What should my child bring to their first football session?

The checklist

Keep it simple for a first session — most of it is already in the house.

• Football boots, or trainers for the youngest ages and 3G pitches
• Shin pads — required for any match and most training
• Socks long enough to cover the shin pads
• Clothes for the weather: layers in winter, a lightweight top in summer
• A filled water bottle with their name on it
• A ball if they have one, though the club brings plenty

What parents should expect

Arrive five or ten minutes early so your child can meet the coach. Stay for the session — you are welcome on the touchline, and at the youngest ages it helps a nervous child settle.

First sessions can be quiet ones. Children often watch more than they play, then throw themselves in the following week. Two or three sessions is a fairer test than one.

After the first session

If your child enjoys it, the manager will talk you through joining properly, subs and match kit. Nothing is signed on day one.