A youngster’s first visit

We’ve been sent in details of a young football supporter’s first visit to Spotland, who wanted to share their thoughts on their day at the game:

Most Dale supporters can remember their first match forever. Sadly, there is never any documentation surrounding your first visit, how you were feeling, what little things you can remember about that first visit. But for one lucky little lad, we can write about his first time at Spotland and the thrill of the day.

In circumstances probably not unusual to many Dads, Lee Foster can only look after his son Alfie on weekends. Young Alfie has been developing an interest in football, and it was felt the time had come for Alfie to be treated to attending his first match..

Lee, or Fozzy, as he is better known had thought about trying to get tickets for City or United. Immediately, I warned him of the expense involved in the two of them going to the Etihad or Old Trafford, not to mention two trips to Wembley every year.

Young Alfie can forever be found playing with a ball in his native Milnrow, and thus, his Dad felt watching a professional match was the next logical step, but not Man City, not at them prices!

“What should I do?” he asked of a friend. The friend in question, a keen Dale fan, thought for a moment before saying, “do you know Fozzy, there’s a saying amongst football fans, “you can change job, change gender, change your wife, change anything. But the one thing you cannot change is your football club!”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, Fozzy lad, that your Alfie needs to go to The Dale immediately to watch a game and if the Dale bug gets him, then he’ll not be interested in any other club! Furthermore it’s Alfie’s local club and it’s a damned sight cheaper to get in. For kids of Alfie’s age, it’s only a fiver to sit down. And there won’t be any expensive trips to Wembley either.”

“How do I go about going” Fozzy asked. “ Leave it to me Fozzy. I’ll pop up to the club and get you a pair of tickets and I’ll get Alfie a scarf too and a few bits and bobs. Then I’ll drop them off on the Friday before the Bradford match and all you have to do is get yourself up to the ground for 3pm.”

On the Friday evening young Alfie opened a surprise bag in which was a Rochdale scarf, lapel badge, a flag, and a fixture poster. He told me later that, “I was really surprised and excited. Couldn’t wait for Saturday to arrive!”

After dinner, the pair caught the tram to town and made their way up to Spotland with Alfie waving his flag at anyone who was looking. Climbing up Willbutts Lane they went into Pearl Street and found a pair of seats right behind the goals half-way back.

“I liked the noise and the buzz” piped up Alfie, “and when number 7 Peter I can’t pronounce his second name scored, it was fantastic. I know we lost 3-1, but I loved the day out. My favourite player is Josh the goalie as I recognized him from when he visited Newhey Primary school. I saw this t-shirt in front of me which said, ‘up the Dale, down the ale’ which I thought was funny.”

His Dad added, “we’ll definitely go again. Everyone was so friendly and it’s great value for money as a day out. And, as a Dad who only has his lad for one day a week, to be able to share that experience with Alfie was priceless. And I want him to grow up supporting his home town team. I’d recommend anyone in the same boat as me to have a day out at Spotland.”