How many Grandads and Dads can look back on the wonderful days of taking their sons to see their first football game with their favourite football team playing? Wherever you go in this world you will find this happening. Maybe nowadays, the kids are wearing Barcelona shirts because it’s fashionable and they are the best on the football scene, but their love of watching football and supporting a football club began with their Dad.
I can remember the days of standing with my brother on the terraces of Portman Road, Ipswich, on little stools which our Dad had made for us. Ten years or so on from that time, I stood in the same football ground with my Dad and brother and was able to appreciate the full pleasure of putting six goals past Manchester United. That day we felt part of a greater family. I’m sure it must have been like that for our supporters at Wembley in 1978 when Ipswich beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final and for those who travelled to the Olympic Stadium in Holland in May 1981 and saw Ipswich win the UEFA Cup against AZ Alkmaar.
Fathers and sons enjoying great footballing moments together. My brother still goes with my father and for many years his sons went with them both. One of my recent football memories was once again enjoying the company of my brother and my Dad at Portman Road, this time with my teenage nephews too. On this day I saw Ipswich Town beat Hull City, a team which then went up into the Premiership. It was the last game of the season and it was not a memorable game. But what was memorable was talking later to the club’s honorary President, Sir Bobby Robson – the man who had been manager on that day back in 1980 when we beat Manchester United 6-0 – a man still at the heart of the Ipswich Town Family.
I had noticed Sir Bobby just behind us, up in the second tier, sitting with the club chairman, David Sheepshanks. I made my way to just below where he was and got Mr Sheepshanks to direct his attention down to me. We shook hands and his eyes lit up when I took him back to March 1980 and putting those 6 goals past Man U. “And we missed 3 penalties!” he beamed.
Great family occasions…
Football is a family affair.