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Original poster

Is this a ridiculous idea - DD5 and football

29 replies

Oneandanotheroneistwo · 17/10/2026 08:06

DD (5yo) kept hearing about the football during the world cup and wanting to watch it (due to the match times she only really watched the highlights). At the time she did ask when she could go to a proper match.

She's just asked about it again and I showed her the highlights from the Lionesses game against Greece the other day. Which she really enjoyed....

Now, here's the thing. The Lionesses are playing at Wembley on 5th December and I'm so tempted to see if she wants to go. Obviously this depends on prices... but is this is ridiculous idea? Is she too young? I have lovely memories of going to games with my dad (although we didn't start going until I was 10/11). And I'm torn between 'it'll be great' and 'sounds lovely but terrible idea'

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AralVorkosigan · 17/10/2026 08:12

I think the noise and crowds would be really overwhelming and scary for most 5 year olds I know.

Could you find a smaller local match to watch instead? It’s not like she’ll really appreciate what’s important about Wembley or the national team at that age.

If there is a local team she could watch then they may even run kids classes or holiday clubs so would be a good way to introduce her to the sport.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2026 08:14

I find football incredibly boring. I would definitely (price permitting) take her. The great thing about football for children is that they can wriggle and chat without disturbing anybody else.

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

Nikkynakkynoo · 17/10/2026 08:17

Hmm, at 5 I think attention span-wise there's a big difference between a full 90 mins and watching highlights, plus with Wembley there's the added faff of getting in and out the stadium etc. I think it would be a lot at that age! I was also talking with colleagues recently about live football Vs TV and the consensus was atmosphere great (though again, might be overwhelming at that age) but trying to actually follow the match can be a challenge

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Voltorb · 17/10/2026 08:18

Do it. She will either love it or hate it but you won't know until you go. I can't see why she would find it too loud of scary and given she's asked consistently about it for a while I think it would be a lovely day out for you both that she's likely to remember for many years.

Life is short, little moments like this are what it is all about.

OneSnugBear · 17/10/2026 08:18

We all love football, all my kids went to Premier League games from about the age of five with no problem. All in their twenties now and still going. Check the prices before you promise anything!!

Walkerzoo · 17/10/2026 08:19

At 5... No

Nikkynakkynoo · 17/10/2026 08:20

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2026 08:14

I find football incredibly boring. I would definitely (price permitting) take her. The great thing about football for children is that they can wriggle and chat without disturbing anybody else.

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

This is strange assumption 😅

SatinHeart · 17/10/2026 08:20

Has she actually ever watched a full length match on tv or just highlights
? I'd want to know she could sit through the whole thing (and if possible to go to a local game as pp suggested) before attempting Wembley.

PollyBell · 17/10/2026 08:21

I am not personally a fan of football as a aport but I can't see one reason not to take her

Ehupflower · 17/10/2026 08:22

I’d take her, she’ll either love it or hate it. I see lots of young kids walking to the matches with their parents.

mynameiscalypso · 17/10/2026 08:23

My 7 year old also got into football in the summer and we went to Wembley a couple of weeks ago to watch England Men play. It just about worked okay. It wasn’t actually as noisy as I thought it might be, other than right at the start when there were some fireworks and lots of loud music. The game itself was relatively quiet other than when there was a goal. I did find that DS’ attention wandered a bit and I wished that I had taken a book or some kind of activity thing for him beyond him playing games on my phone. We also said to him that we could leave at any point although DS wanted to stick it out to the end, despite being bored at points!

AgathaTabithaBagitha · 17/10/2026 08:24

Do you have a lower league team anywhere near you OP? Will be much easier to get tickets and if she really enjoys it, it will be more fulfilling in the long term to support a local team rather than a big plastic premier league team that you can never get tickets for. There are plenty of kids that age and families when I go to matches and there's often a lot of matchday activities as well.

I also think the Lionesses match would be great too. How is she with crowds and noise?

Looneytune253 · 17/10/2026 08:25

Nikkynakkynoo · 17/10/2026 08:20

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

This is strange assumption 😅

Show quote history

That is not a strange assumption to be fair. I’m a fan of a premier league team and the atmosphere at the women’s matches is completely different to the atmosphere at the blokes. Tends to be a more family friendly version. You sometimes get a ridiculous bloke who will stand there getting angry as if he’s the manager but I find the whole stadium is full of that at the men’s lol. It’s a very heavy atmosphere at the men’s matches.

OP does she have a PL team that she follows? If so find the women’s team and try that first. Less likely to be busy and noisy. And go from there.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2026 08:27

Nikkynakkynoo · 17/10/2026 08:20

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

This is strange assumption 😅

Show quote history

Oh. I know that in the first flush of romance with DH I agreed to go to a football match with him. He says this hasn’t happened yet (29 years on). I reply that an Olympic semi, and an Olympic final has to count. DH response: “Doesn’t count, as there was no swearing.” Grin

I would have expected women’s football to be like the Olympic matches that I went to - but I might well be delusional.

HelpMeGetThrough · 17/10/2026 08:30

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2026 08:14

I find football incredibly boring. I would definitely (price permitting) take her. The great thing about football for children is that they can wriggle and chat without disturbing anybody else.

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

My son is a FA referee and confirms that they swear like fuck.

Nikkynakkynoo · 17/10/2026 08:30

Looneytune253 · 17/10/2026 08:25

That is not a strange assumption to be fair. I’m a fan of a premier league team and the atmosphere at the women’s matches is completely different to the atmosphere at the blokes. Tends to be a more family friendly version. You sometimes get a ridiculous bloke who will stand there getting angry as if he’s the manager but I find the whole stadium is full of that at the men’s lol. It’s a very heavy atmosphere at the men’s matches.

OP does she have a PL team that she follows? If so find the women’s team and try that first. Less likely to be busy and noisy. And go from there.

Show quote history

Ha fair enough - the female fans I know are sweary AF but maybe that's just the company I keep!

Rubbercrumb · 17/10/2026 08:32

Mine went at 5, to a big stadium for a men’s game with a loud crowd. They were fine. The women’s game crowd is nice, and there’ll be loads of kids. The only problem we’ve ever had is evening matches when small, because it’s such a late night (and I hate the shuffle to get out of Wembley)

Franxi · 17/10/2026 08:41

We’ve taken ours to women’s matches at Arsenal many times from age 4. The tickets are usually very cheap, it’s a lovely friendly atmosphere and very family oriented. As the tickets are cheap, it doesn’t matter if they get bored and want to leave at half time.

SockPlant · 17/10/2026 08:44

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2026 08:14

I find football incredibly boring. I would definitely (price permitting) take her. The great thing about football for children is that they can wriggle and chat without disturbing anybody else.

I would also assume that women’s football is more likely to be sans swearing, too.

my eyes rolled so far back in my head i can only see the inside of my skull.

Only got this far, so if anyone else has suggested: how about a woman's club match at a smaller ground and work up to a Lioness game when she's old enough to last at least up to half time?

BananaMilkshake77 · 17/10/2026 09:47

My toddler is 3 and would be fine. Loves anything like this. Bring ear defenders incase it is too loud.

Favouritefruits · 17/10/2026 09:49

when I took my eldest to watch our town team he was incredible bored! By half time we had to leave, he was cold and uninterested. It’s one thing watching at home on the Tv and another sat freezing cold on a plastic chair!

Original poster
Oneandanotheroneistwo · 17/10/2026 09:49

Thanks all - a mix of opinions. I'll wait and see how much tickets are and take it from there, but leaning towards it being a nice idea but terrible in reality 😆

I've looked briefly into a local women's team, but I was struggling somewhat, as I used to support my (then) local men's team (had a season ticket for 10 years) and it feels wrong taking her to another team iyswim. Maybe I should just get over that 😆

OP posts:
thefeelingofbeingalive · 17/10/2026 09:50

AralVorkosigan · 17/10/2026 08:12

I think the noise and crowds would be really overwhelming and scary for most 5 year olds I know.

Could you find a smaller local match to watch instead? It’s not like she’ll really appreciate what’s important about Wembley or the national team at that age.

If there is a local team she could watch then they may even run kids classes or holiday clubs so would be a good way to introduce her to the sport.

At a men’s game maybe but a women’s game is so timid it’s boring. It’ll be fine for her.

luckylavender · 17/10/2026 09:51

She’s definitely old enough. Try it.

blankcanvas3 · 17/10/2026 10:03

I’ve taken my 4 year old to both women’s and men’s games. She LOVES it. Wrap up warm! Her attention doesn’t wander so much because she’s used to watching full games at home but if your daughter hasn’t it might. Would be worth taking some little toys or something if she’s bored.

The people around us have always been great, particularly at a couple of the men’s games they’ve really chatted to her (but she is very confident and will talk to anybody), and there were some lovely girls at the lionesses game we went to who properly included her