Regular readers will know that our family are big supporters of grass-roots football – with my son playing for an under 10s team and my husband the hard-working manager and coach. In fact, my family are pretty much big supporters of ALL football.
I hate to use the phrase ‘for a girl’, but if I did I would say that my daughter has a remarkable football knowledge for a girl. In fact for any 8 year old. She remembers facts about football at all levels – Man Utd (which they all support, my husband IS from the North-West, so it’s allowed), Cheltenham Town (our local team) and her brother’s football team (and his rugby team too, to be honest).
League football teams all do their bit for their local area – making football available to kids whatever their backgrounds and supporting schools and charities. Cheltenham Town is no exception and seem to work really hard in the community.
Their membership scheme for kids – Junior Robins – is brilliant. For the price of a single match ticket, the Junior Robins get free entry to all games. And BOTH my younger kids are Junior Robins, because football is most definitely not just for boys. We neither encouraged or discouraged a love of football in our daughter, but she decided to love it all by herself.
At the start of every game, Cheltenham Town has a flying squad of kids waving flags to welcome the players. It might be a kids’ football team or a primary school or a dance school. Last week it was the turn of the Junior Robins and my two kids took part. And it was a fantastic experience.
It’s been years since I last went to Cheltenham Town and I’d forgotten what a lovely, friendly, family feel it has to it. My experience of football is all about bigger teams, bigger games and bigger stadiums – all very impressive, but a bit corporate and not exactly friendly.
For their admission price of exactly no pounds and their part in the flying squad, my kids got:
- Tshirts to keep
- A free drink and bar of chocolate from the snack bar (and when went to the wrong snack bar, the lad serving personally took us to the right snack bar – told you it was friendly!)
- Their names in the programme AND read out over the tannoy
- To run round the pitch waving their flags and then hold their flags up to welcome the players onto the pitch.
For a young football fan, can there be a better experience? And for a parent, how fantastic that your child gets that experience at no cost whatsoever.
I loved seeing my kids taking part and they really enjoyed the experience. I even enjoyed the game afterwards (even though Cheltenham lost).
You can keep your fancy big clubs, I’m happy with the experience and atmosphere at Cheltenham Town.
This is not a sponsored post, I just thought the experience at Cheltenham Town was fantastic.
April 28, 2014
When i read this I just had this things in myhead about big companies who are so big they dont care anymore and small companies cariing cuz they are small and they need you so they care about you and think you are important. I am sorry for not making sense =P
This is a nice post and I love that red shirt =) #whatsthestory
April 29, 2014
Thanks very much, Merlinda 🙂
April 28, 2014
I think your daughter will be heavily influenced by the boys. Clio plays in the local village team with her triplet brothers. I don’t think she has the same club commitment though. I do love your sporty kids.
April 29, 2014
Thanks, Coombe Mill! Good for Clio for joining the football team 🙂
April 28, 2014
Funnily enough I was just having a conversation with Jocelyn from The Reading Residence about football matches as my 7 year old has asked to go to a game. But I think our local team’ snatches may be a bit too overwhelming for her. But I though of a lower league team with a better family atmosphere might just be the thing to try.
What a lovely experience for your two and I quite like the sound of Cheltenham Town x
April 29, 2014
It was really fab, Iona, definitely worth trying a lower league team. x
April 28, 2014
Sounds like a lovely experience for the kids! Mine are probably too young now, but worth remembering for the future #MagicMoments
April 29, 2014
Definitely something to look out for in the future. There were kids there as young as 4, but I think 7-10 year olds would enjoy it the most.
April 28, 2014
I am sure that this is a memory your kids (and you!) will never forget. What a fantastic opportunity for them! x
April 29, 2014
It certainly was. It was fab, thanks. x
April 28, 2014
Well done Cheltenham Town – what great way to attract young supporters. I was brought up near Cheltenham but have to admit never to have watched a football match – there or anywhere else for that matter!
April 29, 2014
You were brought up near Cheltenham! It’s a small world.
April 28, 2014
Oh wow what an experience Sarah, sounds like it was amazing. How great to keep the t-shirt too. What a great initiative from Cheltenham football club. Lovely post and photos, thank you so much for sharing #whatsthestory
April 29, 2014
Thanks very much, Charly! It’s always a pleasure to link up with What’s the Story.
April 28, 2014
What a fantastic experience for them, and how wonderful for you to watch them take part. Just brilliant x
April 29, 2014
Thanks very much, Sara. It was fab! x
April 28, 2014
That’s fab Sarah! I love the idea of the kids getting involved in something like this, and even though we’re not huge football supporters in our house I did have my eldest JJ enrolled in ‘Little Kickers’ at the age of three! Cheltenham Town sounds like the place to be though… #whatsthestory
April 29, 2014
It certainly is, Sam! Little Kickers sounds fun 🙂
April 29, 2014
Absolutely! Thanks, Izzie! 🙂
April 29, 2014
My family LOVE Manchester United!
April 29, 2014
My family aren’t keen on Liverpool at all. Sorry, Lucas!
April 29, 2014
That is really funny as my husband was telling me about this last night as he wants to do it with the boys. He took them to a West Brom match earlier this year and was appalled by the language and attitude of some of the fans and another parent recommended Cheltenham as a nice experience and a chance to see real football in a nicer environment. They are all really keen.
May 5, 2014
They should definitely give Cheltenham a try, Nikki, it’s fab! There’s a family stand, so definitely no bad language!
May 1, 2014
what a fantastic experience and how marvelous that it was free too!!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
May 3, 2014
Z loves footy to the point where he’ll willingly go to nursery on footy days. He will cheer for everyone and kick the ball all over the show. The other half is a big Liverpool fan so Man U get a bit of stick in our house 🙂
May 4, 2014
What a brilliant experience, sounds great fun! #countrykids
May 5, 2014
Great post. None of my kids are really into football, however when I was younger I was massively! I even played for my local team – and I would’ve LOVED this, haha. #countrykids
May 5, 2014
Thanks very much, Debs. Fantastic experience to play football as a child 🙂
May 7, 2014
What a great way for Cheltenham Town to create a young fan base and spread the love of football. Great!