New sports kit list

[YadaYada]

Cheers LonelyMom.......CH don't seem to have grasped what kind of info new parents might want!

Mind you, I'd be even happier if you changed your moniker to CheerfulNowIKnowThey'reHappyMom!

[lonelymom]

That's a good idea, I might just do that but then nobody would know who I was Plus, when my youngest goes off to CH in September I'd probably need to change it to 'HaveLostMyIdentityWhoWasIBeforeIHadKidsMom'!

You do actually raise a good point though about how much info is needed in this process, maybe a step-by-step guide from acceptance to the day we leave them there and wave goodbye should be drawn up. It's okay for those of us who use this forum, we can help each other out with info and advice, but all the other new parents who don't use the forum will be scratching their heads. Maybe two guides could be written, one for the parents and one for the kids, detailing what they can expect to happen in their first few weeks at CH.

[ben ashton]

Re. football boots, these normally come with plastic studs attached, but for understandable safety reasons metal ones are required. (I'd rather have a bruise than a cut!)

[Barnes Mum]

As far as I'm aware Broadbridges will be at New Entrant's Day as usual. Kukri will also be there with samples of the new kit. As for the House kit I will find out for you what is happening about that. I've always bought my children the plainer items of kit cheaper elsewhere as many others do.

[lonelymom]

I'm glad there will be examples of the new kit to view in May. I was hoping it would be available to look at online through the link from the CH website, but the link isn't there as yet.

[Barnes Mum]

The House hockey and games shirts will still be supplied by Broadbridges.

[ben ashton]

My kit came from john lewis :p when that was allowed :p (the days before reversible shirts :/)

[lonelymom]

The House hockey and games shirts will still be supplied by Broadbridges.

Brilliant, so I'll have some kit to bring home on the day. I was beginning to think my purse would be empty and I wouldn't have anything to show for it!

[huggermugger]

My thoughts, for what they're worth... (as a mother of a Third Form boy, that is)

Navy sports socks are needed for hockey, football and rugby. All of these involve a lot of mud. Small boys do not remember to put their socks in the washing regularly and sometimes laundry takes a while to come back. So imho at least 6 pairs are needed but definitely not at £5 a pair. I think I paid £1.50.

Two crested T shirts used to be specified; maybe that has changed. Imho only one is needed and other plain ones can be bought elsewhere.

A pair of football boots were specified with extra/interchangeable metal/plastic studs so that they could be used for rugby as well. These I duly bought and imho they were a complete waste of money. My DS now has a pair of football boots with plastic "blades" which seem to be fine & acceptable for both games. (And what's more "everyone" has blades - good old "everyone" & "everyone else's parents" !) However, my DS does not play high level rugby or football so maybe the Incredibly Sporty need better equipment.

And the tracksuit was (imho of course) a total and complete waste of money. It is in a box upstairs, marked Not Wanted On Voyage.

[huggermugger]

Oh and I'm sorry but I think they do need the rugby shirts (for the same reasons as the socks) but I agree that the price is outrageous. However, I searched everywhere for a cheaper substitute (including trawling various other public school sites) and couldn't find another the same. One side is navy and the other navy blue with a yellow "hoop". What I've never known is a) Why and b) How often they use the hooped side. If I could get a reasonable opinion on that (ie: not from a 13 year old boy) I would take a view and possibly have bought only one plus a plain navy blue one! But they do need the House Colours one because they do "Block Comps" ie: interhouse matches.

And I would still buy my DM's from Braodbridges, who will presumably continue to stock them. Their service is excellent (friendly ladies on the phone), their DM's cheaper than I could find elsewhere & their P&P charges extremely reasonable!

[blondie95]

They have reversable ones, for when playing sports in teams, makes it easy to determine which team your one, one has the hoops the other blue-they can all turn up on one shrit and saves faffing ith going back anf changing or the message not getting through prior

[huggermugger]

Well, as long as that hoop is there for a reason! Actually, they have lasted two years so far and they do seem to have had a fair amount of wear and are still going strong. Price per wear is probably quite low... I did consider buying navy blue ones & sewing on a yellow hoop but my son threatened to disown me...

[lonelymom]

And the tracksuit was (imho of course) a total and complete waste of money.

I think this depends on if the child is in squads. My daughter is in netball and hockey squads and they have to wear their tracksuits to matches - compulsory! For that reason her tracksuit is used frequently, but still looks as good as new. I seem to remember it was very expensive though, even more expensive than the new one from Kukri.

[J.R.]

I can fully understand the problem of expense regarding trackies !

We are lucky at Dorking FC in that we have theree sponsors, one of whom sponsors track-suits and training equipment.

It really does look good when the team arrives all wearing the same gear.

[huggermugger]

And the tracksuit was (imho of course) a total and complete waste of money.

I think this depends on if the child is in squads. My daughter is in netball and hockey squads and they have to wear their tracksuits to matches - compulsory! For that reason her tracksuit is used frequently, but still looks as good as new. I seem to remember it was very expensive though, even more expensive than the new one from Kukri.

Think this depends on the squad as well... DS was in football squad (albeit briefly...) and he didn't need it then - or so he said... I think I've realised that it all "just depends" - which isn't much help to new parents really!