Children at matches

[Buxom Fox]

Yesterday at the match we had a problem with a child kicking the seat that my friend sat in. When she asked him to stop he didn't. She then grabbed his foot to move it from her back that he was pressing it into. The mother then went mad & the stewards got involved. They are season ticket holders - this seems to be the first season - or at least first season behind us. Obviously we do not want this to carry on all season - any ideas?

 

[fitz]

Yesterday at the match we had a problem with a child kicking the seat that my friend sat in. When she asked him to stop he didn't. She then grabbed his foot to move it from her back that he was pressing it into. The mother then went mad & the stewards got involved. They are season ticket holders - this seems to be the first season - or at least first season behind us. Obviously we do not want this to carry on all season - any ideas?

She should kick the child's mother, she'll soon realise it's annoying.

 

[spionfox]

Obviously we do not want this to carry on all season - any ideas?

This is a bit out of the box, but perhaps if your friend had tried speaking to the parent before grabbing the kids foot it may have had a better ending.

 

[SJN-Fox]

Like Spion said, your friend needs to speak to the parent(s) and try and sort it out that way. If that fails then speak to the stewards. If that still fails, speak to them again and then take it up with the club. he/she needs to take this through the proper channels otherwise you could be causing yourself a whole lot of trouble. If anyone had grabbed hold of my kid before speaking to me they would probably be nursing a broken nose.

 

[Blue Maniac]

Happened to me at the Real Madrid game. I turned and asked the bloke sitting next to it "is this yours?" He replied in the affirmative, so I suggested it would be a good idea if it didn't kick my seat any more. As if by magic, the kicking ceased.

 

[RHYDAL]

If people behind me were pissing me off I'd have simply stood up. Better to negotiate from a position where they cant see the game. Concentrates their thoughts.

 

[Wombat]

So there's the answer... Buxom Fox should take Blue Maniac to the next home game as her 'good will ambasador' / enforcer

 

[Steven]

I have had this problem too. :icon_conf I solved it by turning round and holding my hand out to the kid and saying "Hello my name is Steven and would you please stop kicking my seat". We shook hands and his father looked at him as if to say - well he has asked you nicely - and I got no trouble from the kid for the rest of the game.

Frankly it is ****ing adults that are the worst including complete ****s who insists they are not kicking my seat.

 

[Buxom Fox]

My friend asked the child to stop kicking before grabbing it. The mother said that because the child was only four he was not doing it on purpose - it felt like she was saying that we should put up with it because it was a habit - surely she would not like it? and yet she would not be told that she should make him stop

 

[Blue Maniac]

So there's the answer... Buxom Fox should take Blue Maniac to the next home game as her 'good will ambasador' / enforcer

I'd do more than just kick her seat... Wait, is Bux a woman?

Frankly it is ****ing adults that are the worst including complete ****s who insists they are not kicking my seat.

Had that before too. That tends to get more of a 'stop kicking my seat before I break your foot off' type of response.

 

[escos66]

Happened to me at the Real Madrid game. I turned and asked the bloke sitting next to it "is this yours?" He replied in the affirmative, so I suggested it would be a good idea if it didn't kick my seat any more. As if by magic, the kicking ceased.

I can't believe you referred to somebody's child as "this" and still walked out of the stadium!!

 

[Kingy_85]

Yesterday at the match we had a problem with a child kicking the seat that my friend sat in. When she asked him to stop he didn't. She then grabbed his foot to move it from her back that he was pressing it into. The mother then went mad & the stewards got involved. They are season ticket holders - this seems to be the first season - or at least first season behind us. Obviously we do not want this to carry on all season - any ideas?

Was this in the family stand? Near to the stairs? Something kicked off there but nobody seemed to know what was going on.

I feel for anybody trying to take children to games. My lad was a nightmare at the Real Madrid game (although he's only 2!). Will be a fair bit of time till he gets a season ticket!

 

[Buxom Fox]

yes that was us in the family stand. i also feel for anyone taking children but as I pointed out to the mother my son also went from the age of 4 & the first time he was asked to stop we made sure he did - this mother seemed to think that it was alright for her child to kick me/my friend because he was not doing it on purpose.

 

[H T B]

Today's seat kickers, tomorrow's rioters!
Discipline starts at home. Attitude like this mother's total disregard for others, I find bloody infuriating.

 

[Mystery benefactor]

My young nephew used to do that, because he was bored. I gave him a telling off and he doesn't do it anymore. It must be quite difficult as a parent of young kids at a football game. I think it's an age thing.

Luckily I'm a big fella and when it happens too much to me, I just glare at the offender, and they soon stop, it takes quite a bit for me to go that far though.

 

[drew]

I have the same problem, the two kids behind me at both the Real and Reading match took it in turns to boot my seat constantly.

I gave them a glare as if i was going to kill them yesterday and it stopped for a bit. I blame the parents, they fill them up with sweets and pop and don't control them.

 

[Matt_B]

Why are people taking children that young to games if they are bored? Seems like a way to get a cheaper season ticket then use it for friends.

 

[David Gwilliam]

Why are people taking children that young to games if they are bored? Seems like a way to get a cheaper season ticket then use it for friends.

A very interesting point. Presumably the child will not be there against Bristol City but will be the seat be empty.

You have my sympathy. For me one of the minor pleasures of Saturday was meeting up again with the people I sit with. I know nothing of their life away from football and they know nothing of mine but for a couple of hours we are old friends - familiar and full of good natured banter. To not get on with someone around you must detract "from the matchday experience" - a useful phrase if you need to write to the club.

I may have missed it but I do not recall you saying what the stewards reaction was. Too often it will be "six of one and half a dozen of the other" and certainly grabbing the childs foot was a tactical mistake. If it continues you should write to the club over the head of the steward. Make a point of asking the parent (not the child) politely using words you want to put into a letter. Notice very carefully the words the mother uses (she will not be thinking of quotes). Do not at this point involve the steward.
You then put this conversation verbatim in a letter and claim that you did not involve the steward because you did not want to cause a scene.
There will then be three likely outcomes
(1) they will offer you different seats - unlikely and computers may not make it possible.
(2) the club will contact the mother - possible but unlikely
(3) the club will write and tell you that next time you should contact the steward - most likely.. That letter then becomes your weapon remember to take it with you. If it happens you show the steward the letter and tell him you have the support of whoever signed it and suddenly the steward is 100% on your side. If it continues you simply write to the named person who wrote to you to say that you have complied with their request to involve the steward and the steward and yourself have been ignored. My experience is that it is often the second letter that gets results.

I woulde be fascinated to know how LeeSoh will her experience in the legal profession would have handled it - I know it is not a legal matter but lawyers are always interesting on disputes.

 

[spionfox]

For me one of the minor pleasures of Saturday was meeting up again with the people I sit with. I know nothing of their life away from football and they know nothing of mine but for a couple of hours we are old friends - familiar and full of good natured banter.

I had exactly the same feelings David.

The one other thing I should perhaps mention is that a few of those around me are elderly and it's always a bit nerve-wracking at the first home game of the season to see if they are all actually still of this earth.

 

[FoxCovert]

Why are people taking children that young to games if they are bored? Seems like a way to get a cheaper season ticket then use it for friends.

Technically you would have to upgrade to full price if you took an adult, not sure how many would get away with what you are suggesting.