Minimum age for a first match?

[Randy Bumgardener]

My daughter turns 1 on Saturday, and with me and my dad-in-law being huge Forest fans it got me wondering how a kid starts to appreciate their first match?

I was quite late, maybe 13 when I went to see Forest vs Malmo, and I'll never forget walking up the CG steps to hear the fans roaring the team out onto the floodlit pitch. Anyone with any kids say what they think a good age is to take them for the first time and actually appreciate the experience?

 

[StuC]

From the official site

If you have very young children they must be aged four and over before attending home fixtures at The City Ground.
Children aged three and under, babes in arms and children in buggies will not be admitted for their own safety.

 

[winnits]

I'm 36 and I still don't enjoy it!

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Even kids up to 8 or 9 will need to have other entertainment in the stadium for when they undoubtedly get bored. Wouldn't bother until then, unless you're solely responsible for the childs welfare that day and want to go to the game yourself.

 

[Barry]

My lad is 6 hes been to two games, one home and one away... he doesnt really watch it but he likes the idea of going to the game with Dad and Grandad more than the festival of football going on before his eyes.

The home game we sat lower BC about 3 rows back but he still struggled to see and there was someone sat in front of him, the away game we were front row in the home end and although he did watch it a bit hes still not that interested, but id say he was more interested as he could actually see this time.

I took him some chocolate and his tablet for when he got bored, didnt tell him and then when he inevitability announced that he was bored i gave him them to play so that i and the other people sat around us could still enjoy the game we had paid to see with out having to hear a kid moan.

Personally my old man was a season ticket holder for years and i got my first season ticket when i was 8 back in 1988/89 season, before that he used to take me to reserve games until i finally sat and watched a full game then he got me my season ticket ...... i remember loving going to away games as for me it was mum, dad, Auntie, and a few uncles so a proper day out but not so much the home games as i used to have to sit on my own in the junior reds and there used to be some little twats in there that used to f*** about and not watch the game.

I went to a wedding a few weeks ago and was chatting to a bloke there who takes his 5 year old and he says he sits there and watches the whole game so id probably say its a kid by kid basis on when it is that they finally start enjoying it.

I would add that i think there is a city ground stadium minimum age of 5 or there certainly was when i first looked to take my lad when he was 4 as the child needs to be able to exit the ground safely on their own, but i did witness a Forest fan taking a baby in arms into St Andrews and staying for the whole of the match a few years ago so i would assume the age limits are on stadium by stadium basis.

 

[Rigler]

It varies from one child to the next. My now 14 year old first went when he was 5 and right from the beginning always properly watched the whole match and took it all in, but based on my experience with my other kids I'd say that was unusually young to sit and watch a whole match. Other kids get bored and their attention starts to wander after the first 20 minutes even when they're 10 years old.

One bit of advice I'd give to anyone thinking of taking a young child to their first match is avoid the family enclosure. The view from there is crap and they'll get a lot more out of the experience if they can actually see the match properly. If they're used to watching football on the telebox they'll appreciate the live experience more if that's the kind of view they've got, ie Sir Brian Clough Stand upper tier.

Just my opinions of course but based on having 4 kids, 2 of whom are now ST holders and the other 2 still enjoy going to the occasional match.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Trent End upper has the biggest angle doesn't it?

 

[Redemption]

I took my eldest at about 5 years, but it was way too early in hindsight.

The following kids all went about 9/10 but, before they were allowed to attend a match, had to sit at home in front of the TV and watch several matches to show that could sit still and contain the inevitable boredom of some team from Yorkshire parking the metaphorical bus and stiffing the game.

 

[Robocop_Andy]

From the official site

If you have very young children they must be aged four and over before attending home fixtures at The City Ground.
Children aged three and under, babes in arms and children in buggies will not be admitted for their own safety.

I can confirm this.. My daughter turns 4 in December and as season tickets were free for kids I thought id get her one just in case we struggle with child care or my partner is at work..
I had to join her in the junior reds but cannot collect it till her 4th birthday

 

[Strummer]

I first went when I was 7, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The start of a life-long obsession with the men in garibaldi red.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I first went when I was 7, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The start of a life-long obsession with the men in garibaldi red.

Come on you Forest men!

 

[twobob]

Took my little girl to Bolton match last year (4 at the time), she loved it up until Forest scored then it scared her.

Problem with that is ever since then when I ask do you want to go to the football it was a flat no 'I don't like football'.

Took her to see forest vs Reading and got a similar response, even though we sat out the way. Actually in front of Lascelles and Co Do you want a photo with the football player behind you babes? No! Why!

Don't be in a rush to take them or at least take a friend of their own age.

 

[Brolin]

Took my little girl to Bolton match last year (4 at the time), she loved it up until Forest scored then it scared her

Pity you couldn't have brought her along when Cotterill was in charge - it would have been ideal.

 

[IJPS]

Minimum 3, but 4 to 5 should be okay for a kid to maintain concentration and have a minimal appreciation as to what's going on.

 

[Col]

Saw my first football game when I was 14, it's all been downhill since that point.

 

[Agent Penguin]

My Dad waited for me to ask before he took me. Even then it was to see the reserve team first - fortunately had Robbo, Woodcock and Anderson playing, and once I was showing enough interest took me to see the first team.

 

[Tnewton_1988]

My first game was Cloughie last at the City Ground when I was 5 in 1993.

 

[westyorksnffc]

My son first went at 5 months old, v Bristol City (the Blackstock match), although this was in the controlled environment of an Executive Box, which the club allowed, he first went to a 'proper game' at 3 years old, he's now 5, he's had a season ticket since his 4th birthday, doesn't go to every game, just the odd one, we need our time out too, he's always been 100% interested in what's happening, always asking questions, never gets bored, but we do take an iPad for the train journey and before the game, he complains if I suggest we leave early, and most recently he went to his first away match at Huddersfield.

Each child is different though, mine has football ingrained in him, mummy and daddy made sure of that, he plays twice a week, and for added good measure has Pearce for a middle name.

That said, it's about common sense, I've heard the horror stories, and seen parents dragging their dis-interested kids along, and would I take my son to Derby or Leicester at home, or even Leeds for that matter? No, definitely not!

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I was 5, nearly 6 - appreciate? - Yes, I think I enjoyed it but I was already very keen on football I think. Remember? - not much (maybe Davenport being played through on goal a few times but could be another game)! I think I would have been in lower Exec towards Trent End in a 'tandem' but then mostly went in the Upper Tier (there used to be a Pannini family section didn't there, again on the Trent End side) where the view was better.

Just as an aside, that lady on the really good Official History Nottingham Forest Youtube video that was posted the other day went as baby I think she said! So she wouldn't be allowed in now. I used to leave 10 minutes early, but never knew anything of the Executive Crew (although it seems they were sort of hooligans with principles from looking at Youtube anyway!). I'd say in the all-seaters and with more control over fans nowadays that the grounds really should be safe for even babies but I guess at that age they really wouldn't get much from the experience anyway.

 

[sedgred]

I took all my three, for the first time together youngest was seven, eldest nine. Not a bad age and I dont think i would have liked to take them any younger. Consider the age and ability to concentrate and appreciate the game, otherwise its just hard work for you and takes away your enjoyment.

 

[T2mRed]

I stopped taking my lad (he was about 8 at the time) because after 20 minutes in to a game asking very loudly "what colour are we dad" gave up on him after that (it was the home game after we beat donny away 8-1 in the cup?) but both my girls come to home and away games with me, I blame his mother to this day....

 

[cms186]

i was 11 when my dad took me to my first match

 

[The Fat Lad]

I was six when I went to my first game.

 

[T2mRed]

i was 11 when my dad took me to my first match

My dad hates football but lucky for me a friends dad took me with them I was about 11, I remember asking him was the milk crate for sitting on and him laughing you must be joking its to stand on. We was in the the old bridgford end right behind the goal, would be about 1977..

 

[T.B.T.]

I started taking my son when he was seven years old and then bringing his sister along to the occasional game when she was four. She'd often fall asleep on my knee but we didn't score much in those days.

As she got a little older we'd take colouring books to keep her entertained during the quiet bits and get her to shout Come on You Reds at appropriate moments. We were in the family stand so there's a common understanding and sympathy from others in a similar position when you have to nip to the toilets endless times during the game.