Who inflicted your football team on your children?

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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.

 

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Let eBay decide !

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

MW

Interesting idea

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).

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