In the quest to ensure my son supports Hartlepool and not Tottenham, I would love to take him to a game this year (obviously an away game like Barnet, Boreham wood or Leyton Orient due to our location). However, he'll only be one and a bit at the time. What age is it ok to start taking kids to football? Have any of you taken your little one at that age and got any advice or should it just be left until he's a bit older? Thanks

If you do take them don't expect to see any of the game, it is quite frustrating to be honest.

Based on the estimated life expectancy of a boy born today is 79.2 years i would leave it until he is at least 40 and he then will only have spent half his life watching this shite.................. unlike me!

I've been taking my lad since he was 2 (he's 6 now) and I only had to leave early once. CK stand is well comfortable for kids. Mind you, I missed the first goal on Saturday because he wanted chips and the queue took an age ...

I was contemplating taking my boy - who is 4 - to the game but have a season ticket for the Mill House terracing. Are kids under a certain age free?

This is my 8 year olds 4th season, but he is and always has been obsessed with footy.

HTH

I started taking my lad when he was about 2. Used to carry him through the turnstiles never charged. When he was about 6 I still used to carry him through, he was by then strong enough to carry the flask and still say ‘I’m only 4’. This went ruse still carried on until he was about 17, by then his voice had broke, ‘I’m only 4’ didn’t sound the same and my arms used to ache and we struggled to negotiate the turnstiles at the same time.
Think it is free up to 4 years though.

A run along a slippery river bank for about 100 metres and a shin up a 6 foot fence at 10 hth.

My daughter is basically scouse (it pains me to admit) but she loves her dad and Hartlepool is her first team. I found that starting young with the last away game of the season associates the club with fun rather than a life of mediocrity.
She actually enjoys the away games more as well.

As an aside, one of my proudest moments was when she was 6 or 7 and an Everton coach came into her school. He asked the kids who they supported, Liverpool or Everton. She butted in and said Hartlepool. He said who are they to which she shot back, ‘Who are Everton?’ Too right!
Couple of days later the caretaker randomly barged into her class midday and said ‘where’s Emma Shepherd?’ She thought she was in trouble but put her hand up. The caretaker pulls a Pools dut out of his pocket and starts singing ‘Hartlepool, Hartlepool, Hartlepool!’
Basically, we get everywhere!

Took my eldest first when he was 3, and until he was 6 he got bored with the game quite quickly so I used to take stuff to keep him amused. Missed no end of goals whilst taking him to the bog, and generally didn't see loads of the game.

Waited until my youngest was 6 before taking him, despite buying him a season ticket when he was a week old as a publicity stunt for the cheap season tickets.

I agree about 5 or 6 is a good age to start taking them without having to worry too much about missing the game. Bag of sweets and a fizzy pop treat to keep them occupied if things on the pitch aren't going to plan...

Always helps if we score a couple and the sun's shining though.

I first took my daughter to an away game aged 3 , away at Gillingham first game of season 1994 , the away end was wicked with Wasps. It is too young , but for a lot of people including myself I had no choice. It was take the daughter or you can't go, that's what marriage is all about, shared responsibilities , my father was in the same boat . Also a family railcard meant I could afford to go as well. In later years, my son replaced my daughter at games and her and her mother went off shopping whilst the men went to the game. Its different for everyone depending on circumstances, this is my story. I doubt I would do it now though, the general low level anti social behaviour I see at away games I wouldn't want any child of mine to witness, it was bad enough then but its worse nowadays.