Me and Dad

[greyseagull]

We’ve never been close. In fact, it’s been a funny, disjointed, relationship right from the start. I don’t think we’ve ever hugged, or even shaken hands. We are quite distant from one another in terms of sharing feelings – the air can quite often be filled with an awkward silence when we are together. There’s not much to be said. That’s until we get on to football…

He took to me my first Albion game in 1986 and we haven’t looked back. As sad as it might sound to some, football – and more specifically Brighton – is the glue that keeps us together and connected. There’s not much else going on. All my memories of Dad revolve around football, be it from the terraces of The Goldstone, him watching me play, the look of pride he had when I played for Albion Youth Team and now, from the luxury of The Amex. My memories of Dad will all be associated with football, and I can’t wait for us to create some more in the coming years. I will never forget the image of my Dad – a 60-year old - bouncing up and down about 6ft in the air when we scored the last minute winner against Forest this season. Or when he plucked the ball out of the air in the North East Terrace of the Goldstone when Mark Beeney cleared the ball only to drop it on his head and the North Stand sung “sign him up, sign him up…”

People say “football’s just a game”, “how can you get so passionate about a club so much”, etc. etc. Well, football isn’t just a game, not in my case, and I’m sure I speak for many families out there. Football brings people together, from all walks of life. Doctors, bricklayers, lawyers, students, accountants, postmen, and people of all different ethnic backgrounds; they all sit side-by-side singing in unison, cheering their team on each and every week. Football does so much good. It evokes so many emotions – pride, glory, pain, anguish, ecstasy. I even find it somewhat mesmerising when the opposition score and the thousands of away fans create a wave of pure delight. Where else could you see such a sight? Every single fan of football is united in our differences, backgrounds, and rivalries.

There’s really no point to this post except to try and reinforce the notion that there’s more to football that what is believed. It’s not just about the results or the position of our clubs. There’s real drama and real beauty behind the game too and it’s this that has kept me and Dad bonded throughout our lives and I guess always will. I hope there’s more of you out there that feel the same way.

 

[Munkfish]

Nice post... Bit Racist... but totally agree.

 

[greyseagull]

Nice post... Bit Racist... but totally agree.

That better....?

 

[Munkfish]

That better....?

I was Joking! sorry! I liked it, whites, blacks, browns, yellows!

 

[geodavies]

Nice post... Bit Racist... but totally agree.

How on earth was that a bit racist

 

[Gullys Cats]

Nice

 

[Gwylan]

 

[ferring seagull]

We’ve never been close. In fact, it’s been a funny, disjointed, relationship right from the start. I don’t think we’ve ever hugged, or even shaken hands. We are quite distant from one another in terms of sharing feelings – the air can quite often be filled with an awkward silence when we are together. There’s not much to be said. That’s until we get on to football…

He took to me my first Albion game in 1986 and we haven’t looked back. As sad as it might sound to some, football – and more specifically Brighton – is the glue that keeps us together and connected. There’s not much else going on. All my memories of Dad revolve around football, be it from the terraces of The Goldstone, him watching me play, the look of pride he had when I played for Albion Youth Team and now, from the luxury of The Amex. My memories of Dad will all be associated with football, and I can’t wait for us to create some more in the coming years. I will never forget the image of my Dad – a 60-year old - bouncing up and down about 6ft in the air when we scored the last minute winner against Forest this season. Or when he plucked the ball out of the air in the North East Terrace of the Goldstone when Mark Beeney cleared the ball only to drop it on his head and the North Stand sung “sign him up, sign him up…”

People say “football’s just a game”, “how can you get so passionate about a club so much”, etc. etc. Well, football isn’t just a game, not in my case, and I’m sure I speak for many families out there. Football brings people together, from all walks of life. Doctors, bricklayers, lawyers, students, accountants, postmen, and people of all different ethnic backgrounds; they all sit side-by-side singing in unison, cheering their team on each and every week. Football does so much good. It evokes so many emotions – pride, glory, pain, anguish, ecstasy. I even find it somewhat mesmerising when the opposition score and the thousands of away fans create a wave of pure delight. Where else could you see such a sight? Every single fan of football is united in our differences, backgrounds, and rivalries.

There’s really no point to this post except to try and reinforce the notion that there’s more to football that what is believed. It’s not just about the results or the position of our clubs. There’s real drama and real beauty behind the game too and it’s this that has kept me and Dad bonded throughout our lives and I guess always will. I hope there’s more of you out there that feel the same way.

Good post and fair enough, BUT, give him a decent cuddle when you next have the opportunity otherwise you will regret it for the rest of your life.

 

[Fred Oliver - Legend]

We’ve never been close. In fact, it’s been a funny, disjointed, relationship right from the start. I don’t think we’ve ever hugged, or even shaken hands. We are quite distant from one another in terms of sharing feelings – the air can quite often be filled with an awkward silence when we are together. There’s not much to be said. That’s until we get on to football…

He took to me my first Albion game in 1986 and we haven’t looked back. As sad as it might sound to some, football – and more specifically Brighton – is the glue that keeps us together and connected. There’s not much else going on. All my memories of Dad revolve around football, be it from the terraces of The Goldstone, him watching me play, the look of pride he had when I played for Albion Youth Team and now, from the luxury of The Amex. My memories of Dad will all be associated with football, and I can’t wait for us to create some more in the coming years. I will never forget the image of my Dad – a 60-year old - bouncing up and down about 6ft in the air when we scored the last minute winner against Forest this season. Or when he plucked the ball out of the air in the North East Terrace of the Goldstone when Mark Beeney cleared the ball only to drop it on his head and the North Stand sung “sign him up, sign him up…”

People say “football’s just a game”, “how can you get so passionate about a club so much”, etc. etc. Well, football isn’t just a game, not in my case, and I’m sure I speak for many families out there. Football brings people together, from all walks of life. Doctors, bricklayers, lawyers, students, accountants, postmen, and people of all different ethnic backgrounds; they all sit side-by-side singing in unison, cheering their team on each and every week. Football does so much good. It evokes so many emotions – pride, glory, pain, anguish, ecstasy. I even find it somewhat mesmerising when the opposition score and the thousands of away fans create a wave of pure delight. Where else could you see such a sight? Every single fan of football is united in our differences, backgrounds, and rivalries.

There’s really no point to this post except to try and reinforce the notion that there’s more to football that what is believed. It’s not just about the results or the position of our clubs. There’s real drama and real beauty behind the game too and it’s this that has kept me and Dad bonded throughout our lives and I guess always will. I hope there’s more of you out there that feel the same way.

Scum!!

good post.

 

[Muzzy]

Me and Dad at the Amex last season, will always stick in the memory.

 

[SeagullSongs]

I can totally relate with most of that, especially the first paragraph. Football is the thing I've had in common with him for almost all of my life, from being the manager of my football team and the look of pride on his face when I scored from about 30 yards out.
He introduced me to the Albion and I love going to football with him, even if we don't speak much.

 

[Marc1901]

My old man tried his best to make me a QPR fan growing up a child. No wonder I don't speak to him now...

 

[StillHateBellotti]

Nice post, was never really close to my Dad and we never always saw eye to eye but one thing we did have in common was the Albion. Introduced me in 81 and one thing that will live long in my memory is one story where he did a Dell Boy so twated in the players bar after a Birmingham City game that my mum had to walk up to the Goldstone to get him home! Bless him passed away two years ago with an Albion Shirt hanging high in his hospital room, unfortunately never made the Amex.

Wonder how many Dads out there introduced many of us to the Albion.

 

[Slippery Seagull]

We’ve never been close. In fact, it’s been a funny, disjointed, relationship right from the start. I don’t think we’ve ever hugged, or even shaken hands. We are quite distant from one another in terms of sharing feelings – the air can quite often be filled with an awkward silence when we are together. There’s not much to be said. That’s until we get on to football…

He took to me my first Albion game in 1986 and we haven’t looked back. As sad as it might sound to some, football – and more specifically Brighton – is the glue that keeps us together and connected. There’s not much else going on. All my memories of Dad revolve around football, be it from the terraces of The Goldstone, him watching me play, the look of pride he had when I played for Albion Youth Team and now, from the luxury of The Amex. My memories of Dad will all be associated with football, and I can’t wait for us to create some more in the coming years. I will never forget the image of my Dad – a 60-year old - bouncing up and down about 6ft in the air when we scored the last minute winner against Forest this season. Or when he plucked the ball out of the air in the North East Terrace of the Goldstone when Mark Beeney cleared the ball only to drop it on his head and the North Stand sung “sign him up, sign him up…”

People say “football’s just a game”, “how can you get so passionate about a club so much”, etc. etc. Well, football isn’t just a game, not in my case, and I’m sure I speak for many families out there. Football brings people together, from all walks of life. Doctors, bricklayers, lawyers, students, accountants, postmen, and people of all different ethnic backgrounds; they all sit side-by-side singing in unison, cheering their team on each and every week. Football does so much good. It evokes so many emotions – pride, glory, pain, anguish, ecstasy. I even find it somewhat mesmerising when the opposition score and the thousands of away fans create a wave of pure delight. Where else could you see such a sight? Every single fan of football is united in our differences, backgrounds, and rivalries.

There’s really no point to this post except to try and reinforce the notion that there’s more to football that what is believed. It’s not just about the results or the position of our clubs. There’s real drama and real beauty behind the game too and it’s this that has kept me and Dad bonded throughout our lives and I guess always will. I hope there’s more of you out there that feel the same way.

That's a really good post, thought provoking. It is so true. I have a good relationship withy dad outside of football, but your comments about footie being the glue is just spot on. I have a teenage son and the albion also keep us close. Looking back, my dad went tithe goldstone with his dad too. I'm lucky enough to go with bothy parents, my son, my wife and my brother.

Football and the Albion gives families and friends a reason to be together and to share the highs and lows of watching your team.

Long may it continue.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Always proud to be with my boy's, and nephews, especially as they now buy me pints at the Amex!

 

[El Sid]

About this time last year I bought a disabled season ticket for my dad and was truly amazed that I got a freebie ticket as his carer for home games. Unfortunately I was in France with my family for the Doncaster game and my nephew took him instead. I rang him after the game and he was overjoyed with the new stadium and the result.

Before I had the chance to go with him to the next game the silly old sod went and keeled over.

It is my great regret that I never shared an Amex experience with him.

The club were brilliant and kindly exchanged his ticket to one for me in the ESL and I persuaded my brother to get one too.
This has brought us closer together and last season was truly fantastic, but every time I sat in my seat I always looked across to the SW corner where he would have been sitting, imagining his smiles at seeing players like Vicente and Buckley . He watched his first Albion game in 1946 and his last 65 years later.

 

[supaseagull]

Me and my dad have always had a great relationship, although sometimes he can be a right miserable bugger.
However I appreciate him now more than I've ever done and I respect him so much.

He always says he wasn't always there for me as a lad and as I was growing up and I would always turn to my mum for advice, but when i needed him he was and is still there if i need him.

One of the best moments for me was taking him to see England V Croatia as we have a great pic of just the two of us in front if Wembley stadium!

I'm one of those lucky people to have two brilliant parents who are still fun and who I love loads and most importantly respect and love me and my own family.

If you get the chance find me and @daffyduck and we'll both say hi!

 

[HantsSeagull]

My Dad was a policeman and when i started going to watch the Albion in 1978, he was in charge of policing the ground and continued to be for some years - i expect some of you old north standers encountered him from time to time (he was old school!!).

He took me to my first game against sunderland and made me leave 5 mins before the end and so i missed Eric Potts equalising and winning goals but unfortunately he bloody hated football and so we never had that in common. That was the only game we went to together.

however we found common ground on other things but i would like to have taken him to the Amex - i think he might have been quietly impressed.

 

[Left Back]

My son communicates with me via a series of grunts and noises (I even know what a few of them mean!) He's 14, much of his life is a mystery to me.
But come match days, we suddenly have a lot in common and a lot to talk about.
I hope we can share football for many years to come.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

OP, That is a terrific post. I'm one of the lucky Dad's who has a a son I'm really proud of.My father never took me to football in as much all he thought of was snooker,he did'nt like football therefore I was'nt going to see it...(please understand this was just after the war and he was bought up with the Victorian values that children should be seen and not heard and his leather belt ruled) I vowed that my son would have the choice of whether he wanted football or not...I must have been deluded,he loved football,albeit it was Everton/Leeds top teams at the time,I can remember he broke his wrist playing football outside the house,went to hospital,came back in plaster and wanted to play football again. (1968 ish)I took him to the Albion and he sat on my shoulders...how times change...I now sit on his!! He became an Albion fan, now lives near Northampton,has a beautiful family and I have the greatest of gifts....My son with me at the Albion at the Amex...Goldstone,Gillingham,Withdean....seen you all go...My son and I have seen you all...we are home...my Son and I.