The start of an unhealthy love affair

This Saturday, Newcastle United take on a high flying, full of confidence Leicester at St James’ Park. I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time, for one I get to witness the enigma that is Jamie Vardy (Real Madrid want him you know?) but mostly that it will be the first game I am taking my 7 year old daughter to.

I remember my first game extremely well. I was around 5 or 6 and we played Sheffield Wednesday at home. We lost (we’re talking about Newcastle here remember) but from the kick off I was hooked. I don’t remember the game much, I don’t remember the score, I don’t even remember any of the player’s names but I remember the roar from the crowd when we kicked off. I even remember the kick off; short pass, back to the man on the edge of the centre circle and a giant hoof out to the left wing. Straight to the Sheffield Wednesday right back who in turn hoofed it right up the pitch to our keeper. Baffling, without a doubt, but here began the start of a painful, heartbreaking, emotional, devastating relationship.

Throughout the game, the noise from the crowd made my hair stand up on end, I got goose bumps, I got completely caught up in the atmosphere; the smell of bovril, tobacco and 1000s of blokes straight out of the pub. It genuinely is one of my earliest memories as a kid and despite the loss, one of my happiest.

Football has changed significantly since 1985 and this week I have been thinking how the experience will be for my daughter. She has been to St James’ Park before - a couple of years ago I actually played there (and scored, had to slip that in…) and she came along to watch. Sadly she missed my goal as both her and my significant other got bored and left! She’s also been to the “other” stadium across the river to watch a concert last year which she found “too loud”; perhaps she should have gone to watch a Sunderland match instead if the volume was a problem?

These days there are no standing sections in grounds and the atmosphere is a lot more “clinical”. There are sponsor boards all over the place advertising sports clothing at 90% discount and if you can’t afford that you can take a loan out with you know who. I’d love to buy my daughter the latest Newcastle United shirt to wear on Saturday but I refuse to dress my kid up as a walking advert for a short term loan company.

What matters most though is the team in black and white, the club, Newcastle United. Players, managers and even owners will come and go but this will remain our club. Dads will always take their kids to the games, some will get hooked, others will be put off for life. The first game for any kid is often make or break and for me, it was the starting point of a hugely unhealthy relationship

For my daughter it could be the beginning and the end. I want her to love it, I want to take her to more games after this, I want to share something I love with her. I’ve told her to bring her Kindle and headphones in case she gets bored.