Scummer Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Simple question. How young was your child when you first took them to watch Saints? And in retrospect was it too young? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I took my grandson last year when he was 5. I soon realised he was too young - children of that age don't have the attention span. And as for taking babes-in-arms to a match on a freezing cold night...... Crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I soon realised he was too young - children of that age don't have the attention span. My attention span was seriously tested on Saturday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merrimd Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Been taking 30 kids once a year since they were 8 (now 12/13) That was just about right I think, just managed to keep their interest up. No problems at all now (last time was saturday). However I guess it depends on the kid in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Our first child - a daughter, was born 4 days after the 1976 Cup Final. What a week that was!! I started taking her to the Dell just after Heysel when we had qualified for Europe but couldn`t play because English teams were banned. Her first game (I think) was the game against Liverpool in the replacement "Super Cup", so 1985/6? She still has her ST -at the moment!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secret Site Agent Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I am looking to do it in the next few weeks - My Daughter is 8. My son i took when he was 9. Just the right age I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I just hope there is a club to take mine to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamKimish Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Was taken to my first game when I was 5. Used to spend the majority of the game stood on my seat so I could see the pitch. I had been to a couple of reserve games at the Dell beforehand though but I think this age was about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 5 and yes it was to young and she is 7 now and I still think she will not have the attention span...... and I am not sure I would want to put her through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsmith77 Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I took my daughter for her first game on her 8th Birthday. She absolutely loves it and this year begs me to take her most games. I wouldn't take them any younger though. She still can't watch it on TV unless it's Saints, gets bored and wonders off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My son was 6 (now 7) and he loves going, just not to see Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draino76 Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 4 years old. A hot sunny day, the start of the season full of hope. Yes my boy started his Saints career entertaining the lowly Crystal Palace at the start of last deason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggy Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My eldest boy didn't have much say in who he was gonna support, I first started taking him to the Dell when he was about 8 y.o. he didn't take to it initially as at half and full time he couldn't tell you what the score was but he could tell you exactly how many aircraft had taken off from Eastleigh and flown over the Dell. To reinforce the message that there was only ONE team in Hampshire I then literally painted his bedroom Red & White, including the furniture. He had the team badge painted on one wall approximately 4'x4' and the back of the door was painted as per the back of MLTs shirt. Proud to say that he is now 22 y.o. and goes to most games, good on yer son! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1976.4.38 Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 took my son at age of 6 to fulham away.lost to them but son a huge saints fan,southampton till i die,coyr.he wanted to be a fulham fan,so told him he could support them but never see them,or be a saint and go all the time,guess who won,oh yes,the mighty saints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogerfryisalegend Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took my eldest for the first time when he was 3 1/2, not much fun as you would expect, he is now 5 and I have subjected him to 4 games so far this season, he sits and watches but im not convinced he really likes it, I think he just likes having a boys day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I was 45 when I first took my nipper to football. I think I was too old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DT Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My son is two and a half and I was seriously considering taking him to see Charlton. Having read all the above I won't be taking him to Palace, unless as a sub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenilworthy Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 A pre-season friendly is a good introduction as the atmosphere is not too intense. I took both my boys at around 5 to St Mary's and then they started going regularly home and away from just under 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durleyfos Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I took my grandson last year when he was 5. I soon realised he was too young - children of that age don't have the attention span. And as for taking babes-in-arms to a match on a freezing cold night...... Crazy. I'm sure I saw a manc fan last night holding a baby that looked no more the 3 months old. (Although it might have been on Sunday, even so...) My son is 20 months old, I can't wait to take him (assuming SFC is still around in 8-9 years time ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Bizzle Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 i was 4 when i had my first ST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Started taking my lad to reserve games (when they were at The Dell) when he was about 6. He enjoyed it, so took him to 1st team games when he was about 7 and he's been going ever since. Catch 'em while they're young.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Katalinic's 'tache Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My son is nearly 3 and has his first ticket for the Burnley game. Just in case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumstead_Saint Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 A pre-season friendly is a good introduction as the atmosphere is not too intense. Well put. I first took my son when he was 5 and a half. It was the Ted bates memorial game against Panathanaikos on a sunny summer's afternoon. His first away game was a pre-season friendly against Millwall when he was 6 and a half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took my nipper to reserves and the Red v Yellow thing a few years ago when he was about 5 or 6. As for proper league games I started taking him last year; he was 8. Now he plays for an under 9s team he enjoys coming along more 'cos he has more of an idea of what's going on and really feels a part of the proceedings. So, in answer to the question, I think 8 or 9 is the ideal age because: They can pay attention for 90 minutes; They are starting to understand the basic rules and tactics; They don't want food or drink every 5 minutes; and They don't want the loo every 5 minutes.... Therefore you can still enjoy the game without having to explain the game too much to your prodigy or annoy the t1ts off everyone in your row to get stuff for him/her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 took my eldest to the Dell when he was 6 , some 15 years ago, sat under the East Stand we beat Villa near the end of the season and he was a bit frightened by the noise. Took his brother to SMS fOR first ever game there when he was five but he was ok, because this elder brother was 12 and the younger one did not want to be a baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoccerMom Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took the nipper first when he was 6 - that Leicester City match that was nearly rained off! No problem with attention span (although he does read the programme more thoroughly than I ever do), only the tears whenever Saints lost. He doesn't do that anymore, thank goodness. He can also manage half of an 1st team evening match without asking to go home, though he will stay at a reserves match til the end, as they tend to start earlier. His first away match was Charlton last season - I think he found it a bit traumatic as he tends to equate bad language with out and out aggression, and you don't get so much of that in the family enclosure at SMS. Still, he did enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I first took my son when he was 5 and it was done for the very best of reasons ! Basically the wife informed me that if I insisted on going to the football I had to take the little brat off her hands otherwise it was a non starter ! Around this time I had a contact at Fulham and used to sit in the director's box, I took my lad along once and he amused himself by running along the rows systematically flipping the seats up and then running back and flipping them down again (the box was never full in those days!) needless to say he wasn't welcomed back !! From about the age of 6 he was a Junior Saint at the Dell and we loved every visit in those days !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My nephew's first game is going to be the Palace game on Monday. Been planning it all season (I'll be flying in from the US for it) ... now we're thinking it's just as well we picked a game THIS season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickmick Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I remember begging my Dad to take me to football when I was a kid. First game was Pompey v Bristol City when I was 9, some fighting broke out where we were stood. It put me off a bit. Next game was Saints against Aston Villa 3rd round of our FA Cup winning year. Superb atmosphere in comparison and that was me hooked. So I will be taking my boys at a similar age(6 years away). I think by then we will be regulars in the Champions League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bad Bob Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I was 45 when I first took my nipper to football. I think I was too old. When I'm 45 my son will be coming up to 7 so it'll be the right age to take him. I certainly wouldn't take him before he was 5! I was watching the MoanU game last night whilst listening to the radio and they showed a bloke with a 2-3 year old asleep in his arms. Kids eh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidthesquid Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My soin was just five. It was a bitterly cold day against Derby at the Dell - I think we won 1-0 - and despite complaining that he'd lost all feeling in his fingers & toes he enjoyed it thoroughly & ten years on he still comes with me. You have to get them young, because despite some leanings towards Liverpool he has remained a true sufferer like his old man, despite living on the dark side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Sons were 8/9...One quickly off to Rugby playing/supporting. Second supported Saints ever since. Girls 9/10 Both support Saints still but waiting for me to return..Mind you they seem to be interested in clothes/boys etc...might be a struggle. Started when I was 7 ish just right. COYR Being taken by the old man... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourno Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I took my Son to pre season friendlies when he was 3,4 and 5. This was too early. He was more interested in eating and going to the toilet (every 10 minutes). Aged 6 I signed him up as a Junior Saint (We live in Portsmouth, so I needed to convert him early). He got 5 free match vouchers and started to sit still and actually watch the games- I did have trouble explaining off-side to him. I then purchased a season ticket for him in December I take a bag full of food for him and he is now no trouble and really enjoys it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoccerMom Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 I take a bag full of food for him Good call. I cannot stress how important this is, esp if they want to bring friends with the free vouchers. Oh, yes, if you are bringing a child under, say, 135cm tall, you might seriously want to consider buying tickets on an aisle. That way they can see much better, esp when someone scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warsash saint Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took my nipper to a freiendly a couple of seasons back when he was 4 & his first proper game was the Sheff Utd game last year when he was 5. I have tried to get back this season but apparently 'Saints are boring' .... who am I to argue. Did anyone see that tit at Old Trafford last night holding a baby that was fast sleep .... how stupid taking a kid that age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St.Patrik Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took my oldest girls to see Saints against Svarstad in Norway and they where 6 & 7 - perfect game to go to and a perfect age for a first game. And that Saints won 12-0 did no harm either. They both worn their Saints shirts I got them from the Megastore this sat to school today : ) Think of bringing the eldest now aged 9 to St.Marys next season for a "real" game. But we will not sit in the Northam thats for sure ; ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amesbury Saint Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Almost 4, some 12 years ago. Stood on the seat in the West Stand singing OWTSGMI. he through half time was full time. Probably 2 years before he went again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Got my eldest a ST when Saint Mary's opened when he was 6. He's had a ST ever since and is still fanatical - I do feel guilty at times for putting him through this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 Took my eldest when he was 5 or 6. Told him he might hear a few naughty words, and under no circumstance was he to repeat any of them in front of his mother. I had a major 'don't let them see you laughing' moment when at half time he looked up to me at half time and said 'Dad, can I swear at the ref in the second half?' Took our youngest son to the Preston game, he's 3. He lasted far longer than I expected him to, although I didn't consider the fact that he didn't have a clue about the rules so I spent the whole game explaining in kiddie terms why they were taking a corner, or a throw etc etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 My daughter came when she was about 9. She asked which way we were kicking and most weeks I have no idea myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 8 April, 2009 Share Posted 8 April, 2009 (edited) Took my two eldest Grandsons to the Bayern match when they were both 5, since then one has tagged along abpout 4 times the other moved to Kent (took him to his first Gills match last week, apparently he has been sleeping in his new Gills shirt that I bought him) and don't worry, he knows that Saints are his other team. I'm taking our Granddaughter to the palace game at the tender age of 7 and three quarters and she is so excited as she has always been told NO GIRLS allowed. So amessage to all who are down about our predicament, there are new fans coming through all the time, Saints will live on through our kids and their kids ad infinitum... Edited 8 April, 2009 by hamster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmm Donuts Posted 9 April, 2009 Share Posted 9 April, 2009 Took my son to the last game at The Dell, he was 5. He fell asleep at half time after a burger and missed the parachuting. He was a bit young, but the photos are priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 9 April, 2009 Author Share Posted 9 April, 2009 I won't take my 2 year old on Monday then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild-saint Posted 9 April, 2009 Share Posted 9 April, 2009 I took my boy at 5 for his first game to the Sheff Unts game last season. The only reason I risked it was because i couldnt get anyone to look after him. So 5 goals, a red card and a pitch invasion on his first game and now he is obsessed. He sat and watched the game for the entire game. stood on hs seat for the goals and ignored all the bag of comics, sweets and DS i took with me to keep him occupied. He is now 6 and has been to around 9 home games and one away (charlton) this season. He loves it and when I pick him up from his mums house this list of questions his hit upon me without fail ..... 1) Are we going to the football 2) Who are we playing? 3) What place are they in? 4) What place are we in? 5) If we win wil will be in x place above them 6) What colour so they play in Now everytime you mention a team I get those questions. (It drives me mads) I gave him the option of going to see the HMS victory and he said I want to go to Charlton away. On the way home I hear him singing in the back and turn the radio down and he has learnt the words to grab your fathers gun that was sung at the game. OH god his mothers going to kill me. MOral of the story is that I thought he was far to young to go to a game coz he cant sit still and has the focus of a goldfish. But put him in a footy stadium and he is obsessed with it already. So you got kids take em and see how it goes whatever thier age IMO you may be suprised. ST for us both next season woohoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_bert Posted 9 April, 2009 Share Posted 9 April, 2009 I cant wait to take my nipper to footy. Gunna be a few years yet though. But already at just coming up 2 there is nothing he loves more than running ouside with his football. Gotta be honest half the time I cant help but have a sneaky dream of the boy running towards the Northam after scoring the winner against the skates!!!! Come on my boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Saint Posted 9 April, 2009 Share Posted 9 April, 2009 I think I was 7 when I saw my first game (QPR away '96). My brothers are 6 and 7 and the 7 year old is pretty keen about football and spends most of Sundays studying the various league tables in the paper! Unfortunately he claims he's a Man Utd supporter (as most of the kids at his school probably do as well) and I can't be having that! I've told him the only clubs he's allowed to support are Reading, Wycombe, Brentford, Fulham, QPR or Saints....think I'll drag him along to St Mary's at some point next season (assuming we still exist). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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