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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

15 year old ds wants to go by supporters coach to a football match 90 miles away on Boxing Day

49 replies

MintSpys · 21/12/2013 08:40

I have said no.

He is very upset. He would be going with a friend (also 15), getting the coach from home ground to the away ground, watching the match and getting the coach back.

I am worried about the other supporters, and the fact that if there was a problem he would be 90 miles away.

AIBU? He definitely thinks I am!

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 21/12/2013 08:46

Ds 14 regularly goes to matches 40 miles away on his own by train(he supports a non local team)
He is very independent travelwise...is planning to travel to Oz after gcses to stay with family on his own.

On a supporters coach...no problem.
Unless it's Millwall Grin

GirlWithTheDirtyShirt · 21/12/2013 08:47

Supporters buses are generally pretty tame. Let him go.

thenicknameiwantedisgone · 21/12/2013 08:47

Sorry but I think YABU, you need to let him grow up and have more independence. As long as he knows to keep clear of any arguments he'll be fine, I have seen football matches many times over the years and very rarely seen any trouble.

happystory · 21/12/2013 08:48

Sounds fine, I would let him go

LtEveDallas · 21/12/2013 08:48

Sorry, I think YABU. He's 15. He could leave home next year and move 500 miles away. He could go to the Army Foundation College and begin a military career.

I think you should let him go.

ruby1234 · 21/12/2013 08:49

I would let him go.

In the unlikely event something happens, then there is a whole coach load of people to help.
He'll have a great time!

Follyfoot · 21/12/2013 08:49

I'd have let my daughter go at that age. So, sorry I think YABU. What exactly worries you about the other supporters? Tell us and then hopefully we can allay your fears.

WigWearer · 21/12/2013 08:49

Oh, please let him go! He will have a fantastic time. I feel quite upset on his behalf!

SanityClause · 21/12/2013 08:50

Let him go!

There will be responsible adults on the coach, including the driver. He will have his phone to contact you, if anything untoward happens with the return journey.

I have a 14yo DD, and I would let her do this, if she asked.

normaleggy · 21/12/2013 08:50

I was doing exactly this from about the age of 14, it really is the safest way to go to away matches, they often have police escorts and the type of supporters that use the coaches are not, in my experience, anything you need to be worried about. They may bore him to tears but that's about it.

Original poster
MintSpys · 21/12/2013 08:50

Thank you. It is Preston playing Carlisle. He is very independent with travel too, I trust him but I was unsure whether it would be really rowdy. My dh and I don't go to the football so maybe I have an outdated vision of what it is like. Grin

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 21/12/2013 08:51

I left home when I was 16. Working, paying rent, managing a budget (v v v tight budget!)
Only you know if he's a ridiculously immature boy, but in the context of renting my own flat... I'm laughing at the idea that a 15yo can't get on a bus.

livinginawinterwonderland · 21/12/2013 08:51

YABU, let him go.

Onesleeptillwembley · 21/12/2013 08:53

YABU. He'll be safe enough on there. Have a rethink.

17leftfeet · 21/12/2013 08:53

Let him go

RandomMess · 21/12/2013 08:55

YABU - he is not going alone, he has a friend with him so worst case scenario and they miss the coach home they will be stranded together Grin

Original poster
MintSpys · 21/12/2013 08:55

cabrinha he goes on the train to Manchester! it was more the behaviour of other fans!

I thought away matches were really raucous and home fans would get aggressive! I am not over protective usually but just didn't know about this Xmas Blush you have helped me not be worried! than you!

OP posts:
34DD · 21/12/2013 08:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ComposHat · 21/12/2013 08:55

Is it an official supporters bus? If so fine, most ban alcohol. I used to travel round the country on these buses at his age and never had a problem. As I recall the most offensive thing was the smell of 35 different cheap Christmas aftershaves mingling in the overheated coach.

On away trips I always found it difficult killing time before matches as they wouldn't let us in the pub. Usually we'd hang around burger king a bit and wander round the record shops.

Let the poor bugger go, do you really want a resentful, bored teen hanging round you on boxing day?

WigWearer · 21/12/2013 08:56

Have you told him he can go yet, OP? Grin

My brother joined the merchant navy at 16 and went all around the world...

Follyfoot · 21/12/2013 08:56

He will be safer going to a football match than he would be going out in town for a night tbh. I quite like a bit of 'rowdy' myself Grin

Joking apart, I've been going to football for 40 years and have seen very little trouble over that time. DD has been going since she was maybe 5, I didnt hesitate to take her.

Spottybra · 21/12/2013 08:57

Yabu.
My nephew has been doing this since he was 12.

NearTheWindmill · 21/12/2013 08:58

Mine are 19 and 15. Let him go. Supporters coaches are fairly sensible and it's usually the committed supporters who go on them rather than the rowdy trouble makers.

34DD · 21/12/2013 08:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

normaleggy · 21/12/2013 08:58

OP that's what they were like isn't he 70s and 80s maybe but not anymore! I think you are over reacting and actually being a little bit insulting to football fans. We're not all knuckle dragging Neanderthals you know..!