Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Tom_Mc9? on October 07, 2017, 07:19:27 AM
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Hello everybody.
I am taking my 6 year old nephew to the Sheffield Wednesday game in November. I don't have children so this will be as nerve-wracking for me as it is for him. He's very keen to go because his friend Alex from school goes to the games and I think he's got a bit of Villa jealousy going on but unfortunately he doesn't really understand what going to the game is about (my sister has told me, for example, that he doesn't really understand if he is going to watch football or play football). I've bought family tickets right next to the tunnel so he can see the players up close and the mascots etc. My questions are:
a/. We live in Sutton so I normally get the train in but I'm guessing the walk might be a bit far for him - any advice on where to park?
b/. My biggest worry is he'll get bored. I get bored watching Villa so it's only fair that he might. I'm planning on taking some back up plans to distract him but unsure what at this stage.
c/. Is there anything I'm missing out on?
To be fair, I went at six years old and was hooked. The game I went to was Villa 1-0 Wimbledon and however I look at that I guess it wasn't a thriller so hopefully it'll have the same effect on him. For all the crap I've witnessed with Villa it's definitely worth it.
I know this topic has been covered before, so apologies. I couldn't find it though! Thank you.
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I hope he enjoys it Tom.
The only advise I can give is to make sure he has a decent view (it’s easy to forget that just cause you can see, he might not be able to). Some might say it’s an advantage, but if he can’t see the action he’s more likely to get bored).
Make sure he’s warm, has plenty of layers, as nothing worse than being cold and wet. Also, take plenty of snacks/sweets (and avoids concourse prices). I know some see it as an anathema treating going to the football like a trip to the cinema, but it’s an easy way to distract or pacify a bored young child.
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Have some episodes of cartoons he likes on your phone.
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I take my lad who is just five, take plenty of food for him and an iPad with cartoons for him to watch. He usually last about half an hour before he gets bored and watches the iPad. To my amazement though he watched the whole Bolton game last week but did ask me a multitude of questions through the game.
The club put on a family fun thing before the game in the old stumps. It's on from 1pm I think, is free of charge and full of things for kids to do, have a look on the villa website. It really is a must to do especially for a 6 year old.
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At that age their attention strays. They spend as much time looking at the funny people shouting as they do watching the game. Let him move about if he wants to. He will soon begin to enjoy himself. Good luck.
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I started taking my daughter when she was 5. For the first couple of years she was more fascinated by the crowd than the football. I took drink and snacks with me although after the first couple of years she wanted to go and get a drink and a snack at half time as the characters that we came across really used to make her day. Anyway it must have worked because 15 years on and I can't go to a game without her. .....costs me a bloody fortune now !!
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Have some episodes of cartoons he likes on your phone.
As opposed to the one on the pitch?
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Family Fun Zone in the Academy building is a must.
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Have some episodes of cartoons he likes on your phone.
This. Took my 4 year to the Watford friendly and a combination of sweets and novelty kept him going in the first half, cartoons on my phone the second half. You might want to bring some headphones so those sitting nearby are spared the plot line from Danger Mouse!
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I took my son to his first game at about five although it was three or four years later before I took him regularly. Obviously make sure he is 'fed and watered' throughout the game and I would advise sitting close to the pitch like we used to so he is more engaged in the action.
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Both of my sons who now have 75 years attendance between them, liked running about under the old Holte as much as the football when they were there. My daughter with just the 42 years service demanded to go in the Panini Lounge to meet the players.
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My boy is five and he's been three times, once when he was three and his sister was five. It was too noisy for her and she bailed with her mom at half-time and they waited for us in the car. My boy enjoyed it though. He didn't look at the pitch much but jumped up and held his scarf up when we scored (it was the 5-3 Notts County game). We left at ninety minutes though (3-3) as I was mindful of the others sitting waiting.
He still doesn't look at the pitch much but seems genuinely excited when we score and he mithers me to go, so I think I've got him. Overall I'm happy about that and love the bus rides and generally spending 'just the two of us' time with him but I miss going with my mates and having the Old Bill following us from pub to pub in town filming us. When you're a Villa fan and all you've got is the football it often seems like a waste of time and money to me.
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I took my 5 year old grandson to the Brighton game last season. He was all excited and fully kitted out and loved every minute of it till HT. At HT he wanted chips nothing but chips. Found out that in Upper North they don't sell chips so tried to bribe him by saying that we will go to McDonalds after the game and that backfired as he insisted on going there straight away and refused to go back up to the seats. So that was the end of his visit to VP but he still talks about it.
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Thank you everyone!
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Check out the website for the "my home deput" I took my lad a couple of years ago and he loved it. After a bonkers 2 hours in the acadamy they get taken by the mascots round the pitch. He was wasted by half time but some old boy pumped him with sweets laced with speed and he was off again.
Give them a call se if the have any spaces left, it does get filled up quick though.
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Have some episodes of cartoons he likes on your phone.
As opposed to the one on the pitch?
Funny ones, not scary ones.
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My dad first started taking me when I was seven, he'd get me to crawl under the turnstile and he'd give the gateman the equivalent of the price of a pint of beer, which the gateman would pocket for himself.
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When all of our kids were younger we tended to take them early or late season in the milder weather.
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I've been taking my lad since he was 3. He's now 18 and still comes with me. Every game for us is an away game and a long car journey but it just becomes part of the Villa experience. Snacks and drinks are a life saver, so are mobile phones and I pads for the journey. The highlight of the day was always buying H&V from Percy!
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I started taking my nephew (his first game was Ian Taylor's home debut v Chelsea in 1994) when he was 5 and would go in the Trinity. I got him to kneel on seats and would lift him up when the crowd stood as attacks unfolded - it was easier than lifting him from a seated position.
We used to stick cans of drink and sweets in his Villa backpack so no need to queue for food and always made sure he had hat, scarf and gloves in winter. I was lucky that he loved it from the word go. The hardest thing was trying to rein in my swearing but i think he loved the grown up language around us - it reminded him of his mom.
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Hello everybody.
I am taking my 6 year old nephew to the Sheffield Wednesday game in November. I don't have children so this will be as nerve-wracking for me as it is for him. He's very keen to go because his friend Alex from school goes to the games and I think he's got a bit of Villa jealousy going on but unfortunately he doesn't really understand what going to the game is about (my sister has told me, for example, that he doesn't really understand if he is going to watch football or play football). I've bought family tickets right next to the tunnel so he can see the players up close and the mascots etc. My questions are:
a/. We live in Sutton so I normally get the train in but I'm guessing the walk might be a bit far for him - any advice on where to park?
b/. My biggest worry is he'll get bored. I get bored watching Villa so it's only fair that he might. I'm planning on taking some back up plans to distract him but unsure what at this stage.
c/. Is there anything I'm missing out on?
To be fair, I went at six years old and was hooked. The game I went to was Villa 1-0 Wimbledon and however I look at that I guess it wasn't a thriller so hopefully it'll have the same effect on him. For all the crap I've witnessed with Villa it's definitely worth it.
I know this topic has been covered before, so apologies. I couldn't find it though! Thank you.
I take my 6 year old but with his 19 year old brother. He loves it despite having the attention span of a goldfish!
As I come from the North I park at the City of Birmingham University for £5. The Hare of the Dog Pub is now closed so its a 15 minute walk to the Holte Suite.
I find the family fun zone near the North Stand (acadamy training) a great way to entertain a 6 year old but I'm not sure if it runs every game? A game programme (kids quiz etc) can help keep them interested
Finally go buy him a souvenir in the club shop after the game!.
Hope it helps!
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I've been taking my lad since he was 3. He's now 18 and still comes with me. Every game for us is an away game and a long car journey but it just becomes part of the Villa experience. Snacks and drinks are a life saver, so are mobile phones and I pads for the journey. The highlight of the day was always buying H&V from Percy!
Honestly, it was a highlight of my day seeing you two as well.
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Hi Percy. Glad to hear your bringing the next generation to see the Villa. Your right time together with the kids going to watch the Villa is priceless. My lad is going to Uni at Bristol, so I can still pick him up on the way to home games.
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Hello everybody.
I am taking my 6 year old nephew to the Sheffield Wednesday game in November. I don't have children so this will be as nerve-wracking for me as it is for him. He's very keen to go because his friend Alex from school goes to the games and I think he's got a bit of Villa jealousy going on but unfortunately he doesn't really understand what going to the game is about (my sister has told me, for example, that he doesn't really understand if he is going to watch football or play football). I've bought family tickets right next to the tunnel so he can see the players up close and the mascots etc. My questions are:
a/. We live in Sutton so I normally get the train in but I'm guessing the walk might be a bit far for him - any advice on where to park?
b/. My biggest worry is he'll get bored. I get bored watching Villa so it's only fair that he might. I'm planning on taking some back up plans to distract him but unsure what at this stage.
c/. Is there anything I'm missing out on?
To be fair, I went at six years old and was hooked. The game I went to was Villa 1-0 Wimbledon and however I look at that I guess it wasn't a thriller so hopefully it'll have the same effect on him. For all the crap I've witnessed with Villa it's definitely worth it.
I know this topic has been covered before, so apologies. I couldn't find it though! Thank you.
I take my 6 year old but with his 19 year old brother. He loves it despite having the attention span of a goldfish!
As I come from the North I park at the City of Birmingham University for £5. The Hare of the Dog Pub is now closed so its a 15 minute walk to the Holte Suite.
I find the family fun zone near the North Stand (acadamy training) a great way to entertain a 6 year old but I'm not sure if it runs every game? A game programme (kids quiz etc) can help keep them interested
Finally go buy him a souvenir in the club shop after the game!.
Hope it helps!
Family Fun zone is operating for all the Sat 3.00pm kick-offs
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Took my 6 year old to the Norwich game for his first match, and he had a great time. We sat in the Holte Upper, because I thought the atmosphere up there would excite him more. One thing I was sure to do was to get a couple of aisle seats, because you can't really predict when kids that age need toilet breaks.
I didn't think to bring anything for entertainment though, and he did get a bit distracted secobd half. And I think that after the goals, the next most exciting thing to him was seeing the sprinklers in action (which he blamed for the lack of water in the bogs at HT - "it's because the sprinklers used it all").
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My oldest is 6 and I take him every couple of months to get him interested. His last game (Bolton) he started to show some genuine interest - we actually won, he enjoyed the Conor Hourihane chant and he started chanting "Villa Win" on the way out and a bunch of lads joined in which really made his day (he's still talking about it now). Hes also getting more competitive at sports and is interested in football and is starting to ask about the rules, throw ins, corners that kind of stuff but be prepared for a bit of a running commentary.
I normally sit in the North Bank when I take him (alien territory for me but they often have cheap combo deals and lots of kids/families there). I took him to one game when he was 4 (in the Trinity) and he came home and asked his Mum what a ****** was (and Mrs MDC didn't say "your Dad" before any wit on here chips in lol). Less sweary where we sit although at 6 he knows not to repeat anything he hears and I explain any words he asks about. The Holte sounds good from there and he asked when we were going to start sitting in there (he knows that's where I go when I go without him).
He's still a bit young so our routine is watch first half, pint for me juice for him, packed lunch/snack and then he has a tablet at some point in the second half when ever he fancies it. We always get the train - hes as fascinated with the fans as much as the game and loves hearing people singing on the train and the general hubub at New St and the hordes of folk wearing the same shirt as him at Aston. The walk is no problem for a 6 year old.
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My oldest is 6 and I take him every couple of months to get him interested. His last game (Bolton) he started to show some genuine interest - we actually won, he enjoyed the Conor Hourihane chant and he started chanting "Villa Win" on the way out and a bunch of lads joined in which really made his day (he's still talking about it now). Hes also getting more competitive at sports and is interested in football and is starting to ask about the rules, throw ins, corners that kind of stuff but be prepared for a bit of a running commentary.
I normally sit in the North Bank when I take him (alien territory for me but they often have cheap combo deals and lots of kids/families there). I took him to one game when he was 4 (in the Trinity) and he came home and asked his Mum what a c*** was (and Mrs MDC didn't say "your Dad" before any wit on here chips in lol). Less sweary where we sit although at 6 he knows not to repeat anything he hears and I explain any words he asks about. The Holte sounds good from there and he asked when we were going to start sitting in there (he knows that's where I go when I go without him).
He's still a bit young so our routine is watch first half, pint for me juice for him, packed lunch/snack and then he has a tablet at some point in the second half when ever he fancies it. We always get the train - hes as fascinated with the fans as much as the game and loves hearing people singing on the train and the general hubub at New St and the hordes of folk wearing the same shirt as him at Aston. The walk is no problem for a 6 year old.
You sure you're on the right club's site?!
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In and around the tunnel can get a little "pushy" as all the kids clamour for autographs and to get a glimpse of the players coming out - most of them are regulars. Hercules and Bella always make the kids smile and although they are very accommodating for pictures sometimes you can see the younger kids can be freaked out. I think its best to be on the left side of the tunnel (as you look at the pitch) because the more regulars attend the right side and as there are steps down they are constantly being moved as press and media come into the tunnel. The best time for pics and autographs are when they come out to look at the pitch - so be early. Once they come out to be warmed up or at game time they are usually focussed so ignore most people. It is best to bring non perishable food for half time as the queues can be long - be warned if you bring your own pop then they will take the tops off at searching
My first game is a great idea and all the kids seem to love it - I must admit the club do the whole family thing really well
If you wear a badge with "Tom" on it I will say hi ;)
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Make sure you go to family fun day. It's excellent and kids love it. Knackers them out before KO too!
We normally get train to add to occasion and walk from Aston to north stand. 6 yr old is fine with it. Normally stop to buy pin badges and hot dogs as a treat
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Definitely his "Marmite" moment i think.
Good luck, hope he loves it.
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Does anyone know what time we'd have to get there to see the Villa team arrive on match day? And do they stop for photos / autographs or just dash straight inside?
It's something my lad would like to do.
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Does anyone know what time we'd have to get there to see the Villa team arrive on match day? And do they stop for photos / autographs or just dash straight inside?
It's something my lad would like to do.
Coach usually arrived between 12.30 - 13.00. If they are on time and enough people get their attention they will come over to the fence for autographs etc.
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In terms of parking, I would suggest Trinity Road (come in from the top end by the Church and the Mosque). If you have a drive down there, there are usually some spaces to park on the road. If you don't mind paying then you can park in the King Edward's school car park for £5. Only a 5-10 minute walk from there and you do go past a couple of burger vans on the way (a hot dog is my young nephew's number one priority when he goes to a game!).
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Does anyone know what time we'd have to get there to see the Villa team arrive on match day? And do they stop for photos / autographs or just dash straight inside?
It's something my lad would like to do.
Coach usually arrived between 12.30 - 13.00. If they are on time and enough people get their attention they will come over to the fence for autographs etc.
The players don't arrive by coach anymore for home games - they use their own cars.
Last one to arrive is usually around 1.00pm and yes, they do sign autographs and pose for pictures.
I'm pretty sure Aston Villa have stopped people waiting by the Corner Flag restaurant and you need to wait on the Trinity Road side of the players car park.
I'm also pretty sure Villa now have the players entering their car park through the North Stand car park.
I hope this helps
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I am tempted to take Charlie to a game this year. He is cutting his teeth on occasional visits to watch Stourbridge at the minute. He is quite taken with fans singing and thought it was ace when the fans were lobbing flares on the pitch at the number 9 derby the other week. He was also rather animated and enjoyed joining in with "off" chants at a previous game. Given the above, I do worry I might have to punch someone next time we go to amuse him though!
He was gutted when I told him we lost to Wolves (Dylan in his class likes Wolves) but is friendly with a boy called Josh who supports Villa and Chelsea. Thinking about it, I probably ought to take Josh when we go as well!
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I took my 5 year old to the Bolton game. He was really excited beforehand. He declared he was bored mid game (so were the other 32k) and has declined the offer of another game. Maybe next year!
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Don't know if anyone else has suggested it but you could get the train to Aston and change there for Witton if you think the walk is too much?
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He absolutely loved it.
He was gripped for the first half. His favourite player is ‘Alan’ but I presume that’s because it’s his Grandad’s name. Before kickoff he says he wants to be a record-breaking player for the club and win trophies, so all good there.
Seventy minutes in he’d had enough. With breathtaking astuteness for a first time viewer he commented ‘Aston Villa aren’t very good’ but ‘just need more practice.’ On the way back ‘I don’t mind Lichfield Wednesday (sic.) winning so their supporters are happy.’
He’ll be back.
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Good work. Did you stick around for Samba's goal?