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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To worry about DS wearing £££ football kit?

63 replies

LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 11:00

The only thing DS1 (9) wanted for his birthday was a football top and shorts with a player name and number. I cannot get over the cost of this (£70 for top and £30 for shorts) compared to the physical quality and quantity of what you get for your money. The material is so thin, it feels like something that will not withstand the rigours of a child's play.

He immediately wanted to go out and play football in them, and I know that is the point, but I just cannot stop ruining his fun by constantly shouting things like "be careful", "don't roll around on the floor", "don't wipe your mouth with your collar", "don't climb on that - you might rip something". I'm a nervous wreck. I don't have any clothing other than big winter coats even approaching £100 in value, and if I did I would treat them very carefully indeed.

I know football tops are a complete waste of overpriced tat, but it was DSs dream to own one. At this rate it will be in a very sorry condition in only a few months. I know he'll grow out of it eventually, but I would hope we'd get 2-3 years before that happened.

Do others just let their kids wear football shirts wherever and not worry about it? It feels like burning money. He's a very messy eater and I've already made him take it off at meal times! I know this is my problem, but we just cannot afford to buy a new one if it gets ruined.

OP posts:

GingerIsBest · 22/08/2023 12:01

If the seam is looking like it's separating already, I'd take it back and get a replacement.

Because overall, like others, I'm always pleasantly surprised at how well these kits last and how well they wash. And realistically, at 9 years old, even if you bought a size up, they grow such a lot that it's unlikely it would last more than one and a half years anyway.

Also, inevitably, they get a LOT of wear out of them (SIL has to wrestle nephew out of his so that she can wash it every day or two) so even if they do grow out of them in a year, it's a year where you've basically only bought one other t-shirt and pair of shorts! DS's individual clothing items might be ridiculously expensive compared to DD's cheap and cheerful H&M stuff, but he has a small wardrobe. Fashionastas would say it's "carefully curated"

GingerIsBest · 22/08/2023 12:02

One thing I did used to do when they were younger and still do for dd with her "nicer" clothes, is insist that they wear a big t-towel while they'r eating if they're wearing it. Because ketchup and bolognaise stains ARE hard to get out! :)

LlynTegid · 22/08/2023 12:02

What is done is done, you should have said no in the first place, accept it may not last very long.

OldEvilOwl · 22/08/2023 12:03

Wash them inside out & they will last longer. Honestly they are quite hard wearing

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/08/2023 12:07

For future reference OP, we buy DS the replica kits. They are a fraction of the cost and last just as long. I'd actually say the replica is slightly better as the badge is actually stitched in, whereas the official one it isn't so no chance of the fake ones badge coming off. Not that I would expect the official one to do that but it looks like it could.

Obviously the replica kit and the official kit are slightly different, but that doesn't bother DS.

ManateeFair · 22/08/2023 12:30

Football kits/shirts are made of sports fabrics so they're designed to be easily washable and to withstand rolling around. You cannot possibly expect your child not to play football in a football shirt.

The hole in the shorts sounds like a manufacturing fault so either exchange the shorts or just stitch it up.

You're being a bit weird about this. Yes, £100 is a lot of money, but it's a gift and it's something he wanted. If you'd bought him a £100 toy you wouldn't expect him to put it on a shelf and not play with it because it was expensive.

Of course it won't last forever - it's an item of clothing and he's nine years old. You're not paying £100 because it's some kind of heritage item that will last a lifetime. You're paying £100 for your kid to be happy with his present. You need to relax about this.

Hufflepods · 22/08/2023 12:31

A top is unlikely to last a 9 year old 2-3 years!

YABU clothes are made to be worn, let him play for god sake.

Original poster

LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 12:33

We are not a football family, so has no idea about cheaper replica shirts! While I have all you experts here, do I need to wash it every time it gets a little muddy? Or can I leave it a day? Will the stains set it I leave them too long? I've found that too regular washing very slowly destroys clothes anyway, so will they survive being washed so regularly? Many thanks.

OP posts:

TheInseparables · 22/08/2023 12:35

Haven’t RTFT so someone may have already said this- they are v hardly when it comes to children playing but not when it comes to the tumble dryer. If the shirt has a name/number this can come off so only wash according to instructions, line dry and don’t iron.

dikwad · 22/08/2023 12:39

LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 12:33

If your DS loves ALL football and would like a whole range of footy ball kits then M&M direct are brilliant for very cheap kits from obscure football clubs across the world! We get loads of them!

BoohooWoohoo · 22/08/2023 12:40

I believe that kits change annually so he may not want to wear this year's kit next year. My sons have gone through periods of wearing football kits and they dry quickly and lasted well ime. They were happy with knock offs from eBay and never had anyone at school point out that they weren't genuine.

babbscrabbs · 22/08/2023 12:41

We get second hand or even second hand replica 😆 refuse to spend that much on some grim nylon kit.

Pumpkindoodles · 22/08/2023 12:43

He wanted it and he’s enjoying making use out of it. Successful gift.

reddotorangedot · 22/08/2023 12:48

They are bomb proof! I used to love mine wearing them. They wash well, come of out machine practically dry, no ironing.

Dropthedonkey · 22/08/2023 12:49

Please please don't tumble dry them and then watch the badges peel off as I have done

isthismylifenow · 22/08/2023 12:50

Yes it was expensive and he loves his gift.

Think of it as cost per wear. If he is only allowed to wear it for an hour each day (not playing in the park in it, not eating in it etc) then you aren't getting your monies worth from it. Before you know it he has outgrown it.

Let him wear it as and when he likes. Its just fabric, and stains can be removed. I can vividly remember my dc when a lot younger even sleeping in their new sought after clothing item (Toy Story and the likes).

But if the hem is split, I would absolutely exchange it. If it was a replica you could probably overlook this. But an item this price, shouldn't rip on first wear.

HennyPenny1234 · 22/08/2023 12:53

You can buy a good replica online for £10-20

yikesanotherbooboo · 22/08/2023 12:54

DS had one a few years ago; it gave him a lot of pleasure, washes and dries really easily and he wore nothing but this kit for the best part of a year.

MrsK89 · 22/08/2023 12:56

You can get copies online at a fraction of a price (£15 a kit with socks) . Looks and feels the same

jlpth · 22/08/2023 12:57

If it gets stained, he can still wear it. (hopefully it's not a white one!)

And if it gets ripped, just sew it up.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/08/2023 13:05

Don't leave mud too long to clean and wash it properly if it's dirty. DS plays football and their strip has white stripes on and I cannot get one mud stain off which is right on the tummy. Very annoying.

WishIHadAButler · 22/08/2023 13:09

They are made of hideous synthetic fibres that resist wear and tear. Let him get on with it. And if it’s ruined he can then start wearing his nicer normal clothes instead ;-)

thaegumathteth · 22/08/2023 13:13

Oh OP I do understand a bit but they're kids and you have to let them just get on with it. If it's wrecked then it's wrecked. I bought the official ones but also bought cheaper training t shirts etc which fulfilled their desires but didn't cost nearly as much. Oh and yes I wash when dirty. I did try and avoid white kits but it's not always possible.

Fwiw I saw a little boy being told off at the park for getting his Man City top dirty and his little face was enough for me to realise a bit of mud doesn't hurt. His mum really moaned and moaned at him and it broke my heart, he wasn't being naughty. He was just being a kid.

thaegumathteth · 22/08/2023 13:14

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/08/2023 13:05

Have you tried napisan?

Clefable · 22/08/2023 13:14

I'm trying to get out of the mindset of keeping things for 'best' or only using stuff for special occasions. I emptied a drawer recently which was full of fancy toiletries and beauty stuff I was keeping for 'something special' and I realised I'd have got far more enjoyment just bloody using them. Let him wear them when he wants, if it gets stained or ripped then it's still wearable, and let him enjoy it. Just buy the replica next time! The money is spent now so no point worrying about it.

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