Thread: Father/Son football stories.

When I was about 10 it came up in conversation somehow that I'd never been to a football match. I had no interest in football as a kid (which probably explains why) and never have, waste of bloody time and money if you ask me, anyway, it was decided that my dad would take me to a Leeds match since that was the closest city to where we lived which had a big team. The other options would have been York or Bradford for the same traveling time.

On the big day we embarked on a train in Harrogate that looked like they had recycled rolling stock from the Boer war - everything has been stripped out of it except the benches, unbreakable windows and the smell of piss.

When we arrived in the vicinity of the grounds we were herded into long chains through turnstiles, gates and barriers with police and fucking huge horses done up like they were going jousting, I could tell my old man (who was a rather diminutive and genteel doctor) wasn't very comfortable and his unease rubbed off on me.

Anyway, the match was a draw IIRC and it was the most boring 90 minutes imaginable. I am pretty sure it was Arsenal they were playing, and fans of both sides celebrated the result by going apeshit and trying to smash everything and anybody they could see. My old man grabbed me and headed for a policeman who looked at us like we were space-aliens and herded us off to a sort of DMZ where we could get a taxi back to the station.

The train home was even worse than the train going and was packed with drunken lovers of the beautiful game intent on demolishing what was left of the carriages. At the station my mother picked us up and asked brightly "Did you enjoy yourselves?". My dad snarled at her.

The only other "sporting" event my father ever took me to after that was a fly-fishing competition on a local reservoir and he only did that because one of the partners at his practice was taking part.

living in Norfolk we all followed Norwich City, had the replica shirts and followed the results but never really went to any games.

An uncle took us to watch Norwich City v a reserve Man U game (which now I look back had a lot of big names in). but I thought it was shit. cold, noisy and I couldn't see what was going on. I think I might have gone to a couple more but probably not.

Later on in life when I lived in Norwich, my local was used by supporters for a beer on the way to the ground. That pissed me off too. Too loud.

Football is for the TV.

Originally Posted by Fozzy

I've supported the mighty Chelsea Football Club since I was 7 years old.

Red sent.

Originally Posted by armstrong

living in Norfolk we all followed Norwich City

SCUM!!!

Originally Posted by armstrong

had the replica shirts and followed the results but never really went to any games.

Typical scum 'supporter'; no offence...


Now, from a young age I went to most Ipswich home matches and the local (London) away games such as West Ham, Arsenal, etc; for example, when I was 8, I went to every FA Cup game, including the final, excluding the quarter final away at Milwall as me dad predicted some trouble (in fact there was a small riot when the home team were 6 nil down at half time); especially enjoyable were the semi-final at the Library (pretty close to me home) and the final (when I was the first supporter in the ground).

Early Saturday mornings, we'd drive the 80 miles to the dad's parents house in Ipswich then have an early lunch. Me and the dad would go to the game, taking along a small box for me to stand on, a box which his dad made for him to stand on 20 years previously, get on the number 11 bus, join the masses going to the Mecca of football, buy a matchday programme (obviously I had a massive collection) then go into the stadium and watch the game. After the usual victory, we'd get the 11a bus back (had a better return route), have an early tea then drive back to London in the evening.

I've been to hundreds of games at Portman Road and 100+ games at other stadiums too.

Since Sky and big money has destroyed the community of the game (with scummers like Chelsea leading the way...), I've had virtually no interest in this ruined social activity.

took my daughter to see her first Thai Port game a couple of seasons ago, they let her in for free and loads of people wanted their picture took with her.
overall she had a good time, dont rememner the result, she spent mosst of the time messing about on the terraces
cost mw 100thb to get in and same for the wife
will be taking my son to his first game in February; expect much the same