MY own first live football match attended was Chelsea versus Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 18th August 1971.
I still have vivid memories of the whole occasion. It was a night that shaped the rest of my life.
So I decided to ask my social media followers for their own recollections of going to a game for the very first time.
And I received some wonderful replies concerning fixtures that would have attracted interesting football odds in the betting stakes…
Collectorbills
I think it was 4th May 1991, I was 8. Everton v Luton at Goodison. Went with my brother and my uncle who ‘knew someone on the turnstile’.
Remember there was this guy in the stand who spent the whole game holding up banners, wishing various people happy birthday, anniversary etc.
Think he was with the Luton fans + it appeared to be something he did regularly, like as a job. Seemed funny to me at the time. Anyway, Everton won 1-0. Cottee got the winner.
Neil Tatton
Coventry City 1-0 Watford. Division 1. Saturday 27th October 1986 at Highfield Road. Aged 8.
I went with my Dad and my Brother. We sat in the Sky Blue Stand and Dave Bennett scored the only goal.
The Margatian
June 1st, 1963. Margate v Bexleyheath & Welling. Kent Senior Shield Final. 7 years old. With my late father.
Brian Hughes the Margate goalkeeper bedecked in all green.
Adrian
Darlington vs Aldershot at Feethams in September 1979, I was 8 years old & went with my aunt & uncle. The match ended 0-0.
Actually managed to get a copy of the match programme recently. Memories from the day, food poisoning! Dodgy hotdog!
The Wandering Tractor
It was Bracknell Town v Alma Swanley in the London Spartan League in the 1976/77 season.
Went with a couple of school mates and we ended up alternating between Bracknell and Wokingham Town over the next few seasons in between me going to a few Spurs games with big brother.
Football Shirt Creations & Restorations
Swindon Vs Man City Sept 93. I was 9.
My Dad was passing the ground whilst lorry driving & got ticket for the home end, so was in the wrong end.
Jon Adaway
Forest 2 Bristol City 1. (14-02-81) F.A. Cup 5th Round. I was only 12 & we sat in what is now the Brian Clough Stand.
I always admired Clough when I was a young boy & it was a brilliant birthday present from my dad. Forest scored twice in the last 10 minutes to clinch victory.
Darren Rogers
Apr 1976 my first game Wolves - beat Newcastle 5-0 - a John Richards hat trick - the game was also on BBC MOTD!
50p admission on the South Bank as a 10 yr old as I was at the time!
$Bill
Southend v Northampton Oct 84. Won 2-1 stood behind the old north bank goal. Went with best pal.
14 years old. 1st game allowed to go on our own on the train. Hooked from then onwards.
Ads
1975. Burnley v Derby. Leighton James’ first game for Derby at Turf Moor. Me and my brother were at the front and swore awfully at him (we were ten or so).
He came up to us and said “I know your grandad”. And he did. My grandad owned the Hodder Bridge Hotel and he drank there.
Andy Naylor
Leeds v Rotherham. FAC 3R. Jan 1971. Went with dad and brother.
Vividly remember the glare of the floodlights. The programme. Cigarette smoke. Policemen. I was 7.
Greg Stone
May 1981, aged 6 with my dad and godfather on the train the Friday night before the FA Cup final (rearranged due to snow in April).
Wednesday v D2 champions West Ham at Hillsborough. A rare Hammers goal for Nicky Morgan won it.
Brian Spurrell
18 March 1972, Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0. Rodney Marsh's debut at Maine Road. Chicory Tip "Son of my Father" recently number one, the origin of the "Ooooohh Rodney Rodney" chant.
I was 9 and went with my dad. I was a Red but Dad wouldn't take me there ("I might have a heart attack and I wouldn't want to be seen dead at Old Trafford").
He relented for Bobby Charlton's testimonial later that year though.
Tim Harrison
Boro v West Ham, 1970. Went with my dad & his mate, got lifted over the turnstile!
I remember the crowds, the excitement of being somewhere I'd only seen on TV, West Ham wearing white shirts.
Gary House Photography
1978 Spurs v Bolton FA Cup 3rdR. I was 10 yrs old and went with my dad, uncle and cousin. The latter 2 being Spurs supporters.
We drove to very near the ground and paid at the turnstile to get in. The game finished 2-2, with a young Hoddle setting one up and scoring the other.
Mark Adams
31.01.1970, Cardiff C v Blackpool, a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park. Taken by my parents (Dad had been going to watch City since 1947).
As both my parents said many times afterwards, "if only we knew what we were starting". Was chuffed to find the prog on Ebay for £1 a couple of yrs ago.
Corinthiain
Arsenal v Coventry Oct 1981. I had become obsessed with football after the 81 cup final, so this was to make sure I didn't follow Spurs (it worked).
Main memory is of an old woman who kept swigging from a bottle wandering around the lower steps of the north bank.
Maria
March 1975, aged 15, Everton v Coventry City with a lovely uncle who is no longer with me.
I particularly remember the noise the crowd made and how GREEN the grass was! Still attend now when I can.
Giovanni Ferrari
Went to many as a kid but first one I can recall was Arsenal v Leeds (2-2) 1978 first game of the season.
Dad took me and we walked as we lived not too far. I could hear Highbury from my bedroom window when they scored .We stood in the clock end. A hot day and plenty of goals.
Simon Laidler
First Newcastle game was early 70s with my Dad, Newcastle v Fulham, too young at 4 or 5 to appreciate I was watching Bestie v Supermac etc.
Memories that I can still smell is the onions off the Westlers burgers and the smell of the S&N brewery
Gareth Phillips
1967. Swansea Town v Doncaster. Few days before Christmas. Mum & sister Christmas shopping while Dad took me to the Vetch.
Can't remember score but remember stopping in Cross Hands for chips on way home (treat in them days).
Andrew Protheroe
1973 Swansea City v Newport County 5 yrs old with father. Newport wore orange and it was a night game.
Duncan Reynolds
Coventry City with my dad in the early 70’s.
Brin Jones---1878 Stadium Football Food Lover.
Reading v Middlesbrough in the old Third Division at Elm Park mid 60s. My mate and his dad took us and I was in my teenage years.
First big crowd experienced which was a bit alarming at first, but loved it.
Jamie Fleig
Swansea v Exeter, August 1993 at the Vetch Field. 10 years old with my dad and brother.
Memories of the amazing Vetch pasties and the noise from the North Bank. Hooked ever since.
Kevin Russell
Ireland v Spain, World Cup 1966 play off May 1965. 9 years of age. I went with my father. R.I.P.
I didn't know I was going until I arrived home from school & we won 1-0.
The Macron West Wales Premier League
10th September 1966. Swansea Town v Scunthorpe United. 1 0 to Scunthorpe.
Ivor Allchurch was in the Swans team. Got my dad to take me after watching the World Cup!
Steve Coop
5th Jan 1985. Blackpool vs Halifax Town.
My uncle took me but I can only remember standing on the Kop at Bloomfield Rd, don’t remember much about the match.
Mart
Charlton 0 Luton 0 1977. 7 yo. My mum took me. My only memory of the “game” was a few fans having fisticuffs outside the ground and my mum got accidentally hit by a policeman whilst we were trying to get out the way.
Needless to say she never went to a game again. I still go!
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
