I have noticed is the one time we sat up in the Kingsland on the half way line and he could see the whole pitch better he was glued to the match. If we sit in the itchen north and the ball is up the other end a lot he loses interest a bit because he can’t see what’s going on as well. 

 

I know it’s more expensive but if you can I’d recommend as close to half way as possible for the first one so she can see it all better and will hopefully remember all of her first match. 
 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Block 13 is full of parents with kids, so if you can find a couple of seats that's a good shout. Wouldn't worry about being further back, especially there are you have the boxes behind you anyway.

I took my son aged 3 to the FA cup 3rd round match against Norwich in 2018 I think it was as it was cheap. Bad idea, he was done by 33 minutes in and we left. But then we saw Quincy Promes and entourage in the car park when we left, fed up 3 year old must've put him off signing 😂

7 is a good age!

While not the ideal day for you, it does warm my heart to read. As once I was the kid who didn't get beyond half time, before my dad had to take me home. 🙂