Importance of captivating the youth

In effect City are already doing the kid for a quid scheme. In fact a season ticket for the youngest age group works out at 89p a match.
My son was captured by the kid for a quid scheme and my grandson is following in his footsteps.

 

TBF Richmonds quid for a kid has added 10,000 onto attendances from mid 90s to now. We wouldnt be getting 18k in L2 if it wasnt for him (and reasonably priced season tickets).

 

My dad first took me to City , aged 5 , stood on a wooden crate , in the Bradford end . I can pin point the exact spot on any old photos to this day . 65 years later I think I still have the bug?


Right by the “S” in Sutcliffe ……There were no hoardings in those days and I can’t recall if they had roofed the Bradford End either.?

 

Living over near Colne for the last 40 years none of my kids were never pressured into supporting city however the youngest 2 of (13 & 14) are city fans and most of the time won't wear anything else other than city related. My daughter even goes to school with her city coat on most days. My older kids have all been to city games but aren't really football fans. My lad has occasionally been to Burnley games as his mates dad is head groundsman there but he openly admits he could never watch them over city. He has just started to go away games now and enjoys them so is completely hooked on city. You would be surprised to know how many city fans actually live over in east lancs now the city fans base is definitely getting bigger this way.

 

He, he…Nostalga . I can remember those days like it was yesterday…. Yet I cant recall what day it is sometimes

 

Richmond was a flawed genius in some ways. Id have gone to City regardless, as Dad was a City fan but im not so sure without the quid for a kid we would have gone as much and become emotionally invested. We took mates with us who wernt City fans, but they are now.

Im 2nd generation fan, family now at 3rd generation. We are a Leeds family, Dad was the black sheep.

 

I remember the signing of the 3 scandanavian players the big deal over it only to get pumped at Valley players by Oldham time ...........mad mad times glad i was there to see it.
In fact the early 90s the stapleton years where enjoyable for me we didnt have a pot to piss in had to sell our best players to survive but you knew that they where all trying.
I mean a gate of 10k was regarded as huge back then compared to know where it would be regarded as small indeed

 

It was....dunno how I saw it out. Docherty, Stapleton and Lawrence - lean years!!!

It was our Saturday afternoons though. Mates parents would palm kids off on Dad, he would take us all. £1 for ticket, £1 for pop and crisps. Pennies to get rid of their kids for the afternoon!!!

5 Live in car on way home to get all the scores, sometimes a McDonalds for tea on way back then get home for Baywatch and Gladiators. And of course some teletext! Simpler times eh....

 

It doesn’t always “captivate the youth” though.

My lad couldn’t have any less interest in football if he tried.
His older sister did one season and decided that was enough.

Before I had my own kids I brought my nephew from when he was about 10.
We went everywhere on the organised coaches that set off from Midland Rd.
He’s 40 now and bringing his own kids.

My own kids having no interest is a bit disappointing (especially after Saturday) but I would never force them in to going.
Their mum and me just shout “we’re off” to them on a match day and off we go.

 

Yes you can still get a T&A if ordered in to the local newsagents I believe. The high school my kids go to there is a further 4 kids who are city fans plus a teacher so it's definitely building over this way.

 

Richmond got most things right and was ahead of the curve when it came to marketing and putting the club forward. I think today's crowd numbers primarily come from the cheap tickets instigated by Rhodes as a last throw of the dice when the club was really on its arse. Even then it was hard to justify coming, could give tickets away free but if the product is garbage. Parky gave the club it's soul back, Rahic tried his hardest to destroy that but for some reason I can't quite fathom the fans stuck by the club. And it's them that deserve the most credit getting this club back on its feet and back in league 2, without that input of renewing season tickets year after despite being treat like fools this club goes nowhere fast.
That victory on Saturday was for those that have stuck by this club.

 

My daughter came with us too for a couple of years, but only really came to see her friend and not the football. She did get a job serving refreshments in the press room for a bit.
Our son got the bug definitely and we have had season tickets for 30 years and been to many away matches in the past but stopped going away for various reasons.
It is my daughter's son who now has a season ticket alongside us. We have to encourage him as his parents have no interest in football!

 

I remember being 8 in about the 88/89 season. I was hooked instantly. I loved everything. The floodlights, the views over the shed on Midland Road, the team colours, the noise, the cigar smoke, the nicknames, listening to the old codgers complaining about Mark Leonard, the away fans, the scoreboard graphics, every little detail.

My daughter has shown no interest for coming to watch the football and I'm not a pushy parent but she will become a passionate City fan. I'm determined and went against my other half's advice and bought her a ticket. She's been once or twice but didn't seem overly interested. I'm hoping the league 1 atmospheres spark an interest.

Anyone had experience of kids not being interested in the footie who managed to get hooked? Could do with some reassurance / advice on how to accelerate the process.