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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenage son hates football

75 replies

saffy56 · 11/12/2022 20:14

My son is 14 and he hates football. He is also autistic. We have been to a few family parties recently and he has been to a few parties or get together- literally every single place we have been all the talk has been football and because he is 14 and male everyone seems to think he likes football. It happens all the time but is obviously more talk at the moment because of the world Cup. When we were at a party the other day he got so fed up with everyone talking football- he actually stood up and told everyone that he hates football and he has no interest so stop asking him. I explained to him that he is in the minority and people are only being friendly and football is a massive conversation starter. What got me was when I went to the bar a bit later on was that they were all laughing and talking about him and saying how weird it was that he doesn't like football and saying he is obviously gay and one of them said he should be taught to pretend he likes it to fit in.

I ve been thinking all day that I don't actually think I have ever come across a teen boy who doesn't like football. Is there any?

All his friends are girls- for this very reason- he has never met a boy who doesn't like football.

I feel so proud of him in a way for actually standing up for himself and telling a room full of people to back off. He already realised a few years back that he will never really fit into society because of his lack of interest in football. I just feel sad for him really as he is a lovely boy but as soon as people realise he doesn't like football he is just written off laughed at or ignored. 😪

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 11/12/2022 20:17

My ds is 16, NT, and has zero interest in football - and I'm pretty sure that a few of his friends and from his sports group aren't interested either. They are interested in plenty of other things though

MillyMollyManky · 11/12/2022 20:18

Heavens, I know lots of teen boys who aren’t interested in football. I’d be pretty unimpressed by people making a boy feel uncomfortable for not liking it.

HeadNorth · 11/12/2022 20:18

My DH doesn’t give a hoot about football, loads of men don’t. My daughter’s current boyfriend isn’t interested in football. It honestly is not obligatory usually. I suspect you must move in particularly football obsessed circles because it does not feature in my life one iota.

CharityShopChic · 11/12/2022 20:19

He's not alone, my two boys aren't interested either. The oldest is much more into dungeons and dragons and painting those Warhammer figures, the younger is more into music and drama and stuff.

There are lots of other kids out there who aren't into football, he just needs time to find his tribe.

youagainomg · 11/12/2022 20:19

My eldest couldn't careless about football but my middle child loves it. Every child is different

KittytheHare · 11/12/2022 20:19

Gosh, there are loads of teenage boys with no interest in football. Your friends sound horrific tbh

Wetnovember · 11/12/2022 20:20

I think it depends where you live and how you socialize. We live in a rugby town. Obv there are some football mad kids, but in the main it’s rugby. We used to live in a premiership football town where it was the reverse.

WeDontNeedToTalkAboutJamie · 11/12/2022 20:20

Neither of mine (18 and 16) like football and never had.

They fit into society perfectly well. Football isn't the be all and end all.

Mind you, one is gay and one is "bisexual but prefers boys" so they fit the stereotype nicely.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 11/12/2022 20:21

DS, 14, NT has no interest in football. Music and history mind you...

DD, 11, loves football

Wheredoallthepensgo · 11/12/2022 20:23

Are you mixing with time travelling Neanderthals? He must be gay if he doesn't like football REALLY? How pig ignorant and homophobic are they? I'd find some better quality people to mix with.

Loads of boys aren't into football. They are into gaming or science or art or rugby or .... name whatever you want.

Football obsession to the detriment of everything else makes dull as fuck conversation and very, very dull people.

PermanentTemporary · 11/12/2022 20:23

God they sound awful. What does he like?

It's not really an issue that his friends are girls, is it?

pigsducksandchickens · 11/12/2022 20:23

I had two teenager boys and neither have ever had any interest in football. My DH might watch an England game in the WC but other than that totally uninterested. Pisses me off that society expects all men/boys to be fanatics.

Flockameanie · 11/12/2022 20:25

How odd. We saw a big group of friends today, some of whom are into football some of whom aren’t. Football was barely talked about at all.
I don’t think it’s a bit bonkers to say he’ll never fit into society because he doesn’t like football! Loads of people don’t like football or talk about it.

crackofdoom · 11/12/2022 20:25

Jesus, what kind of social circles are you moving in? 🙄

Flockameanie · 11/12/2022 20:25

’I think it’s a bit bonkers’ I meant!

UWhatNow · 11/12/2022 20:27

If what you’re saying is true then every man would be into football but they’re clearly not. Most women I’ve ever met couldn’t give a flying fig for it either. You’re just unfortunate that the group you were in are narrow-minded idiots. Of course there is more to life than football! Well done to your son for calling them out.

zighead · 11/12/2022 20:27

My DS who is 16 is not remotely interested in football and neither are most of his friends. Those people sound awful and I wouldn't be spending any more time in their company.

Shrubb157 · 11/12/2022 20:27

I’d be annoyed with them making jokes about him and their insistence that every boy needs to be taught to like football. I find that very odd and I live in Liverpool. I know plenty of males who don’t like football 🤷🏻‍♀️

Angelik · 11/12/2022 20:27

So what did you say to that group of people being disrespectful to your son?

Flockameanie · 11/12/2022 20:28

pigsducksandchickens · 11/12/2022 20:23

I had two teenager boys and neither have ever had any interest in football. My DH might watch an England game in the WC but other than that totally uninterested. Pisses me off that society expects all men/boys to be fanatics.

But I don’t think ‘society’ does. We are ‘society’. It is made up of people. I don’t expect boys to like football. I know men who do and men who don’t. Women who do women who don’t.

richlydetailed · 11/12/2022 20:29

I have two boys, one loves football and one couldn't care less. My dh also is not interested whatsoever. I am a secondary teacher and I teach LOADS of boys who don't like football. I don't think your ds is unusual at all, but your friends sound horrible.

Zwicky · 11/12/2022 20:31

My 18yo and 14yo boys don’t like football. I was watching Eng vs France with dh yesterday and 14yo was in the same room and took no notice. 14yo has a mixed sex friendship group but 18yo has not really had any close friends who aren’t boys. It’s never been an issue. I think you have a friend problem, not a ds problem. My boys have occasionally been asked who they support and they just say they don’t follow football and nobody has been a ridiculous homophobic bellend about it. DH is a big fan and watches his club quite a bit and has traveled to internationals a few times and he plays so they’ve had plenty exposure.

bellinisurge · 11/12/2022 20:33

I know plenty of boys/men who don't. And plenty of girls/women who do.
You are absolutely not doing your child any favours here.

Purplemagnolias · 11/12/2022 20:34

My 18 year old ds and all his friends have much more interesting interests than football!!

They code and build things together with their 3d printers, they fly their drones etc etc.

There's SO many cooler things than football... Confused

Purplemagnolias · 11/12/2022 20:35

Pisses me off that society expects all men/boys to be fanatics

Society does not! We are society.

I find football a little chavvy Blush