Going To Your First Football Match: What To Expect

Going to your first-ever football match can be a life-changing experience. If you have only been used to watching the games on TV, then you may not know what to expect when you finally watch a game in person. The atmosphere at football stadiums is unmatched: it can be an incredible experience to be surrounded by fellow fans as they cheer on your favourite team.

For someone who has never been to a football match, you may be feeling both nervous and excited. While football is a lot of fun to watch, dealing with the crowds and the busyness of a game can be a little overwhelming. Because of this, we have put together this article, that goes over what you should expect when attending your first football game. So, if you have a game coming up, then this article is for you! Keep on reading to find out more.

Prepare For The Large Crowds

The first thing you need to expect when you go to your first football match is the large crowds. Even if you are not attending a premier league match, all football games will have a large audience, so you must be prepared for the large crowds. It is understandable to be nervous about a large number of people, especially after COVID, so it is important that you do what you can to feel comfortable. If you are going with friends, then make sure you let them know about your apprehension, so that they can help you out when you get there. It would also be a good idea to make sure that you get to the game early, as this will mean you can hopefully avoid the large crowds. Additionally, at the end of the game, try and leave a little bit early, so you can miss the rush at the end of the game.

Expect Queues Throughout The Day

Another thing you need to prepare for when watching your first football match is queues. Throughout the day, whether you need to pop to the loo or go and grab a drink, you will likely be faced with queues. This is something you need to prepare for, and it is important to understand when the queues are the busiest. During half-time, most people tend to take advantage of the break and they will go and buy some drinks or food. The half-time period is definitely the busiest point in the game, so if you know that you will want a drink, perhaps go just before or just after half-time. Of course, this does mean you run the risk of missing a few minutes of the game, but it could be a worthwhile risk in order to avoid the queues.

Stay Entertained During Half-time

Staying on the topic of half-time, during a football match half-time runs for about 15 minutes and if you don’t plan on going and grabbing a drink in that time, then you will need to find another way to fill the time. As it is your first football game, you may want to try some beginner’s luck and place some bets on the game. Placing a small bet on your first football game can make things a little more interesting as it ups the stakes of the game. Not only this, but it gives you a perfect opportunity to make a little bit of money. Start off with a couple of small bets to begin with, as this will help you make sensible decisions. You should check out a few gambling sites and see where various gambling providers can be beneficial. Doing your research into the gambling sites will help you find the right site and it means your money is more protected.

Plan For The Weather

This should go without saying, but when you are going to your first football game, you should make sure that you plan for the weather. The UK is not known for its bright skies and sunny days, so there is a good chance that it may rain when you go and watch the game. The day before the match, you should make sure that you check out the weather forecast and plan your outfit accordingly. If you are going in the winter months, you have to remember that you will be sat down for at least 90 minutes, so you need to ensure you will be warm enough for the duration of the game.

Learn The Chants

One of the best parts of seeing a football game live is that you get to experience all the amazing chants. UK football fans are notoriously known for their funny and silly chants, so being at the game gives you the chance to be embraced by these unique songs. The great thing about football chants is that they are very easy to follow, meaning you will have no trouble learning each of the songs. Most of the chants follow similar rhythms and rhymes, so it should only take you a few minutes to clock on. Once you have learnt the chants, you could even try your luck with starting one by yourself. While it may be a little nerve-wracking to begin with, there is no better feeling than everyone singing the chant you started.

Capture The Memories

As mentioned previously, going to your first football game can be a bit of a life-changing experience, so you should ensure that you capture as many memories of the day as possible. Being able to look back on your first football game will be so beneficial and you can show other people how fun your first game was. The great thing about living in the modern age is that you have a high-quality camera available readily available on your phone, so you can snap pictures and videos throughout the day. It could also be a good idea to post some of the pictures on social media so that you can reminisce over your first football game in the future.