First Live Game

Some of you may have seen this blog on one of the national newspapers sites about the first 'live' game you experienced and by 'live' I mean in the flesh not on the telly. It was extremely funny on the newspaper site and it also in a roundabout way reveals how old we are.

Not interested in researched google experiences just how you felt on the day.

Right, mine was Everton 1 Arsenal 0. It was a night game in the spring of 1969. I was six years old. It was before the advent of colour TV, imagine that , and so the luminous green pitch under the lights was a football mad small child's dreams come true. Night games are still better.

But what I most remember is that my dad, may he rest in peace, was the most level headed, was grieved at funerals never showed it, was happy at weddings never showed it, never raised his voice to his children, suddenly became a maniac. A complete and utter maniac. Even as a six year old I realised that there must be something special about this to illicit such strong emotions from my dad.

So come on. Mostly it'll be funny and it'll also remind us why we love the game that is the most important thing in in the world and at the same time not important at all.

Fantastic idea for a new thread Captain Vimes!

My first live match was in October 1979, Manchester United versus Ipswich town at Old Trafford. I was eleven years old, star-struck and upon seeing the pitch wondered where the commentary and action replays were going to come from

Ipswich were a fine side in those days, boasting the likes of Paul Mariner, Terry Butcher, Mick Mills and a whole host of household names in the day. Shortly before half-time United won a penalty at the Stretford End, Mickey Thomas (he of the forged fivers and stabbed in the backside by a love-rival fame) stepped up and scored. I celebrated like a loon only for the ref to order a re-take as Ipswich goalkeeper Paul Cooper was not ready. Cooper saved the re-taken penalty, one of an amazing eight out of ten penalties he saved that season!

Second half, and Ashley Grimes bagged the opening goal of the game with Jimmy Nicholl adding a second with a twenty yard drive. Anyway, leaving the ground we're being pushed along by the thousands of others when someone says something about a 1-0 win. Only upon getting back on the bus did I learn that Nicholl's strike had been disallowed for some reason I do not know!

But the sense of colour, noise, stars before my very eyes, the telling everyone at school on the Monday - the whole damn package in fact, meant that I was hooked on a drug which has probably provided me with too many of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life.

And I don't have a single regret!

3rd of March 1996 at Anfield....Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa. I was 14 years old. My dad (Celtic supporter) took me over on the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead and from there we travelled to Liverpool. I remember being absolutely awestruck when I caught my first glimpse of the ground as we came up the Walton-Breck Road. The game was on a Sunday. Liverpool were actually 3 up inside 8 minutes through Steve McManaman and a double from Robbie Fowler. I dont remember much about the game after that....it was quite uneventful but i just remember sitting in the Kemlyn Road / Centenery Stand, near half way and 2 rows back, staring around the ground in amazement and at my heros out on the pitch. I had the ticket stub until recently enough but it got lost presumably when i moved home but i still have the match day programme

Top Thread idea Captain V.

The first match i went to was United at Anfield in 1990.Dad took me for my birthday.

I don't remember alot about it...I remember feeling sick with excitement for every match i went to as kid though.

Dalglish and Fergie were in charge like now which is pretty cool and we won 4-0! Just looked it up lol. Beardsley Hat Trick.I honestly remember very little lol I was only 5! sounds great though!

The earliest match i really remember vividly is United at Anfield in 1997.I remember feelin like a grown up ( i was 11) lol because i sat in the Anfield Road end away from me Dad who was in The Kop.

Remember Andy Cole scoring two goals and Beckham scoring a freekick.We lost 3-1.The united fans tried to set the stand on fire that day.Was shit scared....Just wanted back with the old man lol

The memories.

When I was a lad, a friend said that his father had a spare ticket to the match. So I went along for my first match.
I can't remember who the opposition Premiership team was but we won... and I won the winning programme number.

A good day all round

(12-02-2011 18:44 )Captain Vimes Wrote:  Right, mine was Everton 1 Arsenal 0. It was a night game in the spring of 1969.

Nice to see you coming out to the general public at last, your family must be well proud old fella!!!

Anyways my first match was with my cousin who for reasons unbeknownst to me is a Sheffield United fan & wanted me to go & watch them in the FA Cup as his mum wouldn't let him go on his own... Awww! so off I go to see my first ever football match live at Bramall Lane & as we get off the train all a young Mitchell can see is a shit load of green & yellow shirts belonging to the dirty scum & there & then my first live game experience was ruined.
Anyhows off we went insearch of the ground & sat ourselves down in the family stand where I began a fiercely contested debate as to why the stand to my right is called The Kop... Errr isn't that at Anfield the stadium where I wish I was at instead of this shit hole.

Game experience.... Sheff Utd 0-2 Dirty Scum Eric Cantona scored a pathetic chip from the edge of the box & the other I think was scored by Mark Hughes although I can't & more so don't wanna remember.
Oh & if you were wondering yes I did wear my Liverpool coat with pride, the black one with the green sleeves, yup many stares I got as well.

(13-02-2011 02:13 )mitchell Wrote:  Nice to see you coming out to the general public at last, your family must be well proud old fella!!!

Nothing wrong with being middle aged mitchell. In fact I've had the great pleasure of passing on my dad's love of football from him to me to my son who I took to his first game who is now an Everton season ticket holder.

And it wouldn't have bothered me if he chose Liverpool, Man United or Rochdale as long as he loved the game.

I honestly dont know the date of the team we was playing but i think i was about 9, all i can remeber is been fascinated by the songs and been embarrassed that my dad wouldn't buy me a can of coke, instead making me drink his tea from a flask

I didn't mean your age kid I meant your long standing hidden support of the Sticky chaps