families through the ages

[Wakering ShrimperMan]

First started going in the late 60's and used to sit with both me Mum & Dad in the East Blacks. Used to be Benchs in those days and as a special treat i would sometimes get the old grey plastic cushions. My Dad would never let me chuck it on the Pitch when everybody else did. Sometimes wish i could go back to the blacks with a handfull of Cushions and have a good chuck.
Now go to all games with Father In Law (as Dad sadly no longer here) and my 4 boys who are all Seaso's.
Have sat/stood /crouched all around the ground and have now ended up in the South Upper. Kids all in South Lower (Costs a lot Less !!).
Look forward to the new ground , but lots of memories from The Hall.....

 

[TTS]

Ive been going since 1986 with my Dad - I was caught by the football bug during the world cup that year . I was 8 at the time, and it was my birthday. We have hardly missed a home game together sincem, throw many away games - SUFC games are great, because now I am married, it gives me great times with the old man. My Old man has been going Southend since late 60's !!!
We now take our 6 year old nephew as well, he loves it and has really put his West Ham Supporting Dad's nose out of joint !!! His boy is now, without doubt a true blue .........
Up the Blues

 

[OldBlueLady]

Have sat/stood /crouched all around the ground and have now ended up in the South Upper. Kids all in South Lower (Costs a lot Less !!).
Look forward to the new ground , but lots of memories from The Hall.....

Ah, so this is what happens is it? Fathers come and dump their sprogs in South lower to annoy the hell out of other supporters while they go off and sit as far away as practically possible. What's wrong with sitting together? We have a group of about 6 or 7 lads aged about 13 who sit behind us and probably only watch about 15 mins of the game as they're s*dding about the rest of the time. I frequently have had to turn round and have a stern word.

 

[class]

I'm part of a father/son combo to football and i'm 25....

 

[Firestorm]

I started going with my Father and Grandfather in the late 60's, although neither were Southend fans , but I got hooked , once I was old enough to go on my own they stopped going although boxing day football with Dad became a bit of a tradition once I got married.
My son had his first season ticket aged 9 but doesn't get to many games now as he lives oop North

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Went to my first game in May 1982, we beat Huddersfield Town at home 4-0, after it being 0-0 at half time, and that is when the love affair started! I was only 6, but I remember it like it was yesterday, remarkably enough!

Me and My old man were in the West Stand, where we remained until switching over to the East Stan in the mid to late 80's..... and before anyone says anything, by remained there, I mean we did actually go home between games!

Continued to go to games with my old man until around 2000, when he opened his own business which meant he had to work on Saturday's, which was a real shame. He has since moved away to Cambridgeshire, but still gets to the games when he can, but I have to say, it's not quite the same going without him, regardless of who I go with - although don't tell the missus that!

The upside is now that I take my own son with me, even though he is only 7 weeks old - he has now done 4 matches... and made his away debut at Orient on Saturday... and annoyingly enough, has slept through every single one of them!! Mind you, Oldhm and Bristol Rovers at home, I don't blame him for sleeping through them!!

Posting in this thread, and reading all the other posts, is a proper trip down memory lane, makes me think of all the games we went to, and even some of the more mundane ones stand out for various reasons. Excellent thread!

 

[fatshrimp]

Can't remember first game, but I would have been around 6 or 7. Always remember having so much room to run around and had the run of the ground, almost. I'm 39 now. Attended regularly up to about 15 or so. Dropped off for a few years and then came back. My brother also went, but with his mates in the North Bank.

Not STH, although my Dad still is. Don't go together anymore, but we always meet beforehand on the games I attend so that I can buy him a beer. Try and drag my brother along too when I can.

Had my photo in the Christmas '68 program wearing club hat & scarf. Cheers Dad!

My daughters have just turned 6 & 5 and keep asking me to take them along. Think they're a bit young still, after reading related posts on here.

Someone posted on here earlier (I forget who) about feeling like you belong at the club. That's true, and for me it's important.

Let's hope some of the identity doesn't get lost or sacrificed along the way as we move on to bigger and better things. I would love for my kids to have the same affection that I have for the club.

 

[Suffolk Blue]

Always seen this as a family thing.

I Started to take my son when he was 5 (back in 89); money got a bit tight so we used to stand outside on the hill above the South-East corner (arguing with coppers that standing there didn't consitute a fire risk and agreeing with them that Jobson was an ar5e). My son lost interest a bit over the next couple of years so I decided that I would try and get my daughter interested instead.

My daughter was about 9 when we started going to matches (I could afford to pay for us to get in by now :)) Happy to say she still goes with me and my friends to most matches home and away.

Recently started taking my Dad and occasionally my Father-in-Law along to some home games; and I already have plans to take my Grand-Daughter along when she's a couple of years older. Could be 4 generations of us attending by then!

 

[Jam_Man]

Whats a good age to take kids into the family enclosure ?

I think RC taking his 7 week old is a bit young :), but are there 5 year olds there ?

Im wondering when to take my daughter to a first team game.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Im wondering when to take my daughter to a first team game.

When she actually asks to go is a start.
I'd say about 6 or 7 is a good age to take them.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

think RC taking his 7 week old is a bit young :)

Nonsense, he loves it.... If nothing else, gives him an opportunity to catch up on his sleep :)

I think in a year or so's time, taking him to footie would be a nightmare, but at this age, it is so easy, why not?

He is also a Mini Blue - One of the youngest the club have ever had, and currently the youngest at the moment!!

 

[blake]

My father took me to my first match in 1947 when we moved to the town. I was 7 at the time. My father was an Arsenal supporter and we only went to see Southend at the old Grainger Road Stadium on the odd occasion when he particularly fancied a match. He rarely took me to Arsenal and so his own allegiance hardly affected me. I remember sitting on the perimiter wall as I couldn't see over from where we stood.

I was able to go to Southend myself when I was about 8 or 9. It was safe to let children go by themselves then. Apart from the period when I was studying away I have seen most home matches. I remember the first game at Roots Hall and must say that I am looking forward to the first game at Fossets Farm.

I took my own sons now aged 40 and 37 to see the blues as young children carrying them over the turnstiles. We are all season ticket holders although my eldest son sits in another part of the ground with his friends. His daughter (my granddaughter) is now a regular supporter. My younger son lives about 60 miles away but there has never been a question of him relinquishing his season ticket.

 

[C C Csiders]

I was able to go to Southend myself when I was about 8 or 9. It was safe to let children go by themselves then. .

Indeed I used to go on my own, or with a school friend when I was 9 or so in the mid-70's (evening games as well). Perfectly safe, and there were regular buses in those days. Yes people buses used to run after dark.

 

[OldBlueLady]

When she actually asks to go is a start.
I'd say about 6 or 7 is a good age to take them.

Whenever you're happy to tear yourself away from the game and disturb a whole row to take them to the toilet 2 or 3 times during a game! My son started going about 8, by which time he could manage to hold on till half time! Girls are a different matter though, the loos in the family enclosure are a complete disgrace, so I'd think seriously about taking a young girl.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Whenever you're happy to tear yourself away from the game and disturb a whole row to take them to the toilet 2 or 3 times during a game! My son started going about 8, by which time he could manage to hold on till half time! Girls are a different matter though, the loos in the family enclosure are a complete disgrace, so I'd think seriously about taking a young girl.

I first experienced the loos in the old North Bank aged six. I'd never seen anything quite like it :eek:

 

[C C Csiders]

I first experienced the loos in the old North Bank aged six. I'd never seen anything quite like it :eek:

The Turf Moor bogs in the 80's were a sight and smell to behold. It was far more hygienic to pi$$ in your pants than to whip it out and slash up the wall there. For a start the cold even in early or late season was enough to inflict frostbite on your penis. There are at least 47 recorded cases of the St. John Ambulance brigade on sight having to perform instant circumcisions to bring relief to those stricken with tundra todger. Those of us without the necessary jackets did not drink for a fortnight prior to the game.

 

[SUFC_Al]

I first experienced the loos in the old North Bank aged six. I'd never seen anything quite like it :eek:

ditto James...I also had the misfortune to sit in the proximity of the East Stand paddock toilets at the North Bank end as this was where we had our season tickets for many years (Row A seats 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), the toilets were about 20/25 feet from our seats down some stairs!

 

[haveaguiness]

i dont really remeber my first game but i think we beat cambridge 3-1 or summit when i was 5. My dad has taken me and my older borther all round the country to watch southend. I had been to 30+ grounds by time i was 12. I think i been to around 60 now all with him and my brother. We used to stand in the north west corner before moving up to the south upper. I havent been able to go last couple of years because of university but i am always on the phone to him after the game asking if we won how we played and stuff. im 20 now so 15 years of watching with my dad, and i hope many more to come, doesn't really matter what league we are in, i will always be a shrimper!

 

[shrimperian]

My Dad introduced me to Southend in 1967 but for reasons known to those who know me, we didnt actually ever watch a game together at the Hall until 1984, although we used to watch practically every away match together.

My Son was born in 1988 and he started coming with me when he was 5 (First game Boxing day v WBA 2-1 (W)). However a couple of years later he drifted away from watching live matches. He had however, by then been joined by my Daughter who saw her first match when she was three (v Crystal Palace). We still see all games home and away together (although she rarely sits with me away from home) and she is now nearly 17. My youngest daughter, 13 also comes to every home game.

Both Mel and I will be at Heybridge tonight cheering the boys on as always!!

 

[OldBlueLady]

ditto James...I also had the misfortune to sit in the proximity of the East Stand paddock toilets at the North Bank end as this was where we had our season tickets for many years (Row A seats 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), the toilets were about 20/25 feet from our seats down some stairs!

Guys I know gents' can be dire but physical anatomy means that you don't have to come into proximity with it in the way we do, and little girls can't "hover squat"!