The first ever football game you watched

The Salford lad.

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Aug 2020
Messages
756
Team supported
Manchester City
What was the first ever game you watched or when interest first kicked in , mine was Italy v France on tv Argentina 1978 .. whilst living in that picture post card village Cheetham Hill .
 
A couple of televised games that stick in my memory are England vs West Germany when Gunter Netzer gave England the runaround


And England vs Poland when Clough described the Polish keeper as a clown and that evening everything hit him
Norman Hunter's error on the half way that led the the Poland goal and England not qualifying for the world Cup
 
United v Ajax, 29th September 1976. My dad took me. Was six. The rags won 2-0, with (shit on) Lou Macari and Sammy McIlroy scoring.

My next game was my dad’s brother taking me to Maine Road about three months later, v Coventry City where we also won 2-0 (Kiddo and Tueart) and where I found the vibe far more to my liking!
 
A couple of televised games that stick in my memory are England vs West Germany when Gunter Netzer gave England the runaround


And England vs Poland when Clough described the Polish keeper as a clown and that evening everything hit him
Norman Hunter's error on the half way that led the the Poland goal and England not qualifying for the world Cup

Mad to think that England didn’t qualify for a World Cup, other than by right, for 20 years.
 
Stalybridge Celtic. I went with my older brother and my mates, was about 11. I was only there for the pies and fucking around in the woods behind the ground afterwards.
Don't know who they played, but someone scored a header from a corner.
Almost died in that forest, decided as a kid while using a catapult to get conkers to run down it, only bouncing into a tree head on saved me.
 
On telly — England v West Germany, 1966. No more need be said.
Live — England v Scotland, Home Internationals, spring 1967. Wembley seemed to be full of drunk Scots, but the atmosphere was incredible. Probably because of that, actually. Scotland were terrific (Law, Baxter), and they deservedly beat us. There were not a few Scots in the stadium who were seriously suggesting that we should hand over the World Cup.
First live league game — Spurs v Liverpool, autumn 1967. That was it. I was hooked. Not on them, but on the game.
Moved up to Manchester that winter, can’t remember exactly when. First live match at Maine Rd., City v Coventry, that season. Oddly, no memory of it, but I’ve still got the programme. First City match that I can clearly remember — the derby, August 1968. One of the few times that I sat on the Platt Lane benches. Great view over to the seething Kippax. I admit I was mightily impressed. Loads of rags on the Kippax, too, at the time. No segregation then.
 
City vs Newcastle FA Cup final 1955. Watched on Pathe News at local flea pit.
Condemned for ever to love this bonkers club.
 
How could I forget my very first match on TV. We'd just moved to Glossop from Sheffield. Arsenal came from one down to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the 1971 FA Cup Final. Charlie George scored the winner and laid flat on the floor to celebrate. Frank McLintock lifted the cup on a hot sunny day. I confess I liked Arsenal for about a year or so after that. Well I was only five. Still a glory hunter though...

England v West Germany at Wembley in a European Championship (it had very different format then) and Gunter Netzer in his smart German away shirt (Germans often have the best kits or uniforms) absolutely schooled us. What a player.

First match I attended was on a visit to my Nana and Grandads in South Yorkshire....Sheffield United 2 Stoke City 0 in 1974-75....Blades had Tony Currie and Alan Woodward - two fabulous, talented players, and Stoke had Peter Shilton, Dennis Smith, Mike Pejic, the brilliant Alan Hudson, Jimmy Greenhoff, and, last but not least...one Geoff Hurst. As a 9 year old I was totally in awe...as Alan Hudson and Geoff Hurst came near me to take throw-ins. I vaguely remember Tony Currie exciting the crowd with some magic. Blades captain Eddie Colquhoun (who passed away recently) scored a penalty I recall. Two good teams who were fighting for Europe back then.

I was more into cricket but followed football without having a team but that all changed at my first City match on 1st November 1980...my parents had split...what should we do that day? City were bottom of the old 1st Division...Dad took us to Maine Road. A copper chuckled when Dad asked where the kop was, and helpfully directed us to what is still my spiritual home...The Kippax.
Johnny Bond had not long since taken charge...we went under the Kippax tunnel to reveal the vast expanse of grass...the air was a heavy intoxicating mix of hot dogs, pies and cigar smoke City were the better team in a tight match... I was grabbed by a few things that fateful day...the obvious love and passion City fans had for the team...I mean "We love you City, we do" repeatedly for a team at the very bottom of the league...there was a Klaxon in the crowd that helped set off one of those "clap, clap clap-clap-clap, clap-clap clap-cap CITY!" chants. Wonderful stuff. I loved Paul Power's passion and enthusiasm,
Dave Bennett's exciting pace and skill and the grit and feroucious tackling of a debutant that day, one Gerry Gow. Bennett should have scored but hit the keeper when clean through, Paul Power scored the only goal to win the game..."Here we go..." was chanted as well as "We love you City.."and everyone went home happy.

I was bitten by the bug and became a City supporter that day...

Thanks to my late Dad.
 
Last edited:
GEC Openshaw V unknown

Me dad and grandad worked at GEC so every Sunday morning me dad would go watch the factory team and took us when about 4
 
My first game was Celtic v East Fife It ended 1.1 and I spent the majority of it watching the crowd. Can’t remember a single thing about the game. I went on the local supporters bus for nothing and got lifted over. That was me off and running and I have been a hostage ever since.
 
The first game I can remember was the world cup final in 1970 The great Brazilian team.
The reason I remember is because I went round a family friends house to watch it. He was football mad an ex pro. He would coach me all the time as a 9 yr old I loved it.
We are still in touch, he went on to be a top coach in Europe, coaching at top clubs. He was in charge of the dippers academy under Dalglish. He also coaches coaches to top clubs. Published lots of coaching books.

So going around his house to watch the world cup final was amazing he is football mad.

The only downside is he is best mates with the pisscan, same school etc but I for give him lol.
 
Live (full game):
City vs Coventry in the Central league. Long ago… 77?
Was a draw, could even have been 0-0, as I really can’t remember a goal.
Have vague memories of the team sheet - A4 printed blue ink on white.

TV (full game):
Hmm… probably a FA cup final. Or an England qualifier for the 1978 World Cup.
 
Last edited:
Not certain? but the 1974 World cup finals got me hooked. A few weeks later on 17 August my dad took me to watch my first ever game Everton v Derby at Goodison, ended 0-0 but I loved it.
 
On the TV, City v Spurs FAC Final (the first game, 1-1 draw)

Live, City v Watford, FA Cup, 25th Jan 1986. 1-1, Sat in the North Stand. Bleeding Freezing. Luckily, I din't go the the second replay when we lost 1-3.
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top