Going to a football match- help please

[williamp]

Hi everyone. Odd post, perhaps but I've never been to a football match. My 10 year old likes Everton and for his birthday I'd like to take him to see them play at their home stadium.

I have a few questions. They may seem idiotic, but I've never been. Can you help?

Firstly, what are the chances of me getting two tickets if we dont support the team.
Secondly me as a non fan. Will I be alright? Will they notice we dont have the clothes and don't know the songs. Does it matter where we sit? Will people take umbridge?
Is there still drunken violence?

Oh, we need to drive there. Does anyone know where we can park?
Can we bring food and drink in?
Is there before/ after entertainment , or it's it just the one game?
How long beforehand should we get there?

Thanks in advance!

[Challo]

Might be worth dropping a message on the Everton thread.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Meeten-5dulx]

Took my 11yr old to Anfield a month ago.

Found a parking space online, about 1/2m away and it cost £8.
Prob not value for money but I was pleased that I didn’t have to hunt for a space.

Abs no issues if you are not wearing team colours.
Be prepared to hear some colourful language… not much you can do about that.
We got to the 5pm game around 1hr before so he could soak in atmosphere and take some pics (and go to join the masses in the club shop)
Had lunch in town before so didn’t take food, but at that age he wanted something at half time.
Queue was massive so didn’t bother. I’d prob take some sweets and a bottle of water next time.

Overall a great time, and he thinks dad is great for getting him to watch Liverpool vs Chelsea.

Tickets were v difficult to get but a friend who is a season ticket holder saw me right.

Not sure what the situation is for Everton ….

Hope you get to go and your boy enjoys it.

[Antony Moxey]

Of everything you’ve listed the only real concern will be getting tickets. Not sure how close to your lad’s birthday you want to go, or even how close it is to your lad’s birthday, but I’d suggest the very first thing you do is contact the club, and if they have one (which they more than likely will do), enquire about tickets for the family area.

As for food, I never bother except for when my kids were younger I would buy them a bag of sweets and a bottle of something fizzy when I got in, which was usually an hour before kick off. The half time queues might be a bit much (I’ll caveat all this by saying my club is very much a lower division club with attendances usually around a tenth those of the big Premier League clubs).

Oh, as said above, be prepared to wince at the colorful language too.

Enjoy!

[Gargamel]

Get tickets in the Family Section !

Most clubs have one. You will be fine

[48k]

williamp said:

Hi everyone. Odd post, perhaps but I've never been to a football match. My 10 year old likes Everton and for his birthday I'd like to take him to see them play at their home stadium.

I have a few questions. They may seem idiotic, but I've never been. Can you help?

Firstly, what are the chances of me getting two tickets if we dont support the team.
Secondly me as a non fan. Will I be alright? Will they notice we dont have the clothes and don't know the songs. Does it matter where we sit? Will people take umbridge?
Is there still drunken violence?

Oh, we need to drive there. Does anyone know where we can park?
Can we bring food and drink in?
Is there before/ after entertainment , or it's it just the one game?
How long beforehand should we get there?

Thanks in advance!

It will be almost impossible to get a ticket as games almost always sell out before going on general sale so keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Midweek evening games and/or against "unfashionable" opposition for example. Get memberships for you and the lad as tickets go on sale to members first before going on general sale. Ticket on sale dates here - https://www.evertonfc.com/tickets/prices-seating-s...

[williamp]

Thanks everyone. I have emailed them. Without offending anyone, which aoppositiob would be easier to get tickets to? I presume the clubs furthest away

[Pitre]

Southampton, Norwich, Watford, Brighton....

[48k]

Pitre said:

Southampton, Norwich, Watford, Brighton....

They've already played Southampton and Norwich, and Watford on 23rd October is sold out.

[Ruskie]

Where in the country are you based? You could always take him to a match lower down the leagues. Worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. It will be easier to get tickets as well.

[Northernboy]

It’s worth calling the ticket office on the morning of a home game as soon as they open. There will be returns that can be re-sold. It’s what I do for Newcastle games and have never failed to get a ticket yet.

[williamp]

Thanks everyone. We're in derby, but they just don't interest him..

I have thought about them playing Leicester at Leicester, but that's not until May

[48k]

williamp said:

Thanks everyone. We're in derby, but they just don't interest him..

I have thought about them playing Leicester at Leicester, but that's not until May

I don't know about Everton but at Spurs away tickets are even harder to get hold of. The PL caps away tickets at 3000 / 10% of the home capacity so there is even more demand for even fewer tickets. Spurs sell them in a ballot to those with the most loyalty points over the last 5 years. I'd imagine Everton do something similar.

I think your best chance of tickets will be either posting on the Everton group on here, looking on FB for an Everton tickets group, finding a friend with a couple of seats who is not going to a particular game, or waiting until a midweek or Christmas/New Year fixture goes on sale eg. Newcastle 28 Dec (tickets go on sale to members 29th November), or Brighton on New Years Day (tickets go on sale to members 29th November). As said before, definitely join the members club (both you and your son) so you get to purchase tickets in the members window because the chances of games selling out before going on general sale is high.

[Whitean3]

Heart warming post Williamp!

Some good advice already (especially worth checking out the Everton thread as someone may be able to help with tickets...

To answer your specific questions below:

Firstly, what are the chances of me getting two tickets if we don't support the team.
- Your support or otherwise is irrelevant here- some matches are more in demand than others. If you struggle with Premier league matches, consider also cup matches- tends to be easier to get tickets. This of course assumes a home draw and for your team to still be in the competition (this will be a problem as you have chosen Everton!

Secondly me as a non fan. Will I be alright?
- You'll be fine

Will they notice we dont have the clothes and don't know the songs.
- Wear whatever you like. You might want to wear something appropriately coloured (e.g. blue jumper for Everton) to feel a part of it, but it really doesn't matter.

Does it matter where we sit?
-Seats are allocated, will be printed on the ticket. This means entering the ground through the right turnstile in the right stand

Will people take umbridge?
-No. They are there to watch the football, so are you.

Is there still drunken violence?
-I've fortunately never seen any. At all. In all my years going to Liverpool (was a season ticket holder) and Everton (even as an away supporter in the home end. People should generally be friendly. Good point as well about family enclosures- even better for you and your son, a lot of people will be there for the first time too

Oh, we need to drive there. Does anyone know where we can park?
-This can be harder, especially in Liverpool. Helps if you know the area! Ask on the Everton thread; consider driving part way then taking a taxi (getting one back would be hard though!

Can we bring food and drink in?
-Yes you can (within reason I guess)- no glass bottles, monster picnic hamper etc. But snacks and a small drink in a carton or PET bottle should be fine
Is there before/ after entertainment , or it's it just the one game?

-Just the game. Minimal entertainment otherwise (some might argue- minimal entertainment if it's Everton playing!). Maybe worth getting in early to soak up the ground as it begins to fill up- just seeing the green pitch for the first time is special. You'll also avoid the worst of the crowds, see the teams warming up, chance to read the extortionately priced program etc. At the end of the match, I'd suggest waiting a few minutes before leaving, just to let some of the crowd dissipate. Expect there still to be loads of people, keep a tight hold of your son's hand!

How long beforehand should we get there?
-Allow plenty of time to avoid the crowds, maybe aim to be entering the ground 45 mins before kick off.

The first football match is a wonderful experience, and really nothing to worry about as long as you can get your hands on some tickets. Good luck!

[Stockman14]

Hi Williamp, I can get tickets to most games, including VIP packages, so prices vary from £40-£500pp.
If you get stuck and need a hand, drop me a message.

[egor110]

O/P - whatever county you live in have a Google to see if that county has a Everton supporters club , they might have people not going to games or with surplus tickets.

[RichB]

As several people said, post on the Everton thread - which I can't see that you have done yet. You'll get all the advice you need and maybe even a season ticket holder who's not using their tickets for a particular game and may help out a young supporter (not sure about you though )