Match Day
On the Day
The drive in, the sideline, the car ride home — how to be present without adding pressure on the day that matters to them most, and the small things that make a big difference.
What Should My Child Eat on Match Days?
It's 90 minutes to kick-off. You've made the toast, sliced the banana, set the yoghurt out — and your child is barely picking at any of it. Now you're wondering whether they'll run out of energy at half-time.
Taking the Whistle
Someone taps you on the shoulder. The club is short a Game Leader this weekend, and you’ve watched enough of it — surely you know the rules well enough. Then the dread arrives. The rules are not the difficult part. Nobody told you what is.
Why Playing Time Never Feels Fair (Even When It Is)
Your child missed three weeks in July — a wedding away, then the flu. Now Jamie's name is called as a starter again, and the maths in your head doesn't quite add up. The honest answer is more interesting than either "it's fair" or "it isn't."
What to Say (and Not Say) on the Sideline
Your sideline words matter more than you think. Here’s how to support your child during football matches without adding pressure or confusion.