Share your top tips for throwing a great football-themed party - chance to win a £100 Lidl voucher! NOW CLOSED!

[AaronMumsnet]

Summer is finally here, and the football season is in full swing. Whether you’re celebrating your team’s big game, or you have a mini football fan on your hands who wants nothing more than for Ronaldo to be the guest of honour at their birthday party (gulp), you need to be organised to make sure you don’t score an own-goal. Who better then, than Mumsnetters to provide some play-by-play hints and tips to make sure your football-themed party gets the crowd roaring?

What recipes do you turn to when you’ve got a crowd coming round? Is the World Cup a big deal in your house or just an excuse to get the barbecue out of retirement? Chargrilled chunks of meat not your thing? What summer dishes make your squad happy. Which games and activities keep you and your team entertained during balmy summer evenings?

Share your top tips with Lidl for throwing a great football party on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnetter will win £100 worth of Lidl vouchers (note the winner will be sent four £25 vouchers, one voucher can be redeemed per transaction).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Definitely no messy foods! Recipe for disaster at a football party

just lots of food and footballs

During the last World Cup we came to the conclusion that it was far better to order in during the games. Friends just wanted to talk football tactics and were far too worried about missing any if the game for anything else. I provide space, seating and finger food.

Lots of water, a whistle and a referee and a nice sunny day!

BBQ and beer and wine. Add TV.

I know I am being sexist but I'm afriad this is one for the men in my family - sometimes organising others is the way to go!

Make sure you have a backup football related plan for bad weather !. We hired a table football game last time which was great as it tipped down all day.

Buffet food is best, lots of nibbles so's we can keep our eye on the game ... pizza ... pork pie ... cheese and pineapple... cocktail sausage ooo old school buffet reminds me of 96 World Cup ...

lots of snacks. Hot wings are a favourite whether we watch NFL or a footy match.

A buffet of mini sausage rolls, selection of sandwiches with the crust cut off, mushroom volauvents, cheese cubes and pineapple on cocktail sticks, sliced beetroot, iceberg lettuce. For afters, Jelly and ice-cream, iced buns, and the piece de la resistance, a cake in the shape of a football with fondant icing!

We have a game of guessing the winners of the football games. Have music from the old games which we sing along to. We make the most hilarious small cakes with team colours and small footballs.
Also we look up a few foreign words from competing countries - even the little ones pick up and learn.

Maybe have cupcakes with every teams badge on to keep everyone happy x

Plenty of snacks is a must and great pizza. We love Chicago Town while watching football. Drinks for the kids like Fruit Shoot so they don't make to much mess as well.

Bbq and booze

i would book the local leisure centre in door hall, the kids can have a match, and i would provide the food for after which would be in a football picnic box, sandwich, banana, crisps, football cupcake instead of a birthday cake you would to cut up. and i would put a packet of football stickers in and the box with the food and stickers in teams up as the take home party bag.

Dad's to plan and organise it!

My friends support Holland, so when they're playing we eat orange food - sweet potato curry, mandarin flan, paprika crisps and dips and drink orange cocktails or Orangeboom beer

Invite David Beckham.

Mini party nibbles - and lots of them

Beers and pop - plenty for adults and kids

Bunting - can't have enough bunting

Pinata - keeps the kids entertained

Big TV - turned up loud

Goal net - to practise those important penalties

Tissues - to wipe away the tears after another disappointing showing.

Job done!

Definitely need beers, wine, fizzy pop, burgers, sausages and tons ketchup....oh not forgetting ice cream.... Everyones happy

Set up some miniature goals in the garden for a football tournament of your own, buying in some bibs and making sure there's a 'medal' for every single child so nobody feels left out. For children who might not want to play, give them roles like 'half time refreshments' manager so they feel included, even if they're not too sporty. Complete the party with some football themed party food such as baking some football cookies and a buffet inspired by the children's favourite football heroes e.g. "Vardy's vegetable sticks".

Weather is really essential unless you're hiring a hall! I love a football quiz for kids and parents!

Definitely would get the BBQ out. Loads of different marinated meats, skewers, wings, burgers, sausages along with roasted vegetables. Dips, croutons with oil, salad, the whole lot! Along with drinks on ice..Decorations are a step too far for us!

Decorations and tableware etc in the colours of the teams playing and get everyone to dress in those colours too

Throw them when the World Cup is on