Talk to Continental Tyres (main sponsors of the FA Women's Super League) about what makes a great family day out - £200 Love2shop voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

For the past few years, Continental Tyres have been an Official Sponsor of The FA Women's Super League (WSL). To promote the WSL as a great family day out this summer they've asked us to find out what Mumsnetters believe make the best family days out.

Here's what they say: "With the summer holidays now in full swing it is always hard to think of what to do that will engage the whole family. At a WSL match there are loads of family friendly activities around the matches making it a great day out at the weekend or after school activity on a week day for the entire family. At selected matches across England, there are free interactive fan zones run in association with Continental Tyres allowing everyone to enjoy family friendly activities from testing their skills on a speed goal to face painting and meeting the stars of the WSL for themselves. Entry to matches is also well below what you'd expect to pay to see top class football - with many matches being £6 for adults and £3 for concessions."

Have you and your family ever been to watch a WSL or women's football match? If so, please tell us all about it. Did your DCs enjoy it? Did you take part in any of the family friendly activities?

If not, please share your thoughts on great family days out. Would you go to a Women's Super League Match with your family? Why? Why not? What activities would you like to see at these match days? How do you keep the LOs entertained on day trips out?

Please share your thoughts on this thread. Everyone who adds a comment to the thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[Solo]

No, we aren't a footballing family, so don't attend matches ~ though I have been to one before now in an official capacity! (Millwall v Portsmouth in around 1982!).

For us to have a good family day out, there has to be entertainment for a 15 year old boy and a 6 year old girl and something for an aging single Mum too that at least the 6yo will find interesting! there is nothing worse than any one member of the party dragging themselves along to something they are just not interested in imo. My Dd loves arts and crafts and so do I, but Ds would not be amused by those things, so there would need to be something to his liking too that isn't football.
Food needs to be fresh and of a fairly wide variety, plus the cost needs to not break the bank.

[ChocChaffinch]

we are quite a football -loving family; but at 7 and 5 I think my kids are too young to sit through a match in the cold weather and Im also bothered by the swearing in the stands.
A great day out is not too far to travel, cheapish to get in, fun for all, great choice of lunch, plenty of clean loos, and free carparking.

West Midlands Safari Park, Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, Dudley Zoo are all great, if expensive days; meaning we can only do one of them per holiday.
we have a lot of sunner picnics and cycling days though, theyre low cost but weather dependant.

[goldenretriever]

Have you and your family ever been to watch a WSL or women's football match? If so, please tell us all about it. Did your DCs enjoy it? Did you take part in any of the family friendly activities?

No.

If not, please share your thoughts on great family days out. Would you go to a Women's Super League Match with your family? Why? Why not? What activities would you like to see at these match days? How do you keep the LOs entertained on day trips out?

A great family day out would be to the beach or to the farm. I can't see us going to a woman's match as my OH is underwhelmed by women's football and my children are currently too young.

[Doubtfuldaphne]

I've been to just one football match in my life and I found it quite fun but a bit intimidating. I think a women's football match would probably feel a lot safer for families. My uncle runs a women's football team - I should go to a match!
For the perfect day out the most important thing is organisation. Make sure you have everything you need before you go so that you really can relax when you're at your destination. The best place would be somewhere where they can run around freely and burn off as much energy as possible but also something that has a bit of interest for you too. Then lots of food and drink after. That way, by 7pm they'll be exhausted and you might even get an evening to yourself!

[Willemdefoeismine]

No but given that football in our family seems to fall down the gender stereotypical divide, I think it's about time I went to one with DD to support my Team rather than Daddy's for once! I guess I've never been because I could always think of other ways I'd rather spend my money (clothes, theatre, cinema, holidays...) but with the passage of time, I'm seeing that one's duty as a parent is to open up the World to one's children by exposing them to as many interesting and different experiences as possible. The WSL should surely be on one's list for this next football season!

I would however hope the WSL matches are competitively priced for families (rather than the rip-off that the Premier League matches are!) and less intimidating. Better quality food options would be good too!

[bluebump]

I have never been to watch a WSL or women's football match but the prices do seem reasonable so I probably would give it a go at some point but at the moment my son (5) isn't that interested in sport.


We have had some great days out during the holidays, the two that my son has enjoyed the most were the Gromit hunt in Bristol and the Gorilla hunt in Exeter. I think he liked them both because they were interactive (we had a map to follow and he ticked them off etc), we got to walk about and explore and we did them with friends and family. I liked them for those reasons too and also because they were free! As they were free we had lunch out on both days as a treat whereas normally we would take a picnic to make days out more affordable.

[YourHandInMyHand]

I've never been to a football match in my life, I have zero interest in it! I can see that others really enjoy it though and I like the idea of having family friendly activities on offer.

For me a good day out can be almost anywhere as long as I have fun with my son.We like all kinds of places and just enjoy exploring somewhere new together.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

We've never been to a women's football match but some of DD's friends went to see the women's football at the Olympics and DD wished she had. She has been to see a Premiership game but even with "Kids for a quid" it still cost a small fortune.

I'd love to take them to a women's game as it would show them girls can play professionally too. Activities I'd like to see include skills workshops, opportunities to meet the players and fun games.

Keeping it affordable is the key, including drinks, snacks and souvenirs. There is too much money in men's football and I find it all a bit obscene tbh, when ordinary fans and families are priced out while players earn millions.

[LovesBeingOnHoliday]

TO haven't taken my family, neither have we been to see men's football.

I've watch the Womens England team quite a few times when I was you younger and would redo want to take dd. have now got her answering "anything" when I ask what can girls do!

A family day out to meet our needs;
Free/cheap close parking
Able to take push chairs with causing problems
Plenty of activities so that if one is full you can easily do another
Proper nappy changing and plenty of clean toilets
Things that cover every age range I have with me
Reasonably priced food or you can take your own
If you must sell stuff make it cheap/reasonable nothing will make me vow not to return more than overpriced crap that cannot be avoided

[HandbagCrab]

We took ds then 9 months ish to a men's Olympic football game. He slept through most of it :) Me and dh went to a women's match and it had a fantastic atmosphere & really good football.

We're moving near a low league ground soon so dh is going to take ds to see if he likes it as it is cheap. We've been looking at women's football near here & although its a football city, we're not sure when it's on etc, more information would be great!

With our toddler we currently like places where you can sit or move around without too much fuss. Family areas where hardcore fans aren't tutting about you getting up and down would be good at a match. Something edible to eat other than chips. Maybe activities with the mascots, have a go on the pitch, beachballs in the crowds, run around at half time would work at the football.

[Spirael]

I seem to remember being taken to a football match when I was a child, but I thought it was just as dull then as I do now. I'm not really interested in sports, neither is DH. So we're unlikely to be attending any sort of football themed day!

Our idea of a good family day out is something that covers our interests and isn't too crowded. We went to an event at the NRM recently that was no fun because it was dangerously busy. We couldn't even get into the same room as some of the exhibits!

I'd rather pay a bit more and organise tickets ahead of time, or even be given a time slot to certain areas/events, to make sure we can actually enjoy the day with time and space.

Also important is the provision of parking (or good/easy/cheap public transport links) and facilities such as toilets, food and drinks.

For the day itself, I'd like a selection of things you can watch/see and things you can get involved with. But again with the caveat that they're not so insanely busy that you have no hope of getting involved without queuing for hours or fighting your way to the front!

[VileWoman]

Never been to a WSL match, and looking at the teams in the league we are unlikely to because we live in the northeast and it's a bit far. We probably will take the DDs to see a local team pay though, DD1 is quite keen on playing football and it would be good inspiration. Good food at a football match would be great, something local and tasty. Don't mind burgers if they are good quality! Also football related activities before or after would be popular, maybe the opportunity to have a bit of coaching.

[littlemonkeychops]

Never been to a women's football match, our DC are a big young.

We often find the best family days out are when we have a rough plan (walk in woods, castle or whatever), pack a picnic and off we go. Freshvair, exercise, somewhere to explore, perfect. Driving home while the DC fall asleep in the back, perfect!

[lorisparkle]

I have been to a football match but never taken the children. My concern is that they would lose interest and disrupt others around. So I would want ease of access in and out of seats with somewhere to go. We went to the Olympics and the boys went for a walk every now and again as they are real fidget bottoms. Also lots of toilets, reasonable price food, opportunities to get involved, big screens so they could see more of the action.

[Eastpoint]

I've never been to a football match & neither have any of my children. They enjoyed going to the Olympics & Paralympics - we went to the final of the Paralympic basketball & that was brilliant.

I'd take them to a football match but I don't know where WSL matches are held or anything about the WSL. My daughters play lacrosse, one at school & for a club so I might take her to an international lacrosse match if there was one near us.

We tend not to do family days out but we all went to see a film recently & that was a success. I used to take them to zoos, museums etc but my husband doesn't like going to very busy places so I take them on my own which is wearing when they are reluctant teens. I usually take/took a picnic as I find food at big organised places v expensive & time consuming due to queues etc. also masses of fried stuff which my children don't like.

[hermancakedestroyer]

If not, please share your thoughts on great family days out. Would you go to a Women's Super League Match with your family?

I have never been to a women's super league match with my family as I have never seen them advertised. We would love to got to a WSL match as my daughter in particular is a very keen football player and it would be great to give her some female role models.

What activities would you like to see at these match days?
I would like to see what you offer all ready ie face painting plus a kickabout session for the kids and a meet the players question and answers type session. Maybe a football goody bag... Football signing session.

How do you keep the LOs entertained on day trips out?
We get outdoors as much as we can. We get involved in everything available to them. They enjoy treasure trails, colouring, playing football, face painting. They also enjoy healthy snacks to keep them going.

[ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor]

I've never been to a football match (except DS's school ones!).

I think I would consider it as long as it was family-friendly. I wouldn't consider going without the children. I don't like the idea of lots of drunk, sweary, aggressive people at Premier League matches (Disclaimer I have no idea if matches are really like that, just my perception), and the tickets are insanely expensive.

A good family day out is entertaining but not outrageously expensive, with things to do not just things to look at (my DC are quite small still).

Decent, healthy food and not too much plastic-tat merchandising also help.

[tinypumpkin]

If not, please share your thoughts on great family days out. Would you go to a Women's Super League Match with your family? Why? Why not?

No I would not. None of us are sporty at all and we would be bored. The children are very young so perhaps that will change when they get older and have more ideas about their own interests.

What activities would you like to see at these match days? How do you keep the LOs entertained on day trips out?

Snacks to help keep them entertained (only joking, a bit anyway)
Something to do in addition to things to look at
Decent food that is child friendly without having to be junk food. Some options would be good.
Not overpriced. Some tickets for things are stupidly expensive.
Variety of activities.
Somewhere nice to eat a picnic if you choose to take your own food. Cover for eating in the rain would be good too ;)

[wavesandsmiles]

We've never been to any football matches, not really a footballing family, and always thought it may be a bit loud and intimidating.

A great family day out would be free or cheap, with activities for a range of ages (mine range from 3 weeks to 9 years old!) and space to eat picnics as well as family friendly food for sale. Quiet spaces for feeding/baby changing/chilling out are great, and somewhere that is accessible. No lengthy trudges from public transport or car parks (makes for grumpy children and mums especially at the end of the day)

If it is a sporty day out, like a football match, we'd be looking for activities before and after that would help the older DCs engage with the game...as well as purely fun activities, bouncy castle, face painting etc.

[BigGapMum]

I've never been to any football match, I'm not into sports at all.

Things which appeal to me regarding good days out are a sensible entry price, parking, decent healthy food available to buy and also somewhere to eat a packed lunch. Somewhere to change nappies and decent toilets and handwashing facilities Plenty of activities for children of all ages, including some under cover. At the end of the day happy kids = happy parents.

[GetKnitted]

I would love to take the kids to a women's footy match. We've never been to a men's match, but they've seen it on the telly. I find the high cost of men's football most off putting, so the ticket prices mentioned look really attractive, particularly if the half time entertainment is also lively :)

[vestandknickers]

I've never been to a football match and wouldn't really consider it normally, but my DD loves football so maybe it is something I should think about. My priorities for a good day out are: resonable price (and transparently priced so that I can work out cost in advance and not have lots of add on costs when we get somewhere), plenty of clean toilet facilities!, good and reasonably priced food, a variety of activities and a chance to get really involved so a kick about with the players would be spot on. My DS is also slightly obsessive about having something to take home to remember the day, so availability of cheap key rings/notebooks etc to buy would help me out!

[CheeryCherry]

We go to a lot of football matches, our own team and the local team where we now live. Never been to a women's game, tried to get Olympic tickets for them but had left it too late.
Yes we would go see a women's match, especially if they were nearby.
For a good day out in our family, we love a day at the coast with the dog, with fish n chips for tea.
Or more locally we often gather a few friends and family and have a big sharing picnic by the river at out local park. Good fun and cheap!

[Tyranasaurus]

Have you and your family ever been to watch a WSL or women's football match? If so, please tell us all about it. Did your DCs enjoy it? Did you take part in any of the family friendly activities?

Never been to any football match.

If not, please share your thoughts on great family days out. Would you go to a Women's Super League Match with your family? Why? Why not? What activities would you like to see at these match days? How do you keep the LOs entertained on day trips out?

I don't like football, so wouldn't go to any match. If I had a kid into football I'd consider it I suppose. I'd be less likely to go if there was too much of a 'funfair' feel with loads of noisy rides/entertainment and extra stuff to pay for. I'd say keep it cheap and simple and reasonably priced healthyish food

[mumsdotravel]

I've never been to a football match except to watch my 10 year-old son play. He'd love to go to a WSL match, I'm sure, and I'd love to take him. We're planning a family tour of Wembley Stadium soon, at his request.
For me, a great family day out is all about spending quality time together wherever it is: beach, zoo, woods, museum, sporting event, or anywhere else. I love family days out, and even have a weekly #familydays Linky on my blog so that we can all share days out which have worked well for our families and so that we can inspire each other.