How old should kids be before they go to football matches?

[Elvis]

My son's first game was against Reading when he was 6.

During the match he told he that he preferred Readings kit! so he wanted them to win.

After the game I dropped him of at Dr Barnados, haven't seen him since.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Take him soon, and when he's naughty, you can threaten to take him again

 

[SurreySeagulls]

I took dominic to a few games last season aged 6 and decided it was cheaper to buy a season ticket for him this season as I refuse to go in the family and give up my ticket in the centre of the south stand. So he is now 7 and has his own season ticket. He loves going.

 

[Sheebo]

I was 4 for my first game - said it before but i'm so proud i'll say it again - Ipswich 91 with THAT free kick. Remember it going in (right in front of me in South Stand) to this day and remember people singing seeeagulls in general and loving it. Plus there was a pitch invasion and there were Ipswich fans behind us and when Wilkins scored my dad turned round and grabbed some kiddys face and shouted 'are you pleased!?!?!?' Brilliant memories. Always going to be so grateful to my Dad for taking me to that game!!!!

 

[Dr_Pepper]

I was 7 when I went to my first match, all I remember was a Sunderland's player short's came down. And not the score
So I would say around 6/7/8 is the right age

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

I reckon 7 is about the age.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

I was 6 when I went to my first one at the Goldstone. Apparently I'd taken a shine to the old Crystal Palace kit of the early 1970s and decided to support them, much to the chagrin of my grandfather who decided it was time to disabuse me of this notion and indoctrinate me into supporting the Albion. Thankfully it worked.

 

[SNOOBS]

Depends on the kid really, I'd have wanted to watch football at any age really but didn't get the chance when I was really young. Lots of kids I've known have had the chance to go every week if they wanted to but find Withdean/League 1 boring. Just ask them, as you don't want to take them and have them bored shitless and put off for life.

 

[Bobby's Gull]

I remember going when I was around 4 or 5, don't remember any of the actual games but how it was always so cold and that my dad always made me a packed lunch, probably to keep me quiet! My dad and I would go in the South stand while my brothers would go in the North.

Probably would have been better if I'd gone when I was a bit older as at the age I was more interested in barbies or whatever!

 

[Guerrero]

It depends how many swear words you want them to be using in school on Monday morning.

 

[cjd]

My son's first game was against Reading when he was 6.

During the match he told he that he preferred Readings kit! so he wanted them to win.

After the game I dropped him of at Dr Barnados, haven't seen him since.

Post of the day.

 

[driller]

alot depends on the child.

my son is footy mad and has been going since he was 5, and had a season ticket ever since- he is now 7 and loves every minute. has no problem concentrating or siting still. even been to quite a few away days with him- oldam, the south coast team ,villa.
charlton next .

you could easily test the water by plonking him infornt of sky and see if he lasts the match. next saturday at midday could be a good test

 

[driller]

It depends how many swear words you want them to be using in school on Monday morning.

after the last home game my 7yr old son asked me why the referee was a wanker- after the crowds chant

 

[Guerrero]

:

after the last home game my 7yr old son asked me why the referee was a wanker- after the crowds chant

Love it!!!
I hope you explained that ALL referees are wankers.

 

[Yorkshire-Seagull]

alot depends on the child.
you could easily test the water by plonking him infornt of sky and see if he lasts the match. next saturday at midday could be a good test

That's a good shout - he'll happily sit in a cinema for the length of a film, so concentration shouldn't be an issue. Might wait until Jan/Feb next year just to be on the safe side...

 

[joker]

I went to my first game with my older brother when I was 4 years old back in 1963, I loved it then and have followed the Albion home and away ever since, my son went to his first game at 3 years old and my grandson when he was 5, weere, are and always will be Albion supporters, I guess the answer is, as soon as they show any interest in football take them to the Albion and they will be hooked

 

[Brighton Boys on tour]

I took both my kids when they were 3,my boy is now 5 and still complains a little that he gets bored,but my 3 year old girl loved her first game it was against orient on boxing day last year in the pissing hard rain,she loved it until about 15 mins from the end where i think the rain got to her eventually lol,but she always wants to go with me.i just use there free gully gang tickets and take them once a season so they get used to it until they old enough to start going more often.

 

[Bean]

My first game was when I was 8 years old when my older brother took me to withdean against Peterborough. At the time I didn't really appreciate it much until I was about 12 when I started going every week.
I don't think it's a very good idea for a kid under 6/7 to go as it is difficult at that age to sit still for a whole 90 mins, as well as the constant swearing in the crowd.

 

[Driver8]

Took my son to the North Stand when he was 5. I made him a stool to stand on that I still have.

 

[ROSM]

My three year old went to his first game at 6 weeks and has been a season ticket holder since last season. To be frank he is probably a little too young in terms of the impact on me during the game but he does enjoy it. After the Oldham game we went home and played football in the garden and after scoring a goal he ran to the corner and started jumping up and down in front of the window (the fans) just like the team had done in the 96th minute an hour earlier, so he's clearly taking it all in!