Proud moments in football indoctrination?

[PadDad]

What are the highlights of your propaganda campaign to indoctrinate your child into supporting the correct team?

My DD was 11 months old when she mastered the correct clapping for

"If you're Arsenal and you know it, clap your hands..."

and

"If you hate Tottenham Hotspur, clap your hands..."

It was particularly moving because we were in separate countries at the time, communicating through video Skype.

OK, I'm not a dad, but a mum.

I think it was when DD before she could read, we went into a hotel, the bar was to the side of reception, and she pointed out the Carlsberg pump and says "that says Carlsberg".

Or it may be when same DD, last summer (aged 8), converted my brother's 2 children to be Liverpool Fans, and DBro is a Manx Scum Man Utd fan. And they're still Liverpool fans, she made sure of it at Christmas!

I've never been to a professional football match. I don't really support a team and only take an interest at the World Cup.

School is offering free pairs of tickets to the local game. Well-known side in the Championship. Should I get one and go with DS...? (He's 5, nearly 6.)

My dad took me to my first Forest match aged 5.I knew all the names of the European Cup winning side circa 1979,aged 7.I once shook hands with Ole Big Ead himself....

DP hates football and ds doesn't seem particularly interested!

I too am a mum and not a dad.

DD (aged 7) cheers when we drive past the stadium in which her dear papa wastes spends so much of his weekends and is now tucked up asleep in her team nightie. She was indoctrinated by about two, I think!

UQD - why not? ('I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a blunt stick' is one possible response, I guess).

I'm biding my time. He knows Daddy's team is the one in black and white but he's too little to be properly interested just yet.

I'm not sure I want to inflict a lifetime of disappointment on him anyway. He'll probably end up a Gooner. As long as it's not the Mackems, but he'd have to be really rebelling to sink to those depths!

Another mum, but mine were indoctrinated at an early age (more by my dad, than DH, but both big fans).

UQD, I would take him.

A very concerend at the child abuse being tolerated on this thread.

"If your Arsenal and you know it..." What sort of life is that being heralded for your little one??

Am going to report this thead. Truly appalled.

LOL Pan!

Another mum here. Mum to a Junior Gunner.

Mine was indoctrinated to football as a babe in arms by my Dad. Dad used to hold him and and say 'we need to get you into football before your Dad gets you into rugby or cricket'. And it worked!

Unfortunately for my Dad a friend here converted him to Arsenal. Dad a Man U fan for years! DH has recently come out of the closet as a Man City fan.

Took DS to see Arsenal play for his birthday in August. We all loved it! Consider myself a Gooner now too. I am totally amazed at how much I now know about football and, more to the point, how much I enjoy it.

DS is totally obsessed.

Pan,

Before you report me, I refer you to the response of m'learned friend DaDaDa previously.

It could be worse . . .

UD definitely go - if only to find out if he likes it.

Supporting a championship 1 side it is almost impossible to indoctrinate against the overwhelming tide of premiership propaganda. Have taken DS1 to two matches involving said team (including a trip to a sell out White Hart Lane), he just got bored at the lack of goals, (2-1 and 1-0).

Cannot persuade either DD to join to join the Toon Army or become ardent Hibees (even though we can hear every kick of the ball on match days).

Tch. girls eh?

I agree with Pan (no surprise there then) why would you encourage any child to support a team like Arsenal (or Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Rangrs or Celtic)? Life's about losing all the time with the occasional wild joy brought about by an unexpected win.

Im a gooner.
The entire rest of my family are chelski.

sadly my son has chosen the dark side.

my daughter has decided that red is her favourate colour and has named her new dolly Arsenal.

very very proud mummy

I think it's very difficult when, like me, you are not into all the tribalism etc. and just see it as different coloured shirts like teams in PE.

i do not talk to my kids about football
they have no sense
i have one liverpool supporter
and 3 leeds supporters

no sense i tell you

im hoping they grow out of it

come on chelsea!

Well, in that case, UQD, you could treat it as DS's first (or maybe not first) experience of anthropological observation.

I think most live sporting events are worth going to. Usually the atmosphere of the crowd can really make an event. I would take my kids if it were me UQD. Afterall what's the worst that can happen? DS really loves it and insists you take him every week...

DD had a Crewe Alex sleepsuit given to her the day she was born. This is grandad indoctrination though.

ds (3) said to me the other day "mummy, we don't like it when Manchester OOnited score a goal, do we?"

(sorry, pan )

Have just remembered that my friend's son was christened in the family christening robe, with a football strip underneath.

My Mum bought me a Blackpool bib when I was pregnant with dd, dh was disgusted, and signed her up for York City Juniors within a couple of days of her birth

Sadly at the age of four she has very little interest in football at all. Does anyone want a 4yo girl? She is sometimes clean and mostly house trained. Will swap for any child who can quote the offside rule

Take your kids UQD, you might enjoy it! Which club?

Seriously though, I'd be likely to take DS to the nearest Non League club, and encourage him to have the Toon as his Premiership 'glory' team.

Non League is far more suitable for small kids with the space to run along the terrace, easy to get some chips and a pint at half time (erm me, not DS), less aggressive, less hyped. I have much more fun at Non League games these days.

well my son was named after two mambers of the England rugby world cup winning side amd now I have an England Rugby shirt with both their signitures on in a frame waiting to go on his bedroom wall! As he is nearly 4, I am hoping he takes to rugby but worrying loves horses at the moment.. (Much to Mrs BGD's joy!!)

My daughter is now 3 and a half, but when born I laid her out and photographed her with my Gateshead scarf to inbed it into her. Same goes with my 2 year old son and 6 month old daughter.

They have been forced to watch Gateshead matches on DVD as Daddy did the commentary.

I've run round that Athletics track you know, do it now I'd need the St John's ambulance with me

So UnquietDad, did you get those Championship tickets? Are you going to take your kid?