Our good friends Surrey and Hugh Hardcastle picked us up at Thornton Oaks at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. We were off to see the Patriots square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. We’d never been to a professional football game, but we couldn’t miss the chance to connect with the Hardcastles’ grandson, Ashton Grant, the Pats new quarterbacks coach.

We’ve known Ashton since he was a toddler, a charmer then and now. Ashton smashed all the pass reception records at Assumption College, had a tryout with the pros, then took a coaching internship position with the Cleveland Browns, where he spent five years, assuming more responsibility every year. The Patriots new head coach Mike Vrabel met Ashton on a visit to Cleveland and lured him to the Patriots.

Arriving in Foxborough, we first stopped at Ashton’s apartment where he lives with his beautiful wife Brianna and their radiant 2-year-old daughter, Ava, who inherited her parents looks and charm. We picked up tickets, a parking pass and some Pats swag (a red shirt for me). We expressed big thanks to Ashton’s mother, Jesse, for arranging everything. Jesse has been an incredibly positive influence on Ashton and his younger brother, Shawn.

We parked in the special lot for friends and family where tailgate parties were well underway. After maneuvering through the many check-in points, we got to step onto the field where the players were warming up. Then we headed to our seats in the friends-and-families section, high above the field in the corner of the end zone.

The actual game was disappointing, with the Patriots losing 21-14. The Patriots outplayed the tough Steelers during the last three quarters, but a series of turnovers cost them the game.

It was fascinating to witness all the hoopla associated with the game — the sense of sitting in a Roman amphitheater, the boisterous chants from the loudspeaker, the skimpily clad cheerleaders, the fans taking repeated trips to the refreshment stands. When I walked through the teeming crowds under the stands, I felt like a salmon swimming up stream.

The recognition at halftime of Julian Edelman, the Pats star wide receiver for 12 seasons, was a fitting tribute.

After the game, we headed to the buffet for friends and family, a walk eased by wristbands received earlier confirming that we deserved the “friends-and-family” designation. It was great to sit with Ashton and his family at the buffet. He was clearly disappointed that the Pats had so many needless turnovers, but such is life in the NFL.

Even though we didn’t leave Gillette Stadium until 90 minutes after the game, the highways were still jammed with the heavy post-game traffic. We arrived back at Thornton Oaks at 8:15 p.m. that night. It had been an eventful day. We will closely follow the Pats’ progress the rest of the season. They rebounded the following Sunday with a crushing victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Best of all, we got to connect with Ashton Grant. During the post-game buffet, I assured Ashton that he would be a head coach some day. He smiled and said, “Thanks for your support.” Ashton has all the tools: a deep knowledge of football, a terrific way in dealing with people and a tireless work ethic. Stay tuned.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at dtreadw575@aol.com.