The First Match

DADS COLUMN – ERIK CRIGG
The First Match
When we were blessed with our first child, James, my wife’s initial thought was: ‘Isn’t he sweet’. My first thought was: ‘I wonder how long before I can take him to a game?"

I did a straw pole amongst my mates and found most went to their first football game at about nine years of age, so when at four James insisted he wanted to go I was dubious. I looked at the only two football books in the house and found Nick Hornby was 11, but Nobby Stiles didn’t say. I was 13 when I first saw my beloved Watford. I was a bit of a late bloomer as my Dad was not a big football fan then so it took years of badgering him to take me.

When Watford visited Lincoln for a pre-season friendly two years ago I took James, but we left at half time as he kept throwing his teddy bear on the pitch. That night I had told Ted that going on the pitch was an arrestable offence, but he just stared back glassy eyed. James has behavioural problems worse than normal toddler tantrums, but then again he can throw a wobbly at home so I thought "let’s go." We left Ted at home and set off in the car to Hull. The park and ride helped make things go sweetly (James loves buses).

The bloke at the turn-styles let him in for free, so that saved £12! The stadium’s wrap around roof meant the sound was concentrated, not blown away by the wind so any tantrums would be drowned out, but luckily he didn’t throw one. Well, maybe a little one at half time when I told him they’d run out of sausages. I think the bag of crisps, biscuits and drinks I’d packed helped. It also helped that we won.

Your first game. You never forget it. You can change you partner, your career, your car, but you’ll always support the first team you see. The sounds, the drama, the state of the toilets, the foul language, the screaming at the ref, the abuse from the other fans, the chants; the charm of football. James still goes on about it four months later and he can’t remember things that happened that morning. If he sees football on the TV he starts chanting "Yellow Army!" Wow, I’ve indoctrinated him without even trying.

So what’s the best age to take your child to a game? Too young and they won’t remember it or will get bored and ruin it, too old and they’ll be all spots and cynicism. If you live miles from the club you support, do you take them to the local team. Or will it be too embarrassing when they start supporting Belchington Town? Or do you wait till they can sit through a whole game on the TV? No, wait till they ask!