Mumsnet calls for an end to Premiership kit rip-off

[KatieMumsnet]

As you might have seen we're writing to Premiership clubs, asking them to stop ripping off young fans with their replica kits. When we did our Family Friendly survey back in February 80% of you who responded said they thought football club merchandise ripped off families. We've now done the maths and the average Premiership kit for an eight year old retails at almost £60, rising to £80+ if you include getting the latest logos and player names. We know a similar (non-branded) kit at M&S costs £27, so are asking (very nicely of course) if the Premiership clubs couldn't produce a more affordable kit for their junior fans as they do for their toddlers.

As JustineMumsnet said in our press release "it's really hard to be the parent who says 'no' to the requests for the latest kits but these days you need a small fortune to buy a complete replica."

We'll keep you updated as the clubs respond to our letter, but let us know your thoughts, and of course if you want to tweet your club in support, that would be fine and lovely.

Football is a huge pastime in this country followed by millions of people. If posters on here think this is an irrelevent campaign because they have never encouraged their little Tarquin to play such a working-class horrid game then fine. But please understand that there are millions of children who love to wear their teams colours who are presently being ripped-off.

If you don't like the campaign fine but please leave those who do free to support it.

Ah,none of you evidently have football mad,"eating breathing dreaming football" children.

ds is obsessed.If not playing it he is reading football magazines,or playing Fifa soccer on the Wii.The only information I get about school is the suprising number of "Amazing goals" he happens to have scored.

The look on his face when he knew I had got him a season ticket as Christmas/birthday pressie WAS priceless.He saved his pocket money for his (last seasons) shirt and it is very difficult to prise it off his back to put it in the wash.

but thebest my son does like football and is an avid follower, he just doesn't have to have the full, personalised kit - that isn't important to him, watching and following the game is, his dad buys a shirt that prob costs about £30 at the most

am still confused with this thread!

wimpybar.

I'm sorry but even the basic replica kits are way too expensive. And just because your son doesn't like wearing the kit doesn't mean millions of others don't

That's why the campaign is important to a lot of people who love football.

HOW is it a rip off tho?

ALL sports club branded items are £££ this goes for rugby,cricker,2012,tennis etc etc.....have just looked on wimbledon site and cardiff rugby club for some idea...its NOT just football

look at concert merchandise too.....how is football anymore of a rip off than others?

if you want it all.....my point earlier about a 'full 'kit.......then expect to pay more

wimpybar.

I should also add that £30 for a child's shirt is astronomical for a lot of people, if not perhaps for you. Charging that amount provides a huge chunk of cash for the club. I'm sorry but they should not be profiting from the loyalty of their youngest fans in this manner.

Have a campaign by all means - all those who cannot afford the kit should write a letter to their club saying they would like to be supportive but think the kit is too expensive and if everyone didn't buy one seasons kit they would quickly get the message.

Compared to a lot of other sports clothing football kits are is hugely expensive.

My dc play other sports too. I can pick up cricket and rugby gear relatively cheply. Not so with football.

just looked at shirt prices on BODEN.....

DS1 two great loves are Manchester United and Wigan Warriors (Rugby League).

Comparing the two's replica junior kits it would cost me nearly £30 more to buy Manchester United's entire kit (no personalised writing etc) compared to a complete Wigan kit

my other son loves dr who, he just makes the shirts himself with pens and he's happy with that

i don't get how just cause the kid loves football he has to be dressed head to toe in a replica outfit

I guess it's a supply & demand thing (thebestisyettocome). I for one am glad to see MNHQ finally tackling untramelled global capitalism head on. (That is what you're doing, right Justine? )

'I don't get how just cause the kid loves football he has to be dressed head to toe in a replica outfit.'

Wimpybar

The first point to make is that obviously no child HAS to be dressed in a replica kit. The fact is however that lots of children love to dress up in football kits, my dc included. That doesn't make them shallow or greedy. It's no different to wanting to dress up in any sort of costume.

Given that it's normal for lots of children to want to do this (obviously not your children though as you have said ad infinitum) why should these children be commercially exploited?

my dd has a whole collection of her shirts.....from her teeny tiny ones,up to now in her teens!

priceless memories from childhood......how can you put a price on that??
(bet nobody saves the normal t shirts down the years)

Damnyouautocorrect

as i said earlier,the complete kit tends to become obsolete at around age 8 anyway. many boys have their own local team kits that they play in if they play for local teams

the full Arsenal shirt and matching shorts and long socks just arent worn much,especially as they get older

i have a 12 year old ds.....NONE of his mates would be seen dead in the full on kit!! the shirt yes,but not the shorts and socks combo as well. even my 8 year old says this

i have the full England kit for my 3 year old ds....the socks just havent been worn

so minus the socks,thats a tenner off the kit price for a start

in my experience though kids (under 8) wouldn't know a man united short from a last season manunited short anyway

the parent's buy into it not the kids.

sorry but i think there are much better campaigns mn should care about not this

personalised england cricket one day international shirt,age 10 £44.99

Blimey a shirt that only lasts one day

Good campaign...I mean its not as if anything far more important is out there waiting to be sorted.

SDD......it just aint cricket is it!!

Ha ha ha,
Is this a spoof campaign?

another joke? like the kate webchat?