Is this normal?

[Master_Knowledge]

A friend of mine had his children in the Huddersfield (Lockwood) festival this weekend and told me they were charged £5 to get in.

Is this normal?

Seems strange at a time when families are under pressure financially and the game should be aiming to make itself accessible.

Is this standard practice at festivals for 7s, 8s and 9s now?

[Locked Out]

Good question MK. I understand that Selby junior festival charges £50 per club I believe regardless of numbers of teams and they charge £5 per car on entry on the day. Darlington festival charges a sliding scale per age group - lower for U7s increasing with age. Can't remember if they charge for parking too.

[backrowbandit]

Some clubs through necessity of a) the cost of putting on a festival and b) need to raise club funds charge for festivals.

Generally they are either charged to the clubs entering and more commonly now £5 per car.

Scarborough have a festival in April and we have taken the decision to charge a very low nominal fee for teams and no car parking. We are lucky that we are financially very strong and don't need to charge teams or families BUT I fully support most clubs doing so. The last two festivals I attended with my son I put £20 in the carpark tin as I know how hard club volunteers work raising funds.

[Master_Knowledge]

It was my understanding the £5 was for families to enter the festival not to park their cars. Ultimately, being charged to watch their own children.

I understand the cost of putting on a festival and by all accounts it was very well run so fair play to the volunteers.

I also understand the need to raise much needed funds and that some clubs have financial stability and some do not.

I guess the conflict or dilemma here is whether they'd need the funds as much if they weren't paying 18 lads, only one or two of whom are home grown, every week.

I find it a tricky one. Especially when a number of the clubs in attendance are ones that traditionally Huddersfield have taken players from.

[backrowbandit]

I suppose it's about being proportionate. I'm not familiar with that festival.

If the ££ is indirectly going to pay 1stXV players then I agree it's going to irritate!

[Sail By]

Paying for junior festivals has been around for nearly 20 years.
Harrogate were the first to introduce this and others followed the model as it is a great income to help mini/junior sections to provide the excellent experience that they do.

I can only imagine the costs associated with running a festival nowadays as it was enough back in the day.

I am in the same camp as BRB...throw your money at these events as this is where your rugby clubs succession plans come from. I am sure most people would give £5 knowing it was being ploughed back into the game!!