Your First Game

[Si Robin]

I know this thread pops up at least once a season, but this morning it dawned on me that today is 25 years to the day since I was taken to my first ever Cheltenham game.

On that day we played a Man City XI (no players I've ever heard of in their team) and lost 3-2. We were about to start our 3rd season in the Beazer Homes Premier League having been relegated from the Conference in 1992. Since that time we’ve been as high as the 3rd tier, won at the old Wembley, at the Millennium Stadium twice, done the double over Leeds in the League, played Premier League teams including Spurs and Newcastle, been on telly numerous times, practically rebuilt the ground, had future internationals start their careers at Whaddon Road (Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford both playing their first league games there), very nearly made the FA Cup Quarter Finals and even played at the new Wembley.

Before my first game we'd never finished higher than 11th in the Conference and had only beaten one Football League team in our history (Carlisle in the 1936 FA Cup).

It's not been a bad quarter of a century.

 

[valefan16]

My first ever game was Leicester City 0 Sunderland 0 in about 1996, a young Shay Given was on loan to Sunderland and the game was dreadful (im from Leicestershire)

My first ever Vale game apart from a reserve match at Leicester was Notts County 0 Port Vale 1 a rearranged Tuesday night game in 2001 after the original was postponed as County’s ground flooded.

Steve Brooker scored a late winner.

 

[Crewelad87]

My 1st was Crewe Vs Notts County 30th September 1995. Drew 2-2. I was sat in the old paddock stand on a wooden bench and absolutely loved it.

 

[kieran_vale]

Would have been a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in 1991 in the Championship or just Division 2 as it was then. They had just won the League Cup and were going for promotion. Think it was Robbie Earle who scored for us. At that time we were in a higher league than Stoke which was always nice to rub in their faces.

 

[Big Bird]

Swindon v Norwich in 1995. Pre season friendly.

Don't remember the score. Think we lost. Was sat in The Arkell's with my old man. I couldn't see much over the bloke in front and was scared of Bryan Gunn in goal for them because I thought he might have a gun.

Met Peter Thorne afterwards at the Man of the Match award in the Legends Lounge. Legend.

However my dad has never really been a Town fan and I didn't start following properly until 03/04 when I was 14/15.

 

[GodsGift]

I think I'm the only person that has no recollection of my first game. I would have been about 4, maybe 5, back in 1994 or 1995.

 

[Moomin]

Mine was at the tail end of the 88/89 season when we smashed the now Premier League giants, Burnley 3-0. All I remember is being upset at everyone shouting so loudly.

I actually went to a further 12 home games without seeing us lose (this was during our 89/90 championship winning season where we were unbeaten at home in league and cup all season). It was a huge shock to me when I finally saw us lose at home to Reading on the opening day of the 90/91 season!

 

[Gladders]

I think I'm the only person that has no recollection of my first game. I would have been about 4, maybe 5, back in 1994 or 1995.

I have no recollection either, but it was mid to late 80s just remember going to games and sitting on the poles that ran across the front of the stadium behind the cages.

 

[BlackHaddock]

My first game was during the 1963-64 season, remember a 1-1 with Plymouth on 15th Feb 64 and the last game of the season a 2-2 with Sunderland. Had to check the dates, and I am sure my dad took me to other games that season, but i can't remember which ones.

 

[shoddycollins]

My first game was not a Carlisle one, it was a Villa one. My Dad's best mate from school had moved to Birmingham and we occasionally visited. His daughter was a big Villa fan so on one visit we all went to the football. Villa v Arsenal, sat in the Holt End with my brother, Football hating dad, Arsenal loving mum, my dad's Spurs loving mate his Spurs loving son and Villa loving daughter.

 

[Roger Stone]

All a bit vague but was in late 70s against a team starting with a W so must have been Wigan or Walsall I suppose. No idea if I enjoyed it or what the score was. Was definitely at Somerton Park though.

 

[Greenacres]

My first game was Arsenal v Chelsea in the 78/79 season, it was at Easter and not too far from the end of the season, a 5-2 victory for the home team pretty much consigned their visitors to relegation. I was in the North Bank, which was supposed to be home fans only...it wasn't and the Police spent the whole game trying to stop the two sets of fans from fighting each other whilst removing the Chelsea fans, of whom there must have been several hundred, from the stand. After the game there was chaos on the streets outside the ground, with both sets of fans fighting running battles among themselves or against the Police who were trying to enforce some form of control...seeing officers on horseback charging round the streets as if they belonged to a Charge of the Light Brigade re-enactment society.

I have to admit that, as a small kid, I was absolutely petrified and it nearly put me off going to football for life...anyone who glorifies the 70's as some sort of a golden age, when fans enjoyed a good rumble whilst following their team, seriously needs their head examined. Fortunately I did start attending games on a regular basis a few years later, even though witnessing violence remained a fairly regular occurrence, and have continued throughout my adult life.

 

[Bantamigo1]

My first game was in 1996 and we lost at home to Oldham 3-0 in what is now the Championship. Chris Kamara was manager and we had Chris Waddle playing who was brilliant to watch. We managed to narrowly stay up that season.
Had a season ticket ever since.

 

[les.gtfc]

2nd May 1972. Grimsby Town 3 Exeter City 0 to clinch the Old Division Four title. Over 22000 in Blundell Park that night.

 

[Richard Cranium]

First Mansfield game was agaisnt Halifax in Feb 2002. We won 2-1, also Adam Murray made his debut for us that night.

My dad took me to my first ever football match 2 years before, England schoolboys v I think Hungary at the old Wembley.

 

[northstandexile]

My first Football League game was
Mansfield 1-0 Peterborough in September 1960
A 17 year old Ken Wagstaff scored the winner.
I think this was Peterborough’s first ever FL defeat.

 

[Indian Dan]

1968 Swindon 2-2 Bristol Rovers

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

23 August 1958, 1-1 home to Ipswich Town

 

[The Alex]

I think I'm the only person that has no recollection of my first game. I would have been about 4, maybe 5, back in 1994 or 1995.

This. Haven’t got a bit of a clue.

Been going as a season ticket holder since I was a nipper.

 

[GTFCfish]

Grimsby 5 Wrexham 1 April 1990 to clinch promotion.

Garry Birtles got a hat-trick and I was hooked.

 

[Indian Dan]

Fucking glory seeker!

 

[jbet]

Can't remember anything about it (I was 3 years old) other than being on the cinder path around the pitch at the end waiting for the then traditional end of season pitch invasion.

2/05/1992
Port Vale 0 - 1 Grimsby Town (8678)
Port Vale relegated to Division 2

In hindsight, the signs were there that this wouldn't be an easy ride.

 

[Agombar stool]

I think this was my first game

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Nobody in my family were actually Town fans so I didn't get to my first game until I was about 8 or 9. The earliest game I remember was 29/12/01, we beat Portsmouth 3-1, Phil Jevons scored 2, Simon Ford 1 and Peter Crouch got theirs. I'm pretty sure that was my first game as I remember it so clearly.

We were flying high at the time but it all came crashing down shortly after, it's safe to say I've had a horrific time following Town. 3 relegations, a few near misses and some dreadful football that pales in comparison to what many have seen this club produce in the past. Plenty of final defeats too but I've learnt to appreciate the occasion, had plenty of Wembley weekends and you can't beat them.

 

[Posh Harry]

Can't remember anything about it (I was 3 years old) other than being on the cinder path around the pitch at the end waiting for the then traditional end of season pitch invasion.

2/05/1992
Port Vale 0 - 1 Grimsby Town (8678)
Port Vale relegated to Division 2

In hindsight, the signs were there that this wouldn't be an easy ride.

I was there that day. Let’s just say the car park after the game was not a pretty sight. A lot of bitter home fans and a lot of damaged cars!!

 

[The Terminator]

Sometime in and around 1990, no idea of the score or who we played.

Since 1995 though I can remember almost everything, having had a season ticket every season since.

 

[Agent Carter]

I think my first game would've been 1995 or 1996, but my Dad is about as useful as a knitted condom when it comes to remembering specific dates and times. It's a crying shame I wasn't born 7 or 8 years previously as I would've had the privilege of witnessing one of the finest periods this Football Club has ever experienced. 18 years and two relegations {plus two spells of administration} later, and I finally saw us achieve promotion. Downward spiral ever since though, sadly.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Saturday 9 September 1995, 1-1 at home to Barnet. I remember very little except I thought Gary Brazil scored but apparently it was Steve Butler, mind blowing.

 

[Sydney Posse]

Home to Wolves, late 1970's, cannot remember much about the actual match but do remember Wolves fans getting on the pitch and breaking the goal posts