I was 10- My very first match was a Division 3 game (NLBR v Halifax) shamed to say- The following week, went to Ashton Gate with a friend and his dad- City ran out convincing winners 4-0 against Norwich with John Galley scoring after just 2 minutes followed by 3 second half goals. Galley and Garland I seem to recall got 2, think the other might have been Bobby Kellard.
I was 5 when I went to my first match, Rovers v Swindon (sorry!, they made me go). Good result though, Swindon won 2-1. My first City match was in 1956 when I was 9. City v Forest, a 0-0 draw from memory but I was hooked from then. Sat on my dad's shoulders at the back of the old South enclosure.
Dad took me to City one week Rovers the next in the late fifties - I was 8. I saw Finney and Atyeo but much to young to comment how good they were.
Ha, its funny how all the first game memories are from watching the Sags, well I have to join you because my first live game memory is getting on a bus to Eastville when I was 10 years old (1974) with some Gas mates and watching Rovers v Southampton which if my memory serves me correctly the Gas lost 1-0, I can remember there being a pitch invasion and all the local lads who were way older than me, steaming in to the Southampton lot. Don't worry it was a temporary illness and I never visited Eastville ever again in the home end
I was quite late in years 17 but had followed them from a distance since about1952 when I used to get the "green'un" 1 year it was close to my birthday, a cup result and at the age of 3 or 4 I could read, my grandfather was blind and he taught me..... the cat sat on the mat in my first year at school was more akin to the feline animal became inanimate as it reclined on the luxury floor covering....
February 1950 (I am ashamed to say) aged 6 BRFC v Crystal Palace (We did leave at half time because we were so wet on the Muller Rd mudbank - before they terraced it) March 1950 Bristol Rugby v ? 7 April 1950 City 2 - 0 Aldershot Town June 1950 Gloucestershire CC August 1950 Somersetshire v Glamorganshire at Weston I am grateful to my father for introducing me to these great sports. spent a lot of time, money and heartbreak in the years since, scattered with about a dozen good years. 2014-2015 a good one? I believe so.
First Match - Dorchester in Western League (as a baby) First League Match - Bournemouth v someone (Ted McDougall was playing for them) - think I was about 6 First Div 1 (now Premier) - Arsenal v Everton - 1972 - was 8 - 1-1 (all I remember is Alan Ball's white boots) International - England v Scotland at Wembley in 1973 - England won 1-0 (Peters) First City game v Man City - February 1977 (was 14) - City won 1-0 FA Cup Final - Spurs 1 Man City 1 (1981) - Tommy Hutch scored at both ends As with most my "love affair" with football was as a result of my late father - it's like a thread that runs through my life from watching - playing - and now just watching again. He also introduced me to Cricket (Somerset v Essex in JPL first match), and Speedway (Weymouth Wildcats) - these are still my favourite 3 sports
City I was about 10 v St Mirren in the Anglo Cup final. was the one that sticks in my mind but I went to a game or 2 when I was 8 as a treat from my uncle and grandad first was Motherwell. But my first live match was in 74 Man United v Welsh All Stars at Ninian Park. Away game would of possibly been Newport County when I was around 16. My eldest was 4 for his first game against Wolves but it kicked off in the Dolman before the game. It was a 2-2 draw so every time a goal was scored he got scared thinking it's kicking off again and couldn't get him to come again apart from one game against Cardiff with my other son. But neither off them understand or like football. My daughter was 9 against Cardiff, and she still comes 6 years later. Grandaughter was 11 months when we took her last month against Crawley. But she slept through the goal so missed it. She was more interested pulling faces at other fans grinning at her
My first match was aged 6 in October 2004 Plymouth Argyle 2.V 1 Gillingham I was in the GILLINGHAM end with my dad. First City match was New Years day V peterbourough I think we won it 2:1 or 3:1
I was five my first time against chelsea,i was only a nipper,but i remember sitting at the back of dolman b block with a massive tooth ache and it kicking off big time. My boys both started watching at 5 years old.One still goes with me,the youngest is at leeds uni studying medicine for the next 6 years,so has fled the robins nest at present.
I was 7 in 1968 - Rovers 3 Peterborough 1 (I think!) Following week my Uncle took me to see City and let me decide which team I wanted to support The rest is history
Agree with all of your last paragraph aside from the cricket.... Still watch speedway now, although mainly on TV but back in the day I've seen 3 World Finals at Wembley (2 wins for Ole Olsen and one for Bruce Penhall) and have been to Weymouth (Radipole Lane), Poole, Exeter (County Ground), Reading (Smallmead), Cradley, Wimbledon, Hackney, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough, White City, Newport, Swindon, Bristol, Oxford, Ipswich etc
7 years old in 1998, lost in a friendly to Borussia Moncheongladbach! First competitive game was that year, lost 2-0 to Everton in the FA Cup.
Honestly can't remember when or who against, but it would have been early 70's when I lived in Bedminster as an 8 or 9 year old....possibly even late 60's? I have very distant memories now of walking to the ground holding my Dads hand one side and my brother the other side. He would take us into the enclosure with a stool or something to stand on!
