Would you let your 14 year old son go one his own to Blackpool away?

[pipster]

Would you let your 14 year old son go one his own to Blackpool away on the train ?
that's it basically

[Harry Lime]

Probably not. On a coach, yes.
That said I went to Derby on the train when I was 14 but I didn't tell my parents. It was a bit dodgy as it was 1982. A year later I told them I was going to Wokingham and they were chewing their nails off till I came through the back door late on that Saturday night. It didn't help that we made the main BBC news that night for all the wrong reasons.

[splott parker]

Would you let your 14 year old son go one his own to Blackpool away on the train ?
that's it basically

Only if he’s having the full weekend there and back in time for the Mackems

[BLUETIT]

Don’t you like him ?

Definitely not

[bluemoon]

yes and no...

when you say on his own litterally on his own yeah, no mates ? then no

on a city coach yeah he will have a blast, bit of a trek though

i left school at 14 and went to work so its a tough 1 for me... would i let my 14 year old daughter (i have a 14 year old daughter) nope...

but if hes with a few mates, as long as they are not all dickheads

[BLUETIT]

yes and no...

when you say on his own litterally on his own yeah, no mates ? then no

on a city coach yeah he will have a blast, bit of a trek though

i left school at 14 and went to work so its a tough 1 for me... would i let my 14 year old daughter (i have a 14 year old daughter) nope...

but if hes with a few mates, as long as they are not all dickheads

All coach operators have been warned not to take under 18’s on away trips, as if you do, you are responsible for them.

Supporters club will only take them, if they have a signed letter discounting responsibility, from their parents/guardians

[Tuerto]

Don’t you like him ?

Definitely not

correct.

[TWGL1]

Would you let your 14 year old son go one his own to Blackpool away on the train ?
that's it basically

I would say no, only because like HL I know what I got up to on the train at away games at that age, and what can happen even when you’re trying to avoid any aggro.

[Canton Kev]

My first away game without parents was when I was 15 but I was on one of the supporters busses from the local pub so I vaguely recognised a few people.

How mature is he? Some 14 year olds act like their 12 while others can act like they’re 17.

[pipster]

Would you let your 14 year old son go one his own to Blackpool away on the train ?
that's it basically

Just to clarify - He and 2 mates want to go on the train, not any official supporters bus

[az city]

Probably not. On a coach, yes.
That said I went to Derby on the train when I was 14 but I didn't tell my parents. It was a bit dodgy as it was 1982. A year later I told them I was going to Wokingham and they were chewing their nails off till I came through the back door late on that Saturday night. It didn't help that we made the main BBC news that night for all the wrong reasons.

Was that at the Baseball Ground where some of our "fans" tried to take their end?** If so, I went. Chelsea were playing Notts Co up the road the same day I think. It was hairy at New Street station.

**I definitely was not one of those trying to take Derby's end.

[az city]

All coach operators have been warned not to take under 18’s on away trips, as if you do, you are responsible for them.

Supporters club will only take them, if they have a signed letter discounting responsibility, from their parents/guardians

Isn't there a contradiction in there?

[pipster]

My first away game without parents was when I was 15 but I was on one of the supporters busses from the local pub so I vaguely recognised a few people.

How mature is he? Some 14 year olds act like their 12 while others can act like they’re 17.

An average lad, can be a bit cheeky , small for his age. One of the other lads going is about 6ft 1. My concern was away fans trouble on way to the ground , on the train, at the various stations and mixing with some of our more tasty support and getting carried (which is likely to do)

[Harry Lime]

Was that at the Baseball Ground where some of our "fans" tried to take their end?** If so, I went. Chelsea were playing Notts Co up the road the same day I think. It was hairy at New Street station.

**I definitely was not one of those trying to take Derby's end.

Yes it was at the Baseball Ground. I remember some charging at the fences but that's all really apart from where we were in the ground, which was a side paddock. Only other things I remember was that it finished 0-0 and it snowed at the end of the game even though it was May 1st. Was happy with a point but we were relegated 17 days later.

[Canton Kev]

An average lad, can be a bit cheeky , small for his age. One of the other lads going is about 6ft 1. My concern was away fans trouble on way to the ground , on the train, at the various stations and mixing with some of our more tasty support and getting carried (which is likely to do)

Don’t wear colours, don’t hang about the ground pre/post match and don’t sit near football fans on the train and there shouldn’t be an issue.

For a game like Blackpool I’d imagine most fans would drive up in cars or busses so trains should be fine. If you’re still concerned, give him a tenner and tell him to go to Nando’s and wait for a later train

If he’s going with mates and you think they’re all sensible then I don’t think it’s too much of an issue. On his own, I wouldn’t risk it though.

[Hilts]

An average lad, can be a bit cheeky , small for his age. One of the other lads going is about 6ft 1. My concern was away fans trouble on way to the ground , on the train, at the various stations and mixing with some of our more tasty support and getting carried (which is likely to do)

So hes not going on his own then?!!!

[pipster]

So hes not going on his own then?!!!

Sorry - the inference was - not with me or any other adult

[cyril evans awaydays]

Sorry - the inference was - not with me or any other adult

Five hours each way on the train, designated trains only with multiple changes if you want change from £60, 1.5 mile walk each way to the ground, very early lifts Cardiff Central and late pick ups late at night on Good Friday.

Are you sure you have thought this question through, looked into the coach options and discussed it with the poor dab before putting it out here?

[JamesWales]

14 sounds a bit young tbh..

[pipster]

"Five hours each way on the train, designated trains only with multiple changes if you want change from £60, 1.5 mile walk each way to the ground, very early lifts Cardiff Central and late pick ups late at night on Good Friday.

Are you sure you have thought this question through, looked into the coach options and discussed it with the poor dab before putting it out here?"

He is the one pushing me - saying he wants to go - as his 2 mates are going

[Whisperer]

14 sounds a bit young tbh..

I was hitch hiking to Wigan Casino at 14 although times have certainly changed.

[superfeathers]

I’ve got an almost 14 year old and he’s really sensible but would I let him go to Blackpool with his mates on a train - not in a million years - an away game in Blackpool on a train - not in 10 million years

[JamesWales]

I’ve got an almost 14 year old and he’s really sensible but would I let him go to Blackpool with his mates on a train - not in a million years - an away game in Blackpool on a train - not in 10 million years

This seems unreasonably strict. In even half a million years he will be more than old enough

[cyril evans awaydays]

I’ve got an almost 14 year old and he’s really sensible but would I let him go to Blackpool with his mates on a train - not in a million years - an away game in Blackpool on a train - not in 10 million years

You're not even safe when you get there. I mean look at what happened to Alan Bradley and that tram.

[MacAdder]

So hes not going on his own then?!!!

He didn't say he was, he said "one his own"