chestersaddler wrote:Cowshed wrote:Originally from walsall and now living in sutton i am a saddler for life but my 13 year old son is a VIlla fan which means i go down villa park with him time to time. There is no denying this is a big club and the experience is nothing like watching walsall. I want villa to be a top flight club because without them we will lose the opportunity to experience big crowd atmosphere here in the midlands and if you want to go to a game with a 30k plus crowd you will have to go to London or North West. On holiday abroad we often see the Bayern Munich shirts by the pool until my lad dons his villa shirt and rubs their nose in it - Surely international recognition like this defines a big club. Of course I would love my team to compete at the top level but as i grow older it seems less likely but that doesnt mean I want our local bigger clubs to lose their status. Geoff's point is valid in that the national press and my colleagues based in the capital judge the standard of football in the midlands by the villa and albion results and so by laughing at the 8 - O scoreline they are laughing at us all. as a midlander i will be hoping villa beat teams from the smoke as nearly as much as i hope grigg scores a hatrick against orient.
When my boy was 4 or 5 my wife's sister bought him some David Beckham branded football clothing. He was only made aware of this several years later. The merchandise was returned to the shop the following day and the sister in law was told not to be such a saft cow in future.
It ay difficult :wink:
I note that you state he was only made aware years later - and not at the time. There in lies the problem children are logical and not emotionally mature to understand the family loyalty issues.
So as a 6 year old the conversatn goes like this
Dad have walsall ever won the fa cup - er no son
Dad have walsall ever been to wembley- er no son
Dad have walsall played in europe-er no son
Dad do walsall have 16000 fans behind the goal - er no son
How many dad - about 1200
But do they make a great noise and cheer on the team -er no son
Dad will i get to see rooney, tevez and van persie play live at bescot every season -er no son
DAd who will i get to see play Will i recognise them - er no son
DAd will i go to the EMirates or old trafford each year -er no son
Ok where will we go dad- bury, yeovil
Dad will i see walsall play on tv every week - er no son
Dad everyone in my class go to the villa and iwill get some stickfor going to bescot and i would do it because i know it would make you happy but to be honest dad when you come back from the match you never seem to be happy
The point is it is difficult to encourage your children to do something just because you copied your grandfather and uncles. In the end My son was prepared to follow me because he wanted me to be happy but why would i not want him to have the best possible experience?
As it is i will be at villa watching him enjoy himself and occasionally he comes to bescot supporting me through the agony :wink: