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Original poster

£60 for kit? Need to check if I'm being unreasonable or unrealistic

139 replies

newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 22:44

So my little one wanted to go to a club that does football training. It's 35 pounds a month which is a bit more than most similar clubs round here but fine . Seems like a good club . However after being asked to sign up and set up a direct debit for that I was then told I needed to order his kit. No problem I thought expecting a top and shorts to cost 20 odd quid. 60 pounds they wanted for a kit for a club which will probably not fit in six months (ds is 7)
Is that a fuckload of money or am I being a stinge? I've sadly had to tell him he can't go as it's too much money and he's upset but even if I had it I think it's a lot ....is it?

OP posts:
cheeseandketchupsandwich · 25/04/2023 22:46

It does sound a lot. Is the kit optional?

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 22:47

Hi
The guy said the kit is optional but nearly all of the kids have it. So he would then be gutted asking why he can't

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 25/04/2023 22:49

I think your unreasonable to tell him he can no longer go because of an optional kit.
Let him train and if he enjoys it, in a few weeks as if there any older kids are selling old kit or if the club has any spares / hand me downs available. Kits usually last two years for sports teams.

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Bluevelvetsofa · 25/04/2023 22:49

Could you pay for the club, but leave the kit until you see whether it’s going to be something he wants to do long term?

Flyingsparks · 25/04/2023 22:50

It’s worth telling them that you can’t afford that. They may give you a reduction in fees if it’s too expensive/ you are struggling.

also worth asking about second hand kit sales- am guessing they don’t update their kit every season. Or they may have old kit he could borrow?

I think lots of clubs understand that many parents are feeling the pinch right now. If it’s going to stop a kid playing sport, many clubs can offer some reduction at their discretion

leeloo1 · 25/04/2023 22:51

Why not ask if any second hand kit is available? Or join the club and tell your son if he enjoys it he can have the kit for his birthday. Also, always buy anything like this a size too big so it’ll last longer.

mushroommummy · 25/04/2023 22:53

That’s exactly the same fees and cost of the kit I’ve just purchased and received tonight. In all honesty I do find it too expensive but as DS hasn’t any other clubs/actives that cost money I’ve decided that it worth it for him and I am completely skint atm so it was tough parting with it.

Coolblur · 25/04/2023 22:57

I pay less than that for my son's football team. It includes two lengthy training sessions per week, weekend matches (pitch and referee fees), AND all their kit.
They train in whatever they want to wear (normally football strips of their favourite teams) and only use their team kits for matches (with the exception of the jackets/tracksuits which they can wear to training). Because it's not that expensive I pay for him to go to additional coaching sessions, a lot of his team mates go too. It is obviously in the head coaches interests to run his business this way.
If you're not happy with the cost then look elsewhere, you'll find there are plenty of options.

Hellocatshome · 25/04/2023 23:01

Some kids football coaching is run as a business and charge as such. Some are run on a voluntary basis and get sponsors for their kit etc so the kids only have to pay minimal subs to cover league fees and insurance etc. You have picked the first type. If he enjoys it and you can afford the monthly fee just dont buy the kit or get it for his birthday etc.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:06

He won't want to do it without the kit that most of the other kids have
I think it's a cheek charging that much for the kit personally when I know other clubs kit costs a lot less

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 25/04/2023 23:11

newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:06

He won't want to do it without the kit that most of the other kids have
I think it's a cheek charging that much for the kit personally when I know other clubs kit costs a lot less

Do you think it's cheeky that WH Smiths charges more for a pen than Poundland? It is what it is businesses can charge what they want, you can choose to pay it or not or take your business elsewhere.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:19

WHSmiths isn't a kids sports club. Sports benefit the health of our kids and should be at a reasonable cost and accessible. Obviously a specialist sport such as skiing or scuba diving would require expensive kit but 60 pounds for a top and shorts come the fuck on

OP posts:
booksandbrooks · 25/04/2023 23:21

I don't think it's cheeky anyway, but also it's optional so how could it be? The cost doesn't seem to prohibit participation?

You can tell your kid he has to try for a certain amount of time before you'll consider the kit.

Once you're doing it you're more likely to meet people getting rid of old kit anyway.

AndTheSurveySays · 25/04/2023 23:21

£60 seems reasonable to me. Just buy the kit in a size bigger than needed so he gets longer wear out of it.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:22

Like I already said it's optional but when most of the group who may be well off have the kit then it's going to be a problem me explaining why I just can't afford to pay a ridiculously inflated cost for a pair of shorts and a top

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 25/04/2023 23:24

newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:19

WHSmiths isn't a kids sports club. Sports benefit the health of our kids and should be at a reasonable cost and accessible. Obviously a specialist sport such as skiing or scuba diving would require expensive kit but 60 pounds for a top and shorts come the fuck on

I assume you are deliberately missing the point. Its a business they can charge what they want, you can choose to pay it or not. Nothing cheeky about it, they are not there to provide a public service. If you dont want to pay £35 a month and £60 on kit find one of the many voluntary run or council funded or subsidised sessions instead.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:24

@Hellocatshome I'm quite aware businesses can charge what they want but that wasn't what I was asking

OP posts:
BillyNoM8s · 25/04/2023 23:25

Buy a size up and let him flap around in it for a bit...

KnickerlessParsons · 25/04/2023 23:26

At the club my DD played at the kit was all owned by the club. It was handed out at March days and we were expected to wash it and bring it back at the next training session. The only thing we had to buy is her boots.

milkysmum · 25/04/2023 23:26

That's how much the kit was for my son. I thought that was pretty standard to be honest.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:26

BillyNoM8s · 25/04/2023 23:25

Buy a size up and let him flap around in it for a bit...

Sadly it's still out of my reach at the minute

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 25/04/2023 23:26

YANBU to think that sports clubs are good for children and should be affordable. There are sports clubs that offer free coaching for children, lend out kits rather than expecting parents to buy, etc. But the market seems to support cheaper and more expensive football teams and other sports clubs.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:27

milkysmum · 25/04/2023 23:26

That's how much the kit was for my son. I thought that was pretty standard to be honest.

My older son plays for a club and it was a third of that which I why I thought it was really steep especially for a growing child

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 25/04/2023 23:29

newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:24

@Hellocatshome I'm quite aware businesses can charge what they want but that wasn't what I was asking

What actually are you asking ? or do you want us all to agree with you that £60 is too much?

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:30

@Hellocatshome you can literally read what I'm asking in the last line of my first post but if you'd rather get uppity and start going on about the cost of pens in WHSmiths instead YoU dO yOu HuN

OP posts:
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