Is a Chelsea match a suitable day out for an 8yr old?
Discussion
Evening all,
My littlest - who will be eight in February - has just announced that for his birthday, he'd like to be taken to see Chelsea.
Heaven only knows where he picked up this rather alarming prediliction, having only been exposed to properly oval-shaped balls at home, but as he's a model of the perfect child (at least compared to his elder siblings!), I'd like to indulge him.
Thing is, I've never been to a football match in my life, and have no idea how many of the cliches about offensive, sweary knuckle-draggers are true, and how many of them exist only in Seventies fiction?
All the more worrying is that he announced this as we were leaving Twickenham this evening, having watched Quins vs Gloucester finish 39 all in what has to be possibly the most compelling score draw in the history of sport!
My littlest - who will be eight in February - has just announced that for his birthday, he'd like to be taken to see Chelsea.
Heaven only knows where he picked up this rather alarming prediliction, having only been exposed to properly oval-shaped balls at home, but as he's a model of the perfect child (at least compared to his elder siblings!), I'd like to indulge him.
Thing is, I've never been to a football match in my life, and have no idea how many of the cliches about offensive, sweary knuckle-draggers are true, and how many of them exist only in Seventies fiction?
All the more worrying is that he announced this as we were leaving Twickenham this evening, having watched Quins vs Gloucester finish 39 all in what has to be possibly the most compelling score draw in the history of sport!
Kermit power said:
Evening all,
My littlest - who will be eight in February - has just announced that for his birthday, he'd like to be taken to see Chelsea.
Heaven only knows where he picked up this rather alarming prediliction, having only been exposed to properly oval-shaped balls at home, but as he's a model of the perfect child (at least compared to his elder siblings!), I'd like to indulge him.
Thing is, I've never been to a football match in my life, and have no idea how many of the cliches about offensive, sweary knuckle-draggers are true, and how many of them exist only in Seventies fiction?
All the more worrying is that he announced this as we were leaving Twickenham this evening, having watched Quins vs Gloucester finish 39 all in what has to be possibly the most compelling score draw in the history of sport!
It's perfectly fine. You will have nothing to worry about whatsoever. My littlest - who will be eight in February - has just announced that for his birthday, he'd like to be taken to see Chelsea.
Heaven only knows where he picked up this rather alarming prediliction, having only been exposed to properly oval-shaped balls at home, but as he's a model of the perfect child (at least compared to his elder siblings!), I'd like to indulge him.
Thing is, I've never been to a football match in my life, and have no idea how many of the cliches about offensive, sweary knuckle-draggers are true, and how many of them exist only in Seventies fiction?
All the more worrying is that he announced this as we were leaving Twickenham this evening, having watched Quins vs Gloucester finish 39 all in what has to be possibly the most compelling score draw in the history of sport!
Pothole said:
I've been to many Premiership games over the years and can categorically confirm that Chelsea fans are the most foul-mouthed and poorly behaved I've witnessed. Women with children accompanying them were using language which made me wince last time I was at the Bridge.
Premier League. Boleyn ground was pretty extreme last time I went. OP if you can and the club has one, try and get into a family area. It'll be slightly better. Although you will always hear foul language at football. To be fair the seething mass of the crowd is very much part of the spectacle and your kid will spend as long watching and listening to the crowd as the game and will no doubt love it.
Having said that we've got the delightful Millwall visiting today.
Why Chelsea? Is that the local team? Perhaps there is a lower league team you could follow? Cheaper easier to get tickets etc.
Edited by southendpier on Monday 28th December 08:12
I was going to games at Chelsea from the age of 4, really didn't scar me to much, aside from the mental torture of watching a team that was crap at the time!
I took my wife's son a few years ago to a couple of games. He was 8 at the time, generally you find most people are very pleasant to small kids. Some guy even gave him his bobble hat. You really have nothing to worry about.
I took my wife's son a few years ago to a couple of games. He was 8 at the time, generally you find most people are very pleasant to small kids. Some guy even gave him his bobble hat. You really have nothing to worry about.
GT03ROB said:
I was going to games at Chelsea from the age of 4, really didn't scar me to much, aside from the mental torture of watching a team that was crap at the time!
I took my wife's son a few years ago to a couple of games. He was 8 at the time, generally you find most people are very pleasant to small kids. Some guy even gave him his bobble hat. You really have nothing to worry about.
I'm not saying they wouldn't be pleasant TO THE CHILD. I'm talking about the disgusting language, racism and general vitriolic atmosphere he'll witness.I took my wife's son a few years ago to a couple of games. He was 8 at the time, generally you find most people are very pleasant to small kids. Some guy even gave him his bobble hat. You really have nothing to worry about.
I can't see Chelsea matches being any worse than an under 15s match in a local field.
I've policed a number of football matches and the problem is that 80% or more go off without problems and can be a pleasant day out for all concerned (less police officers). The remaining >10% can give problems en route, at the match or in the aftermath. There can be aggravation in underground stations, trains and such. It is unpredictable.
But if you remember that trouble is possible and keep an eye open for it, it is easy enough to avoid. I'm not sure that the disruptive element concern themselves with the needs of children. But I agree with the poster who suggested that the family enclosures only reduce the foul language a little.
I've policed a number of football matches and the problem is that 80% or more go off without problems and can be a pleasant day out for all concerned (less police officers). The remaining >10% can give problems en route, at the match or in the aftermath. There can be aggravation in underground stations, trains and such. It is unpredictable.
But if you remember that trouble is possible and keep an eye open for it, it is easy enough to avoid. I'm not sure that the disruptive element concern themselves with the needs of children. But I agree with the poster who suggested that the family enclosures only reduce the foul language a little.
Edited by Derek Smith on Monday 28th December 09:49
We took Master B to watch AFC Wimbledon at Kingston for his first game. He was 9 at the time. That's relatively close to Stamford Bridge. A really relaxed, family atmosphere, 4000 fans, honest, if not free-flowing, football and a six foot tall womble banging a bin.
Perfect. We still attend two or three matches a season. A great afternoon out.
Perfect. We still attend two or three matches a season. A great afternoon out.
Having been to Chelsea for many years for Kinky Junior, my top tip is to 'ignore' the family-friendly section. It's positioned as a lovely quiet area for our little precious ones to enjoy the game.
The reality is that most of the section were boozed up, well over 'age' and foul-mouthed. The 1st few times I complained and was just given shrugged shoulders.
So from then on I moved around different parts of the ground and the reality is that it's all the same.
My own general experience is that the lower down the leagues you go, the more politer and friendly it becomes.
Not been to the bridge for a few years now and have absolutely no intention of ever going back
The reality is that most of the section were boozed up, well over 'age' and foul-mouthed. The 1st few times I complained and was just given shrugged shoulders.
So from then on I moved around different parts of the ground and the reality is that it's all the same.
My own general experience is that the lower down the leagues you go, the more politer and friendly it becomes.
Not been to the bridge for a few years now and have absolutely no intention of ever going back
I took my lad to villa when he was six, and it was fine. I agree the family area isn't the best place, not least beacuase its in a poor viewing area. We adopted the front row because it means there's no one in font to block his view, plus there are lots of kids down there, no doubt for the same reason.
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Why are the Kingstonian colours not blue?
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http://www.kingstonian.com/
http://www.suttonunited.net/
Why are the Kingstonian colours not blue?
Why are the Epsom colours not green and yellow?
GT03ROB said:
I took my wife's son a few years ago to a couple of games. He was 8 at the time, generally you find most people are very pleasant to small kids. Some guy even gave him his bobble hat. You really have nothing to worry about.
One of the games we went to was against Cardiff City, a recipe for trouble if ever there was one. He was fascinated after the game to see to see a proper punch up on the street!! I kid you not. He remembers that, together with the blow up sheep bouncing around as more fun than the match!I'll repeat again in my experience it will be absolutely fine & he'll have great day out. If you are worried just avoid a game when the scouse come to town, they are the worst. Always have been.
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