any football shirt experts here - crap mum

[StillWantingADog]

arrggh! First world problem I know

Have an 8 yo football mad son, but we're not a footballing family really so don't know how it works

I've bought my son football kits in the past, only 1 a year as they're so expensive, but they've been for high profile teams eg Man United, PSG, England etc so never had any difficulty.

This year, for this birthday (May) he wanted the local league 2 team t-shirt. I couldn't get one at the time, it didn't surprise me that I couldn't get one as end of season, so I agreed to get him one of the new season ones when they came out, which I guessed to be in July. Fast forward to last week and I see they are in stock, we look online, he likes the new colours. So far so good. For some reason I don't pay for delivery or even arrange click and collect I think ooh I have this friday off work so we'll go up to the shop (a few miles away) and choose one together.

Bad move. All kids shirts sold out. Apparently within days.

To add insult to injury when coming out the shop we spot a class mate. I tell the mum the situation, she says 'oh I did click and collect so we should be ok'. 2 mins later the son walks out with his shirt and grins at my son and he has sobbed all the way home.

It really did not occur to me that the boys shirts would sell out before the season even began. I said to the woman in the shop 'when will you get more in stock' and she said 'not sure we will'. Is this really true that you can't get them after the initial rush. I know ebay will be a possibility I suppose. The website doesn't have a 'email me when back in stock' function so i suppose I will have to check back every day for the forseeable.

I know it's not a big deal in the great scheme of things but I promised him. And his classmate has one and he hasn't.

So can someone reassure me that yes, of course there will be more in stock at some point. Or have other ideas. Or should I face the fact that I've lost my chance until july next summer.

I don’t know the answer to your question, but I do know that some clubs pre order a certain number of shirts in time for the new season and, when they’re gone, the club may choose to put in a new order which can take months to arrive. I would though expect the lady in the shop to know if they had put a new order in.

Might be worth checking local sports shops? Or tell us the name of the team, and someone on here might know where they can be sourced locally?

That isn't normal round here. Yes, there is an initial rush when a new kit is released but you can buy them all year round here.

Ahh this happens to our local League 2 teams, too. Women's shirts are the same, they have an initial pile and then don't tend to restock, but sometimes will if the demand is there.

Which team is it? Some do provide external suppliers with shirts, so you might be able to get one that way.

If he's keen on one next year, I'd definitely try and get one of the initial ones, it's a lot less stressful - but you might still get one this year!

Thanks all. It’s Stockport county if that helps at all.

Ah that's worse - they had an unexpectedly decent season last year, but would have probably made their order with the kit manufacturer based on their 'normal' year volumes.

If they sell out of a lot of sizes they might might make a top up order, but a lot of kit manufacturers make this type of thing quite expensive.

Urgh. Appreciate your honesty.

Find it really surprising that they wouldn’t top up for the Christmas lists!

Have you tried looking online, eBay , kitbag ect

Yep no joy.

Age 9-10 in stock here https://store.stockportcounty.com/item/538/stockportcounty/2324-Kids-Home-Shirt.html

its out of stock when you click the next page @Comefromaway

Yup that is true it makes you think you have one until the last moment

No idea if this would work but could you buy a different size shirt/ lunchbox/ other merchandise and then go to hang around at a training session and see if you could get some signatures? Or even write to the club/ some of the players on their social media and see if they could sort you out with something?
I was just thinking with it not being a top top club they might be up for the personal touch.

What an odd ordering system. It lets it put one in your basket and takes you to the checkout page.

I'd contact the club, I'm sure they'd sort something out to cheer your ds up

If he's just turned 8 could you try the 7-8 to see if that would fit? Obviously wouldn't work if he's not small for his age

I don’t think have that either but they had exactly one goaly shirt in the shop and it was too small

thanks will have a think. Also I am hoping to surprise him with some match tickets but the match we want to go to is not for sale yet- maybe I’m Wildly naive about getting match tickets too. Obvs we’re not “members” or anything.

I am not getting the same error message up for the smaller size

Oh sorry just seen you'd said the goalie one was too small 😳

Can you buy last season second hand? Or buy an older one and say its retro.

Might just have to chalk this up to experience and encourage your ds to get a sense of perspective!!

There's always something dc want so your chance to redeem the situation will come up soon enough!!

@StillWantingADog So as a PP said - I am a fan of phoning and speaking to a human. Can't hurt to explain the situation . I would phone the club, You could ask if they do mascots whether he could be one when they do their new seasons matches. May be completely over subscribed and it may cost money but worth asking - they can only say no. Disappointing they have run out so quickly.

I hope you get something sorted for DS.

Contact the club. I pass the ground when going to visit a friend, my uncle lived not far away for many years. Hope you can get one for Christmas if not before.

This is ridiculous, but the kindness of strangers on here has made me want to follow in the hope that OP's DS gets the shirt he craves.

Even though I don't have a son, don't live in Stockport and don't care at all about football.

Good luck @StillWantingADog a ⚽️ for your DS and 💐 for everyone on here for being so helpful and kind. MN can be a lovely place sometimes

Thank you you’re right it can be a very kind place