My grandson advice required

[AlsoKeithCurlesToePoke]

Character building stuff. Stick it out.

[Tom Joad 25]

Being the odd one out isn't fun initially but it becomes a part of your identity later on in life. My lad is the school Albion fan and he quite likes that now he's older. The other thing that the plastics don't understand is that football fans with a blood or soil heritage know each other and have a certain respect for it. The plastics will drone on about what's happening at United, Liverpool etc. and don't realize that the real fans have all already turned off.

Great post. I can only repeat what's already been said. Take him to games, feel the bond, watch the old videos.  I felt bad when I inflicted the Albion on my offspring,  they were the only Baggies in a school predominantly villa plus some glory hunters. It also coincided with our tumble into lower table anonymity meanwhile villa were winning league cups. Later they have told me how they retorted "Old Trafford? We've been twice, how about you?" Stamford Bridge? Same.  What little glory we do get is all the better for being special whereas the glory hunters (and villa) are never satisfied. Going to games is the prime start though. I've mentioned it to mine that I used to feel bad about putting the Albion on to them and without a 2nd thought they all replied words to the effect, no regrets, Dad, l wouldn't have it different.

[HawkingsHalfpint]

Being the odd one out isn't fun initially but it becomes a part of your identity later on in life. My lad is the school Albion fan and he quite likes that now he's older. The other thing that the plastics don't understand is that football fans with a blood or soil heritage know each other and have a certain respect for it. The plastics will drone on about what's happening at United, Liverpool etc. and don't realize that the real fans have all already turned off.

Indeed - being the odd one out sometimes isnt a bad thing, and is character building. At a dingle school it wasn’t always easy (the Monday after that toothless bastard Ewan Roberts scored the same goal three times against a dire Albion that day was not easy) but then we began regularly beating the six-fingered sister humpers after that. Whilst the Golden Tit year-on-year oozed sour milk. Which made me proud. 

Back to the OP. Whilst I hope for whatever reason the inverse is true, at least we don’t, and won’t, have to play Villa for a while. Anything above the usual grief for him being Albion isn’t something a few good footy performances of his own won’t fix! Cock size at our school was eventually measured on how good you were - not who you supported. And that doesn’t change.

[Protheroe]

At my sink comp I was very good at cross-country running. Why? I had plenty of practice being chased by East Birmingham's finest like Daz, Woz, Tez, Jez & Bez.

Being an Albion fan in enemy territory is character building.

[SausEggBaton]

Thankfully grew up in a mixed area (Great Barr) Vile, Blues, Albion, Walsall, Wolves - everyone, well apart from Stoke, so never really had troubles during me yoof, as everyone was as shite as each other at various points and you just take the banter/grief as and when and dish out accordingly when the time we're right.

Where we live now, and the laddo being 6 and in football training, with half his school class with him at Walsall Phoenix, there's a real good mix again of Albion, Wolves and Vile, but not a lot of Blues - the odd 'Pool and Utd, but I suppose being up north of Brum helps I suppose, so I pleased about that.

As for the OP, as Midge says being the only fans of club in the school, its character building.

It'll build his resilience for life's other nuances that are testing, for example knowing which side of the fence to sit. Anyway, I'm sure he'll be alright, tell him to retort with, "yer mom" or "I know we're shit but what are you".... that'll do it.

[Ministry Of Silly Signings]

Just buy him a Man City top and save him 70+ years of misery.

Many a true word said in jest.  The laddo is going to have to get used to people being horrible about his team.  Teach him some defence mechanisms if i were you - the first one is "yeah they're not great, but they're my team so fuck off"

Unfortunately that's what it boils down to:  Either choose a team that's not shit or learn to roll with the jibes.

If he is taunted by Blues kids, he can respond with `At least we are the best team in West Bromwich, you`re not the best team in Brum`.

[SausEggBaton]

Just buy him a Man City top and save him 70+ years of misery.

Many a true word said in jest.  The laddo is going to have to get used to people being horrible about his team.  Teach him some defence mechanisms if i were you - the first one is "yeah they're not great, but they're my team so fuck off"

Unfortunately that's what it boils down to:  Either choose a team that's not shit or learn to roll with the jibes.

If he is taunted by Blues kids, he can respond with `At least we are the best team in West Bromwich, you`re not the best team in Brum`.

Aha! Ypou see, wit will always win.

[CarlosCorbewrong]

I’d rather take the kicking than praise that lot!

[Spandaubaggie]

My lad, now 19, was the only kid in his class who supported us. He liked being known for not following the pack. It also helped that we weren't quite as shite as we are now, and he's quite extrovert and was a big kid able to handle himself.
My advice would be tell him to be a secret Baggie and let him wear the mask of glory hunter for 3-4 years whilst taking him to Albion games. Hopefully we will have improved in that time and he's feeling more able to admit his allegiance.

---

My daughter is eight and my son is five and neither have shown any interest in football to date, tempted to leave them that way.

Weirdly my other son is coming up two and has loved chasing a ball around since he's been able to crawl.

5 is very young yet Duffers. It might gel in and the lad become a fan. I had no interest in football until 8-9.

As someone with grown up kids, I'm proud I've a son who is Albion mad and goes to the games.

I would say though, if it's not in them then don't force them. I've a brother and he went to the Baggies as a kid and has no interest whatsoever. It's saved him a load of stress.

[CarlosCorbewrong]

Some snippets of ropey advice on here IMO.

Two specific bits I disagree with:

1. Don't tell the school (unless it's actual bullying) - it's a shortcut to getting proper bullied
2. Don't pretend to support another team - I'd rather get bullied for being an Albion fan than bullied for being the person who changed teams.

Now then, bullying in the 80s and 90s - that was proper horrific compared to today's standards.