Who inflicted your football team on your children?

Stretch

Stretch

Stretch

Soldato
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14 Feb 2004
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Peoples Republic of Histonia, Cambridge
I have an 18 month old son, and I'm expecting another boy early next year. There will likely/hopefully become a time when they start taking an interest in football, and if/when they do, I'd like it to be something we can enjoy together.

How many of you encouraged your children to support the same team as you? Is it important that you share a common club, or can a bit of rivalry make it just as enjoyable? Do any of you feel bad about subjecting your children to a lifetime of mediocre football.

I am a lifelong Liverpool supporter. Whilst I love the club, and it has bought me many years of excitement and untold disappointment, I feel the distance is prohibitive for watching games with young children. It's a 3 hour journey each way, not something you can consider with under 12s.

The idea of supporting your local team is a noble and romantic notion, but anyone who's been to Cambridge will know the football club is an embarrassing eyesore which most residence would rather see the back of. Watching the odd home game maybe, but I wouldn't wish a lifetime of Cambridge United on my worst enemy.

The options are A) let them chose their own team, B) encourage them to support Liverpool and except we won't watch many games until they're older, C) encourage them to support another, more local premiership club.

And by other premiership club, realistically that means London based. The closest being Arsenal, which is 45 minutes away on the train.
 
Mr-White said:
Let eBay decide !

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-10-23/dad-puts-sons-choice-of-football-club-on-ebay/

MW
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Interesting idea :)

Moses said:
It's probably easier when supporting a team like Liverpool which has been and will be able to attract/retain big name players, etc, and play reasonable football/are reasonably competitive/are relatively easy to watch on TV/etc... as opposed to some awful League 2 team. Just watch games on TV with him/let him share in your excitement, etc (I don't know if you have BT Sports/Sky, but you could get the former/watch the latter with Now TV... it's not super super cheap, but it's not horribly expensive). Then presumably you have some family friendly pubs near you which show games, so that's another option.

But try as you might, he could easily end up supporting someone else, especially if he eg. becomes a Sterling fan (or whoever is a big star for the England team when he's getting to know football).
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I don't have sports channels at the moment, as I tend to watch games at the pub. But will definatly be getting if football is popular with the children. Nothing beats going to games from time to time though.

My dad was a Wolves suporter, so I know first hand about the league 2 scenario. The downside is I didn't get to a match until I was into my 20s, which was a shame, and something i'd like to do diffrently with my own.

You are right though. They'll probably support who their friends etc support. Just please not the Manchester clubs :(
 
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My father was a born and bread spurs fan. Growing up right next to the ground. I ended up supporting Man U. Most of my friends are Liverpool fans. I think it is mainly an era thing. I guess there are a lot of City fans with the kids these days. You also see quite a lot of kids with Barcelona shirts on. Had none of that in my childhood unless they were on special offer at JJB!
 
No kids myself but my Dad supports Palace and I do too, it was also the local team growing up. My Mum's side of the family are all Arsenal though so my kid will end up one of those most likely!
 
I was dragged to Luton Town home games on Saturdays and church on Sundays as a child.

I spared both my children these horrors, though the youngest has become a Crystal Palace supporter of her own volition.
 
My son likes to play but has little interest in real football other than what his school mates tell him. He's 6. He wanted to debate who was better Ronaldo or Messi. He's seen neither play. He's watched one game with me, Everton getting knocked out of the Europa league thingy. He asked me if that had to be his team too.

No son, find your own team and misery.

It's a blessing too because when his team mates are rolling on the floor holding a leg or complaining about the slightest contact he hasn't a clue what they are doing. The sooner he grows out of it and finds a better use of his saturday mornings the better!

Every time he tells me he wants to support a team, I ask him to name me 3 players. Fails every time. His football knowledge is Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney. The majority of his under 7's side support Liverpool.
 
dannyjo22 said:
It's a blessing too because when his team mates are rolling on the floor holding a leg or complaining about the slightest contact he hasn't a clue what they are doing. The sooner he grows out of it and finds a better use of his saturday mornings the better!

E
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When i was a kid I didn't quite get the whole diving thing and would just randomly throw myself on the floor even when nobody was near me:p
 
I was discussing this with a friend a while back, it's funny how much misery you can inflict on your child for the rest of their life choosing a team for them to support. My wife's side all support Middlesbrough and my side, Leeds.
I watch, play and follow all football but my life could be so much easier (happier) if I was a neutral and didn't support a side, it really ruins my days the **** that goes on in my club, why do I want to put that pain onto my son?!

I want to give up playing on weekends though, my legs can't take it so I want to live my dreams through my lad so unfortunately he will have to man up, I'm looking forward to taking him down to footy to play and hopefully get to more Leeds ( :( ) games on the weekend.

He might turn out to like ballet though so maybe my plans will be ruined.
 
I'm genuinely glad I never decided to stick with and follow a club team, because England's national squad reliably give me all the footballing heartache I can handle every 2 years, and that's enough for me.

My future sprogs will hopefully do martial arts and ski their little hearts out.
 
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My support for Man Utd was due to three reasons... Out of the two Manchester clubs, they where closer (marginally from what I recall, about 6m to old Trafford and 8m to maine road); I was born and lived in the borough of Trafford; and finally my old man had divorced my mum when I was very young and he supported city...
 
Both my sproggs and me, support UTD, the Wife, WBA.

But I did tell them they can support any team they like except the Scouse £$%%.
 
My kids were all junior gunners, since I got divorced they were encouraged to support a local team. The only one who cares about football teams picked Liverpool, that was deemed local enough. He has been to see 2 Arsenal vs Liverpool games with me though so at least I've not completely missed out on it.
 
Ive got 4 kids all everton fans, they did not choose they were chosen, anyone who supports everton will understand anyone who dosent understand dosent matter.
 
My grandad was a Sheffield United fan, my dad is and I am. I could never let me son or daughter pick another team, it just won't happen and I just don't get it when people in the same family all follow someone different. You're born in to being a Blade in my family, like it or lump it.

I've seen one or two "good" seasons in my 30 years of going, many playoff final losses, cup semi finals and heartbreak on the final day so confirm relegation... I wouldn't change it for anything else. My Grandad (R.I.P) was a young lad when we last won something noteworthy...

God help us.

Up the Blades !!!
 
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My dad and I are both Wolves fans, so my son has been down there a couple of times. He considers himself a Wolves fan and his younger sister has started to inherit his old shirts etc.

I didn't force it on him intentionally, but appears to have been that way!
 
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