Likely Outcome of taking Amber and Alice to a football match

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Basically, Alice got enrolled into Reading Football Club's "Sevens" club, which basically means she gets a free football top and free tickets to a match. The match being Reading Reserves vs Bolton Reserves, for promotion to the premier league of reserves.

I went to a football match, back in November 1971, Chelsea vs Tottenham, it was 1-0

So what will the outcome be?

Poll Results

Option	Votes
They get bored and want to go home at half-time	6
wish they'd managed to get wristbands for the 'Meet McFly' of yesterday	2
They have a fantastic time and want to go to a 'real' match at some point	1
They stay to the end but have no wish to go to another match	1

― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:16 (eighteen years ago)

How old are they? I first took my son to a match when he was about 4 and indeed he expected to go home at half time. But then that was a Leicester match and pretty much everybody wanted to go home at half time.

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

Alice is seven (naturally), Amber is nine.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:24 (eighteen years ago)

Oh yeah, I see "sevens" ha! - I thought (for some reason probably related to rugby) that it meant there were seven in the team!

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:25 (eighteen years ago)

It's Bolton Reserves vs Reading Reserves, I somehow doubt it's going to be a reliable guide, for atmosphere or excitement or anything really.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:26 (eighteen years ago)

Then again, as I say, it's a 'promotion' battle, it seems.

FOOTBALL DUDES! How packed does a reserves match get?

OMG! Not only am I posting on a Football thread, i are actually started one! I lose katepoints.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:29 (eighteen years ago)

(xpost) Yes, I suspect you may be trying to ensure your girls never develop any interest in football thru a cruel and fiendish form of aversion therapy

― Tom D., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

Considering neither club exactly has an enormous fanbase for their proper teams, I reckon it's a safe bet to assume it'll be half empty.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

At least.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

They like football, right? Actively like it?

It might come down to whether lots of other kids in the same position go along to the game, and they can play with them on the terraces - the football would be secondary but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

Oh and I'd say it'll be 90% empty - no worries on that front.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:37 (eighteen years ago)

A reserves match yesterday...
http://www.itsportsnet.com/leagues/5113/graphics/EmptyStadium.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 11:42 (eighteen years ago)

I'd say it will be crack. We used to go to football matches a bit when I was about that age, and as you say, if there are other kids for them to run around and have a bit of fun with on the terraces, then all will be well. They might even watch a bit of the match.

― accentmonkey, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:03 (eighteen years ago)

Does Reading have a good mascot?

― Madchen, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:26 (eighteen years ago)

A Lion!

― Tom D., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:27 (eighteen years ago)

I think Reading's mascot is a big cuddly lion. I also think it got sent off by the ref recently, because he kept straying onto the pitch during the match!

x-post

― C J, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

That'll do!

Aside: OMG, how come I'd never heard of the Mascot Grand National before???

― Madchen, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:30 (eighteen years ago)

They will fight with other fans, pee against a cop's leg and get banned.

They will find 7- and 9-year old hooligan boyfriends.

?

― StanM, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:31 (eighteen years ago)

OMG! I just googled "Mascot Grand National" ....... it looks like a round of It's a Knockout!!!!

― C J, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:33 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.sports-mascots.co.uk/mascotrace2004.jpg

― Madchen, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:36 (eighteen years ago)

... it's been the scene of controversy and accusations of cheating in the past

― Tom D., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:36 (eighteen years ago)

Between the ages of about 6 and 13, my Dad took me and my sister to around 150 (rough estimate) Bolton matches, both home and away. I don't think I had any interest at first, but I suddenly started to take a huge interest around the age of 9 or 10, which lasted until I was about 12-13 and didn't want to spend weekends with my family anymore (and perhaps, when I went to an all-girls high school where football was less important). I never had any choice about going, and it involved a three hour car journey each way, so sometimes I really resented it and kicked up a big fuss. My fondest memories are of getting bought steak and kidney pies and occasionally replica shirts, the excitement of seeing a huge crowd of people go crazy at a goal, and Lofty the Lion (we would run down to the side of the pitch before matches and he would go round waving and dancing and touching the kids' hands).

My Dad used to sometimes tell me that I should be grateful that he was exposing me to so much football, because it would make me more appealing to boys (and that I'd make someone a very good wife some day). Haha.

― Cathy, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:38 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.sports-mascots.co.uk/Lofty_Lion_Bolton_Wanderers.jpg

― Cathy, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:40 (eighteen years ago)

Pies are an integral part of football matches.

― C J, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:41 (eighteen years ago)

I should be grateful that he was exposing me to so much football

I thought you were watching Bolton? (Oh I kill myself really I do)

There are two things that can happen: one or both daughters will love it and you'll have given them a potentially lifelong hobby to enjoy; or, they'll be a bit bored and you'll have wasted an afternoon. Got to be worth a shot.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:50 (eighteen years ago)

Took my son to see Darlington (at Feethams) when he was about five back in '99, team played well and a good time was had by all. Took him again a few weeks later, team played badly and a couple of knuckleheads just behind us let rip with a volley of abuse 'Hodgson you cunt, why don't you fuck off. Wainwright, you useless fucking wanker' etc etc. 'Daddy, why are those people son angry?'

Needless to say he lost interest in going. I've since taken him to the more genteel surroundings of Berwick Rangers several times, where he happily joined in on the pitch invasion a few weeks ago. He's been to see the Boro' a few times this season with his pal including the FA cup epic with Bristol City and Man United.

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 13:00 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.sports-mascots.co.uk/mascotrace2004.jpg

That hoarding protests too much

― DJ Mencap, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 13:09 (eighteen years ago)

That's German for "dead port" :-/

― StanM, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 13:13 (eighteen years ago)

It's highly unlikely that A&A will be able to run around on the terraces and enjoy themselves with other kids because a) there aren't any terraces and b) even children running around a stadium is frowned upon, they'll be required to stay in their seat.

Where is this game taking place, incidentally?

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 13:15 (eighteen years ago)

They will find 7- and 9-year old hooligan boyfriends.

-- StanM, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 12:31 (52 minutes ago)

Yes, Ryan. And we're watching what goes on!

― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

Right, tonight is the Reserves Cup Final!

Will let you know later.

― Mark G, Friday, 11 May 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

When will the G. family be released from prison?

― StanM, Monday, 14 May 2007 10:09 (eighteen years ago)

Ah, they are all fine and dandy after their football experience.

Some quotes:

After the announcement over the tannoy about it being a cup final and "ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!"

Amber: Oh you know in football, how anything can happen? I like it better when you can plan things out in advance."
me: "Oh. What, like chess, you mean?"

later:

Amber: "Gosh, they are really good at estimating how far up and along they have to kick the ball. Footballers must be really good at maths!"

And later still, as Reading won 2-0 and the podium came out and the losing team went up and got a handshake, and the winning team went up for their shield and fireworks, streamers and big champagne bottles were shaken up and all that....

me: "Umm, you do realise it's not always like this?"

Also, Alice went down and got a hug from Kingley the lion (pics later)...

Anyway, a good time (and hot chocolates and crisps) were had by all, and we probably won't do that again unless D.Beckham plays another benefit or something.

Oh the poll, what was the result?

(looks)

The jury is out about wanting to go to another/real match, but we did stay to the end (it wasn't as long seeming as I thought it might seem). My sense is that there are loads of other things we'd rather do. But who knows.

― Mark G, Monday, 14 May 2007 10:21 (eighteen years ago)

Yay!

Oh noes, not this criminal Kingsley The Lion, I hope?

http://socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=3298

― StanM, Monday, 14 May 2007 10:26 (eighteen years ago)

arrr.

― Mark G, Monday, 14 May 2007 10:28 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Well, we never did go to another football match, but they did stay to the end and enjoyed it. So,

They stay to the end but have no wish to go to another match 1

is correct.

Although, Amber did get free tickets to a London Irish (rugby) match, enjoyed that, but was most indignant that when the guy running scored an uncontested try, it was counted even though he didn't actually place the ball down. Guess the rules are more 'casual'...

― Mark G, Tuesday, 10 March 2009 16:30 (sixteen years ago)

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