Choosing a footie team for my son

[butchersapron]

We are dirty leeds! What more reasons do you need?

 

[christonabike]

Here yer go:

Marching On Together (Leeds Leeds Leeds)

Here we go with Leeds United
We're gonna give the boys a hand
Stand up and sing for Leeds United
We are the greatest in the land

Every day, we're all gonna say
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

Marchin' on together
We're gonna see you win
(na, na, na, na, na, na)
We are so proud
We shouted out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

We've been through it all together
And we've had our ups and downs
(ups and downs!)
We're gonna stay with you forever
At least until the world stops going round
Every day, we're all gonna say
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

Marchin' on together
We're gonna see you win
(na, na, na, na, na, na)
We are so proud
We shouted out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!

 

[editor]

So... who does he support? Born and bred in Leeds....

Leeds it is, then!

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Why does everyone hate Leeds? A nasty history of racism, fascism, thuggery, greed and arrogance. How much of that has been wiped out in recent years I'd have to leave to other more enlightened fans, but that's the stain they carry around with them. Doesn't sound good, huh? gx

Yeah - but then our fans had a terrible reputation in the 70s (ICF) and while it's improved, it's still there, at least in anti-semitism.

Yet (atleast pre tevez) I always hear people saying "Yeah, West Ham, nice club, great academy, produce great players, try to play nice football"...

 

[christonabike]

ICF is West Ham

Service Crew is Leeds

Not heard much anti-semitism, must admit

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

ICF is West Ham

Service Crew is Leeds

Not heard much anti-semitism, must admit

I know ICF was west ham - I just mean, why is it that most clubs which have a reputation for dodgy fans (Stoke, Cardiff, Leeds, Millwall) are generally hated by anyone other than their own supporters, yet we have lots of people 'with a soft spot' for us...

 

[christonabike]

Ah, I get yer

It's the press. All clubs have dodgy fans

That's why it's best to not care about the reps, and only go by what you experience

This is what most people do not do, they watch the football on the telly and then mouth off about those fucking Millwall/Leeds fans

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

True you're probably right - the Tottenham fans like to paint themselves as angels compared with us, yet I remember a table of teams' fans arrested, and they had more than us

 

[Fedayn]

He's a northerner, northerners support their local teams, unlike people from down south

Aye, they support northern teams too.

 

[Rollem]

of course we do

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Aye, they support northern teams too.

Only ten year olds and accountants from surrey.

 

[scifisam]

You might find my thread on why do you support your particular team? helpful.

My daughter's ten, and, obviously, a girl. It's different to your situation. In some ways I'd say to look at the teams his schoolfriends or kids in your locale support (their football shirts when they can wear them, the towels they hang up at the swimming pool, that sort of thing), but I'd also go on what people in the above thread said. They're on the money.

Farsley Celtic - in Pudsey. They play in the Blue Square North.

Standing - Adults £10, Juniors £1
Seated - Adults £12, Juniors £6

Could clair's son support them AND Leeds? Because they're in utterly different leagues. You know, like some people have a Spanish team they follow as well as an English team, for some reason. Clair taking her son to this Farsley game wouldn't mean he couldn't support Leeds too, would it? Or am I missing something here?

What is it that grabs you? Specifically, what is the emotion or feeling that is so strong that you seem to literally almost fall in love with a game?

I'm jealous of this, cos it seems fun. You get to sit in pubs and drink beer and be one of a group and cheer. But god knows I've tried and everytime I've seen a football match I've been bored within 15 minutes.

Have you ever been to one in person? It was nothing like watching it on TV. I've only been to one, and it was astounding - it really made me understand why people like football. You know all the ingredients, but together they make much more than you would expect - like sugar and egg white making meringue.

Mums taking sons to to the match isn't something to be worried about, at any rate. He's six. All kids that age need a parent to take them, and that's often the Mum - and you'll see a lot of Mums who are genuine fans themselves these days.

 

[JTG]

oh god yes, haven't done that for a few years, but properly hilarious. especially when your team are winning 4-0 and you haven't got a clue

I have of course, never done this

Theres a few friendly Leeds games coming up in the summer.. Maybe wont have the same atmosphere, but are generally geared up as 'fan days'..



a leeds supporters site

btw Im a liverpool supporter

Out of date, that's from 2007 mate. Pre-seasons don't get arranged for another month or so cos nobody knows what sort of opposition they want depending on which leagues they're in

 

[Brother Mouzone]

Of course, the true answer to this question is that he should become a Manchester City fan - not too far away and after 30 years of fuck all
gx

33 years... and inflatable bananas

 

[Biddlybee]

lol at your username

 

[Refused as fuck]

Anyone said Bellend Road yet?

 

[aylee]

My boy is 6. He's got into football cos he likes to play it and cos of those Match Attax cards that all the boys collect.

Problem is that neither his Dad, me or any other single member of our families have any interest in the game. I don't even know the rules (offside and corners etc, obviously I know you've got to score goals).

But... I want to encourage it, all his mates are into it, it's good for kids to run about on Saturday mornings and the coaching field sells bacon butties (even if I have to hide from all the competitve Dads). He wants to go and see a real match, seems to me like if you're gonna be into football this is where the excitement is at.

So... who does he support? Born and bred in Leeds, so that's the obvious choice. But... it's fucking expensive, no? About £20 an adult and £10 a kid makes for a pricey outing But they are the best local team, and Elland Road is close and if he supported Huddersfield or wherever that's further. can you even go if you don't have a season ticket, are there seats kept aside?

Also, his Dad is unlikely to want to take him so am I going to look like an idiot when I don't know any football rules/ where to go/ when to shout/ him going with his Mum is the most uncool thing ever.

Christ, for some reason this whole thing makes me anxious...

He is a Leeds lad, he should support his local team. End of story.

 

[Edie]

He is a Leeds lad, he should support his local team. End of story.

Yeah cheers, that has been mentioned a few times

I live the meringue analogy. Maybe I've been missing something all these years...

 

[Termite Man]

I know ICF was west ham - I just mean, why is it that most clubs which have a reputation for dodgy fans (Stoke, Cardiff, Leeds, Millwall) are generally hated by anyone other than their own supporters, yet we have lots of people 'with a soft spot' for us...

it's because you won the world cup for england ...

 

[Bomber]

Got to be your local team init. At his age, make it a special rather than a regular occasion.

First answer, best answer !!!!!

 

[Larje]

As much as it pains me to encourage anyone to follow Leeds, the local team has to be the choice.

As with many of the larger clubs, Leeds have different pricing structures depending on the opposition. Looking at their site, it would seem all games are 7 quid for kids in the family area, with adult tickets ranging from £15 to £22.

http://http://www.leedsunited.com/page/StadiumPlanAndPrices/0,,10273,00.html

The family area would be a great place for you to get over any apprehension, they'll be lots of parents in the same boat and you'll be far enough away from the hardcore supporters on the Kop to allow you any cheering faux pas.

Most of all, have fun and make sure your boy takes everything in. I'm sure he'll be hooked for life.

Still, dirty cheating Leeds though?

*shakes head disconsolately*

 

[Maggot]

Take him to see The Damned United, and see if he still wants to support Leeds.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Knowing when to cheer - just follow the crowd It's easy to pick up from them and tbh, football's the simplest game in the world to understand anyway. Just put the offside rule out of your head for another day and get swept up in it.

TBH there's no need to understand the rules anyway. Just work out which way the free kick has gone and cheer if it's for your team and disagree loudly if it's not and you/he will fit right in.

 

[Greenfish]

When i was just a little boy
i asked my father what should i be -
should i be chelsea? Should i be arsenal?
Here's what he said to me:

Millwall, millwall,
millwall, millwall,
millwall, millwall,
millwall,millwall.