Advice - Bringing a youngster to Ewood Park

[Devon Rover]

Morning all

As part of my duty-bound indoctrination (!) of my seven-year-old, I am planning to bring him to Ewood with me for the Swansea game. It will be his first time at a football match, at all, due to his being a bit anxious about some social things. He is, however, a fan of Rovers, wears the kits to his own football training each week, and I know he is keen to come to a game, albeit clearly nervous.

Is there any advice you could offer me in terms of making it a good experience for him, whatever the result!?

Also, would any of you who have taken children along recommend the Family Stand or the Riverside, instead, as likely being the most appropriate for this situation? I've not sat in either, before.

Thanks very much. 

[MarkBRFC]

Strikers Lounge before the game is a must for him. It's located upstairs in the Blackburn End Reception. Has all kinds of games and consoles for them, pool tables, football table etc. Also a sensory room. Think it opens at 130 for a 3pm game.

Took my lad up there every game when he stated coming with me, and at 14 we occasionally go up there even now.

Think there are also consoles and stuff in the family stand, but I took my lad in the Riverside as I think it's a better view of the game, anything Row 11 and below is clear of the pillars in the stand, we have just gone to the Blackburn End this season.

[Devon Rover]

51 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Strikers Lounge before the game is a must for him. It's located upstairs in the Blackburn End Reception. Has all kinds of games and consoles for them, pool tables, football table etc. Also a sensory room. Think it opens at 130 for a 3pm game.

Took my lad up there every game when he stated coming with me, and at 14 we occasionally go up there even now.

Think there are also consoles and stuff in the family stand, but I took my lad in the Riverside as I think it's a better view of the game, anything Row 11 and below is clear of the pillars in the stand, we have just gone to the Blackburn End this season.

Thank you, that's really helpful info.

[blondie]

Riverside has more space, both with seating and area in front of the pitch to watch the warm ups.

Strikers lounge OK before the match, mixing with other kids may help.

Family stand has better facilities but a low down, poorer view in my opinion.

Hope your son enjoys the day, took my Grandson a while to become accustomed to the experience, now a regular Season Ticket holder. COYB.

[Ianrally]

I can’t give you any advice as to the current set up but all I can say is I first went to Ewood with my dad at the age of seven in 1957. That’s what formulates your ongoing support of the team. I’m very impressed that your lad wears his Rovers kit to his training sessions probably outnumbered by the plastic fans so good on him. I hope the experience at Ewood for his first game is a positive one, and just remember that if we win he will become a lucky mascot and you will have to make that long trek for the next one too. 😀
Enjoy the day. 

[simongarnerisgod]

nothing to be anxious about for young lads today,it`s a completely different experience to what i grew up with😃

i`de go in the riverside if i was you,plenty of room seat wise and at the front of the stand,easy to get away at the end  as well

if you want some food before the game,don`t bother in the ground,it`s overpriced slop,the coffee is ***** to.far better to get something from the two excellent burger vans that are based on nutall street and just behind the blackburn end,both are excellent value

[M_B]

Mate's grandson has now got a season ticket with us in Jack Walker lower. He's 7 and loves going to the match, and I love that he loves it. 

We're second row back, right near the away bench. It's low, but you do feel involved as you can see and hear everything that happens. 

I realise some people lost their seat for the family stand, but I think it's been a good idea rather than kids being stuck in the Gods. 

If he's looking for player involvement, you're definitely better over that side. 

Hope it turns out well, can't think of anything better than kids loving footy. 

[oneandycrawford]

On 08/10/2024 at 18:38, Ianrally said:

I can’t give you any advice as to the current set up but all I can say is I first went to Ewood with my dad at the age of seven in 1957. That’s what formulates your ongoing support of the team. I’m very impressed that your lad wears his Rovers kit to his training sessions probably outnumbered by the plastic fans so good on him. I hope the experience at Ewood for his first game is a positive one, and just remember that if we win he will become a lucky mascot and you will have to make that long trek for the next one too. 😀
Enjoy the day. 

A few years ago I lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme - on the park in front of my house a lad in a Port Vale kit was crying because he was getting loads of stick from his 'mates' in their various Utd / Liverpool,etc. kits. When I asked him if he went to Vale Park he said he went with his dad. Told him not to worry about what the others were saying - he was the lucky one going to the matches with his dad - he'd remember that for ever!

Hope your lad enjoys it - going to matches with my dad was still great whether I was 7 or 35!!

[GaryC]

Started taking my daughter now 17 when she was a similar age, used to go in tbe family stand was good for her, McDonalds staff did face painting and there was a room where there are consoles and on many ocassions players who were injured or not playing on that match day would go in to and do a meet and greet. Also good in family stand for getting close to bench for autographs and the shirts at end of games which my daughter managed to get a few off before weve now moved over to Blackburn End when able to get on together now with work commitments 

[lraC]

I took my Grandson to his first match when he was six. He lives and goes school in Preston, so it was important to make sure he became a Rovers fan, which he now is.

We went in Jack’s Kitchen and into the Jack Walker stand for the match. We were very happy with that. I was proud to be there with my son too, so three generations of Rovers fans at the match together.

Whatever part of the ground you choose I’m sure you will both enjoy it and hope it’s one of many for you both.

PS we did our first away game last year when he was 9. Stoke away in early December. He still talks about it now and the 0-3 score line, helped it become a great first away trip together. 

[oneandycrawford]

6 hours ago, lraC said:

PS we did our first away game last year when he was 9. Stoke away in early December. He still talks about it now and the 0-3 score line, helped it become a great first away trip together. 

Can't remember my first Rovers away game but suspect it was either Bolton or Oldham in the 75/76 season.

[wilsdenrover]

18 hours ago, oneandycrawford said:

A few years ago I lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme - on the park in front of my house a lad in a Port Vale kit was crying because he was getting loads of stick from his 'mates' in their various Utd / Liverpool,etc. kits. When I asked him if he went to Vale Park he said he went with his dad. Told him not to worry about what the others were saying - he was the lucky one going to the matches with his dad - he'd remember that for ever!

Hope your lad enjoys it - going to matches with my dad was still great whether I was 7 or 35!!

I’m not sure people realise how much they miss out on by supporting a team to whom they have no real affinity.

[Andy]

My first game was in the Walkersteel, I guess you get the best view of the rest of the stadium (sitting in and looking out from the shed), but I'd suggest taking him to the JW Stand.

Better views and you have all of the Family Stand stuff inside as well (consoles / face painting / etc).

But he'll be fine and will enjoy it wherever you go. Fair play for bringing him.
I live up on the hill behind the Fernhurst pub (about half a mile from the stadium) and we don't make it to every home game.

[Devon Rover]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Very helpful advice and suggestions but I also enjoyed reading your memories of first visits as, or with, a child.

We are about to set off and I have an excited seven year old in his blue and white, which is already worth the effort and journey! 

[Mattyblue]

On 10/10/2024 at 15:54, wilsdenrover said:

I’m not sure people realise how much they miss out on by supporting a team to whom they have no real affinity.

Just think when you have a group of lads, 18 years old etc going on their first big away day. Cracking day out, plenty of beers, good win at Stoke or wherever. But one of their pals miss out because he’s an armchair Liverpool ‘fan’ and ‘Rovers and the Champ are shit’.

No mate, it’s you that is having the shit football experience.

Edited October 19 by Mattyblue

[Riverside under the drip]

Talked about the Ewood Express before but I've been patiently working on the kids at school all this time about this exact thing. Where is the connection to Liverpool? We were born in Blackburn (some usually put their hand up and point out their mum went to Burnley). The ground is over there. They are our team whatever you think. There is no genuine love for the big teams. None of them know YNWA or Blue Moon or whatever and couldn't name a single player from back in the day. They genuinely care a lot more about Ronaldo being better than Messi than their chosen 'big club'.

I tell them it's like family. Yours aren't the richest, or the prettiest, or the cleverest, but they're yours and you love them anyway. Little by little, Tugay reference by weekend story, they're slowly coming round to liking Rovers. Not enough to go but they know the score on Monday and ask me how it was. They know some players (they all knew Sammie last season). One in particular is actually desperate to go to Ewood but his parents point blank refuse to take him (he asks when school is going back quite often). I tell him to get a season ticket when he is 18 and he beams.

Incidentally, a lot of the ones who go on these Ewood Express trips are actually young (Y3) lads or older girls who you wouldn't expect to care at all. Shoots of recovery...

[wilsdenrover]

4 hours ago, Riverside under the drip said:

Talked about the Ewood Express before but I've been patiently working on the kids at school all this time about this exact thing. Where is the connection to Liverpool? We were born in Blackburn (some usually put their hand up and point out their mum went to Burnley). The ground is over there. They are our team whatever you think. There is no genuine love for the big teams. None of them know YNWA or Blue Moon or whatever and couldn't name a single player from back in the day. They genuinely care a lot more about Ronaldo being better than Messi than their chosen 'big club'.

I tell them it's like family. Yours aren't the richest, or the prettiest, or the cleverest, but they're yours and you love them anyway. Little by little, Tugay reference by weekend story, they're slowly coming round to liking Rovers. Not enough to go but they know the score on Monday and ask me how it was. They know some players (they all knew Sammie last season). One in particular is actually desperate to go to Ewood but his parents point blank refuse to take him (he asks when school is going back quite often). I tell him to get a season ticket when he is 18 and he beams.

Incidentally, a lot of the ones who go on these Ewood Express trips are actually young (Y3) lads or older girls who you wouldn't expect to care at all. Shoots of recovery...

I wouldn’t share that with your loved ones if I were you 😁😁

[Upside Down]

10 hours ago, Riverside under the drip said:

Talked about the Ewood Express before but I've been patiently working on the kids at school all this time about this exact thing. Where is the connection to Liverpool? We were born in Blackburn (some usually put their hand up and point out their mum went to Burnley). The ground is over there. They are our team whatever you think. There is no genuine love for the big teams. None of them know YNWA or Blue Moon or whatever and couldn't name a single player from back in the day. They genuinely care a lot more about Ronaldo being better than Messi than their chosen 'big club'.

I tell them it's like family. Yours aren't the richest, or the prettiest, or the cleverest, but they're yours and you love them anyway. Little by little, Tugay reference by weekend story, they're slowly coming round to liking Rovers. Not enough to go but they know the score on Monday and ask me how it was. They know some players (they all knew Sammie last season). One in particular is actually desperate to go to Ewood but his parents point blank refuse to take him (he asks when school is going back quite often). I tell him to get a season ticket when he is 18 and he beams.

Incidentally, a lot of the ones who go on these Ewood Express trips are actually young (Y3) lads or older girls who you wouldn't expect to care at all. Shoots of recovery...

If the club itself was in the slightest bit interested in bringing fans to the ground we'd easily get average attendance to around 17-18k. 

The fans are out there.

[Herbie6590]

On 19/10/2024 at 08:31, Devon Rover said:

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Very helpful advice and suggestions but I also enjoyed reading your memories of first visits as, or with, a child.

We are about to set off and I have an excited seven year old in his blue and white, which is already worth the effort and journey! 

We’re all waiting for an update @Devon Rover 😀

What was the verdict? 

[J*B]

11 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

We’re all waiting for an update @Devon Rover 😀

What was the verdict? 

Like the rest of us he thinks Pears is shaky, Cantwell is wasted out wide, ACD should be playing ahead of Hedges and Gueye desperately needs a goal soon. 

[Devon Rover]

16 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

We’re all waiting for an update @Devon Rover 😀

What was the verdict? 

Morning. Mission very successful, thanks! A decent journey, excellent matchday experience and we both enjoyed the view from the Riverside. It was the first football match at all that my son had been to and he came away buzzing about it, and for his next visit. He loved the game (probably didn't really register to him that it wasn't the best quality!), his new home shirt, the people he met - including a guy in the stand who gave him a Rovers pin badge and both Dolan and Travis, after the match - the result, and meeting Rover the dog. As we left Ewood, my son, grinning at having met two footballers, asked me if we could "come back again tomorrow". We agreed to schedule something soon, but perhaps not that soon! I didn't take in much of the afternoon myself as all I wanted was for it to be a good one for him. I'll take it as a huge success how happy he was. Thanks again for advice, suggestions, and memories shared.  

[chaddyrovers]

4 hours ago, Devon Rover said:

Morning. Mission very successful, thanks! A decent journey, excellent matchday experience and we both enjoyed the view from the Riverside. It was the first football match at all that my son had been to and he came away buzzing about it, and for his next visit. He loved the game (probably didn't really register to him that it wasn't the best quality!), his new home shirt, the people he met - including a guy in the stand who gave him a Rovers pin badge and both Dolan and Travis, after the match - the result, and meeting Rover the dog. As we left Ewood, my son, grinning at having met two footballers, asked me if we could "come back again tomorrow". We agreed to schedule something soon, but perhaps not that soon! I didn't take in much of the afternoon myself as all I wanted was for it to be a good one for him. I'll take it as a huge success how happy he was. Thanks again for advice, suggestions, and memories shared.  

great to hear that and your son had such a great time and its a memory he won't forget ever 

[J*B]

5 hours ago, Devon Rover said:

Morning. Mission very successful, thanks! A decent journey, excellent matchday experience and we both enjoyed the view from the Riverside. It was the first football match at all that my son had been to and he came away buzzing about it, and for his next visit. He loved the game (probably didn't really register to him that it wasn't the best quality!), his new home shirt, the people he met - including a guy in the stand who gave him a Rovers pin badge and both Dolan and Travis, after the match - the result, and meeting Rover the dog. As we left Ewood, my son, grinning at having met two footballers, asked me if we could "come back again tomorrow". We agreed to schedule something soon, but perhaps not that soon! I didn't take in much of the afternoon myself as all I wanted was for it to be a good one for him. I'll take it as a huge success how happy he was. Thanks again for advice, suggestions, and memories shared.  

Narrator: And in that moment, the addiction started and the torch was passed on…

[Norbert Rassragr]

Glad he had a better experience than a GG Allin concert in football form.

[jumpin']

On 19/10/2024 at 10:28, Riverside under the drip said:

Talked about the Ewood Express before but I've been patiently working on the kids at school all this time about this exact thing. Where is the connection to Liverpool? We were born in Blackburn (some usually put their hand up and point out their mum went to Burnley). The ground is over there. They are our team whatever you think. There is no genuine love for the big teams. None of them know YNWA or Blue Moon or whatever and couldn't name a single player from back in the day. They genuinely care a lot more about Ronaldo being better than Messi than their chosen 'big club'.

I tell them it's like family. Yours aren't the richest, or the prettiest, or the cleverest, but they're yours and you love them anyway. Little by little, Tugay reference by weekend story, they're slowly coming round to liking Rovers. Not enough to go but they know the score on Monday and ask me how it was. They know some players (they all knew Sammie last season). One in particular is actually desperate to go to Ewood but his parents point blank refuse to take him (he asks when school is going back quite often). I tell him to get a season ticket when he is 18 and he beams.

Incidentally, a lot of the ones who go on these Ewood Express trips are actually young (Y3) lads or older girls who you wouldn't expect to care at all. Shoots of recovery...

I was thinking about this on Saturday. There should be some education about Rovers history and our significance in local schools ( BwD, and every other borough connecting).

My gran got me going in the early 80’s, showed us near the top of the league (never told me about the higher one), the cups we’ve won, etc. 

The first game I remember was v Cambridge in about ’83 in the Darren end (with the away fans), then the Riverside v Newcastle. By the next game in the BBE enclosure I was hooked.