[Football] Grandson's first match

[Sully's Moustache]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Tell him it‘s “great play” in Romanian.

 

[BNthree]

Told my kids there’s certain language that is only acceptable at football, so not to repeat outside of the Amex

 

[BNthree]

Also bribery works well or rather rewards for certain behaviour such as sitting and watching

 

[Insel affe]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

great stuff, you will forever be in his heart after this, especially if we win.
You never forget your first game.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

I am sure he won't mind that, just make an excuse saying it is because you are old.

 

[Bodian]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

He'll probably be explaining it to you!

 

[Official Old Man]

He'll hate you for the rest of his life.
There he is, nearly 7 years old and not a care in the world.
Now you've put upon him the pressures of supporting a football team.
All that heartache, forget about girls, football is worse at letting you down.
All that expence of home, away, Europe (please), he'll never be able to afford a house.
No, give him a packet of crisps and a coke and make him sit outside, he'll love you for it in 30 years time.

 

[Sheebo]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

Not that it seems you will but don’t moan at anyone about swearing if hes not in the family stand - it’s football.

Enjoy the day - and make sure he’s hooked…

 

[Sheebo]

Told my kids there’s certain language that is only acceptable at football, so not to repeat outside of the Amex

‘No worries dad you f***ing twat’

‘I’ll have a f***ing big burger and a Fanta you prick’

Love it.

 

[Commander]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

Do not give him the option of doing anything other than watching the game. I have friends who take their kids iPads to football ‘in case they get bored’. Of course they’re going to say yes if you ask them half way through whether they’d rather play on that! Just keep him engaged the whole time by talking to him about the game and telling him which player is which and basically give a running commentary on what is happening. You need to accept that you won’t be as engaged in the game yourself as you would be normally, today needs to be about getting him hooked rather than your enjoyment.

Sweets etc are good for HT and before the game, but you want the game to be about the game.

My eldest son’s first Albion game was the 0-5 home drubbing by Bournemouth in the Hughton era and he is now a massive Albion fan. So don’t get too hung up on the result either!

 

[Insel affe]

So don’t get too hung up on the result either!

In front of him anyway, you may do a zouma when you get home though.




obviously a gentle kick, not a bloody drop kick ok

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

Trossard?

 

[Guinness Boy]

(what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?)

I’ll try and keep it down, but it does largely depend on the referee.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Also bribery works well or rather rewards for certain behaviour such as sitting and watching

If kids need bribery to get them to games then it’s not for them.

I have been going since I was 7 and never needed any incentives. I suspect if I hadn’t just watched the game, I wouldn’t have been taken again.

 

[faoileán]

Taking my grandson to his first ever match today - he's nearly 7. We're travelling with Seagull Travel and sitting in West Upper.

Any tips from anyone who's done similar in how to manage fidgety boredom, toilet breaks, food, swearing (what does f*cking c*nt mean, grandpa?) etc?

Cheers
Sully

Well I suggest you don't have 5 pints before the game so that you don't need so many toilet breaks and you try and restrain yourself for once from calling the ref a f*cking c*nt and giving the away fans the finger...

 

[BNthree]

If kids need bribery to get them to games then it’s not for them.

I have been going since I was 7 and never needed any incentives. I suspect if I hadn’t just watched the game, I wouldn’t have been taken again.

That’s nice for you but everyone is different and some kids need a bit of help as the young ones now aren’t used to concentrating on something for long periods of time.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Ear protectors, it can get quite loud...even up there in the gods

 

[schmunk]

I have friends who take their kids iPads to football ‘in case they get bored’.

Brentford fans? Seems reasonable.

 

[big nuts]

That’s nice for you but everyone is different and some kids need a bit of help as the young ones now aren’t used to concentrating on something for long periods of time.

I’d advocate taking potential first time fans to county league games to see what their attention span is. Granted this doesn’t help the thread starter, but I’d only want to take someone who has the ability to watch the game without bribes or distractions.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Told my kids there’s certain language that is only acceptable at football, so not to repeat outside of the Amex

Yeah this. It actually works. They still look at each and giggle their way through it but they know it’s a football thing and not to repeat it. I took them to the Pompey v Derby game on Tuesday night, now being around some rough Pompey fans was an experience for them! It made a trip to the Amex seem like a parent and toddler club!

Luckily for me, my boys are football obsessed so they have always just loved going to the games and have never been bored so not sure what to advise on boredom/fidgeting.

I hope he, and you, enjoy the day. I’m not a grandparent but as a father, taking my boys to their first Albion match was one of the most special days of my life.