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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:
bemorerip · 25/04/2023 23:36

I would think that's about standard.
My dd does a specialist sport. She didn't get kit until she'd been going regularly and we knew she'd keep it up- which she has.
Her comp kit was £120 second hand 🤯

If you can't afford it don't buy it. Has he actually said he won't go if he doesnt have it or are you assuming that's how he'll feel? You also say not everyone has it, so why would he feel singled out?

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:37

Well he basically had a paddy cried and said why can everyone else in his class afford stuff . And said I'm a terrible parent

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 25/04/2023 23:37

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?

Ok I'm going to ignore your comments in your last post and assume you are just having a bad day.

In answer to your question above. £60 is a lot of money if you dont have it but not much money if you are rich. £60 is more than some businesses of this nature would charge and less or the same as other businesses of this nature would charge.

My last comment would be as I have been obviously unsuccessful in pointing out before you have a choice. If you think £60 is too much and your son won't want to go without the kit, you can either choose to go somewhere else that is cheaper or absorb the £60 by making it his birthday/Christmas present etc.

Either way you have choices and you are right children's sports clubs should be accessible to all and there are many that are. This is not one of them.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Football
newtowelsplease · 25/04/2023 23:39

Sounds like a lot to me. We pay £200 for the full year and that includes match kit and training kit

TeenLifeMum · 25/04/2023 23:39

Can you ask if you can spread the payment for the kit over a few months?

For a club £35 a month sounds reasonable but I have 3 dds and the monthly costs to provide comparison are:

horse riding £100
ballet £45 plus leotard and cardigan plus prop
gymnastics £35 and any leotard

violin £60
guitar £40

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:41

TeenLifeMum · 25/04/2023 23:39

Can you ask if you can spread the payment for the kit over a few months?

For a club £35 a month sounds reasonable but I have 3 dds and the monthly costs to provide comparison are:

horse riding £100
ballet £45 plus leotard and cardigan plus prop
gymnastics £35 and any leotard

violin £60
guitar £40

No sadly not they want it upfront

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 25/04/2023 23:44

For dance we have a mum group for second hand stuff - there must be some around. I’d let ds do it as a “trial” and get him the kit in a couple of months.

DD’s riding helmet etc was often a Christmas present because it all gets very expensive.

Greenfree · 25/04/2023 23:47

Could you suggest he joins in a couple of months and put the money that you would have spent on the 2 months membership aside for the kit and buy it then? It will give him time to consider whether he still wants to go. It does seem high for a kit but I was surprised at how much a kids kit costs in places likes sports direct when my DS started playing and wanted the pink PSG kit!

AndTheSurveySays · 26/04/2023 00:10

Do you not have any family that will club together to purchase a kit for him?

piedbeauty · 26/04/2023 00:17

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

🙄🙄 If coaches charged per hour what they could charge, no one could afford it.

If the kit is personalised, then it will be much more expensive than unbranded kit.

Op, do you have any experience of pricing Club kit? No? I thought not.

Flyingsparks · 26/04/2023 00:30

newjobnewstartihope · 25/04/2023 23:37

Well he basically had a paddy cried and said why can everyone else in his class afford stuff . And said I'm a terrible parent

I think saying he can’t go at all is really shitty.

try him for a few weeks before you buy it. Say he’ll get it if he likes the club/does chores.

put aside £10 a week for 6 weeks then buy the kit.

Obviously, I don’t know your budget, but it’s cutting out 3 coffees a week.

Snugglemonkey · 26/04/2023 06:57

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

Sports clubs are often businesses too though and people depend on them making money for their wage. They are not about accessibility, they exist to make money. Some are not businesses, as they are volunteer led (though still incur costs) and I suggest you look for one of those. It is similar to swimming. Some children do council run swimming lessons quite cheaply. Others do private ones at many times the price. Look at how much gymnastics classes/dance classes/martial arts can be. Sport does benefit children, but it also needs to be paid for, because it costs money to run.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2023 07:00

£60 is a lot of money for a shirt and shorts for a small child. As is about £8 a week to run around a field for a few hours.

And sadly not everyone is able to 'just buy less coffee' as a way of affording it.

Definitely ask about second hand kit, surely there will be other members who've grown out of theirs?

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 26/04/2023 07:00

@Flyingsparks just the kind of tone deaf clueless post that sums MN up at times. You think all people must have at least 3 take out coffees they can cut out? Dear god

OP posts:
Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 26/04/2023 07:01

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2023 07:00

£60 is a lot of money for a shirt and shorts for a small child. As is about £8 a week to run around a field for a few hours.

And sadly not everyone is able to 'just buy less coffee' as a way of affording it.

Definitely ask about second hand kit, surely there will be other members who've grown out of theirs?

Honestly just when you think you've heard it all on here 😂😂buy less Costa's and avocado

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2023 07:04

OP is this a private, for profit, club?

Are there other volunteer led, community based clubs where he can play instead?

Mum1976Mum · 26/04/2023 07:16

Is it a franchised club like Little Kickers or Rugby Tots? if so, the kit is a complete rip off - they must make a fortune on it. I got our Little Kickers stuff second hand off eBay for a fiver as it’s the same for every club.

raspberriesblueberries · 26/04/2023 07:19

OP - when does the season end? For the clubs my DC are at, they only carry on until half term with perhaps a couple of tournaments in June. One commercial (rather than grassroots) club carries on until early July but then stops for two months over the summer. Is it worth waiting until September? For one thing, that will also mean you can buy next season's kit. It would be dreadful to buy this season's kit and then have to splash out on a new one in a few month's time.
Why on earth seasonal kit is a thing in kids' football clubs annoys me even more than individuals having to have their own kit rather than having a set of shirts which are given to the kids playing that week (which is what still happens in school football for both of my DC).

EarringsandLipstick · 26/04/2023 07:20

Completely standard for my kids' sports - in their cases it's team kit - shorts / socks / training jersey - usually they need a 1/4 zip or equivalent to wear over which would be that price alone.

It is pricey, I know.

I try to use birthday money etc (that they're very happy to put towards this). And the kit lasts longer than you'd think - I'd get well over a year, and in fact it's more that of wears out than that it gets too small.

I know it's hard - if there's any way you can afford it I would try; if not, perhaps talk to the coaches who might have old / spares / samples.

EarringsandLipstick · 26/04/2023 07:22

Why on earth seasonal kit is a thing in kids' football clubs annoys me even more than individuals having to have their own kit rather than having a set of shirts which are given to the kids playing that week

None of my kids' sports have 'seasonal kits'. It's their club gear which stays the same. They change design occasionally but there's no pressure to buy it until you need to.

(This includes soccer).

RachelSq · 26/04/2023 07:25

The kit’s a bit more expensive, but not that bad. It’s optional and you don’t need to have it. I know your son wants it, but if you can’t afford it right now and you’re able to pay for the sessions I’d at least give him that option and say you’ll get a kit in the future, once you both know he will stick at it.

As others have said, there’s likely second hand kits floating about and it’s just a case of speaking to the right people.

If the training fee itself is too much, I’d suggest looking for a community run team rather than one run as a business (which this one seems to be). The community teams around us are amazing.

YABU in being so dismissive of everyone pointing this out because they’re not agreeing with your view.

BartsLongLostBro · 26/04/2023 07:28

OP, I don't know why you'e crying poverty when you're able to pay £35/month for a football club!

And yes, sadly, things are expensive. We just began a martial art.... yikes.... kit , grading, fees, oof.

RoseBucket · 26/04/2023 07:31

Is it a franchise ? They tend to mark up prices but agree it’s steep.

Beachbreak2411 · 26/04/2023 07:37

Then your issue is you need to explain to him! My dd has always understood she can’t always have everything! Give him the choice… do the activity without the kit… or don’t do it! As many others have said… ask about second hand kit! There must be some, ask other parents. Everyone is struggling at the mo; they might be pleased to get a little money back for outgrown kit.

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 26/04/2023 07:49

As someone else has suggested - delay him starting for 2 months, then you have the cash for the kit.

Alternatively, break it down for him. You don't have an unlimited amount of money, he simply cannot have everything he wants. I grew up with next to nothing, and I understood.

Clubs and hobbies can be expensive. In the scheme of things, an optional £60 could be a lot worse. My daughter requires an item for her hobby that fits like a glove. At almost £200, it's breaks my heart to buy something which has zero growing room.