Not just soccer (Sports and Soccer)

Member Name: Nat.

Product:	Sports and Soccer
Date:	04/02/02 (667 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: price, choice

Disadvantages: name, chaos!

This is just one of those shops which really really needs to change it's name. I first came across the place when I moved to Cardiff a few years ago, and I was looking for a new swimming costume. In Cardiff, Sports & Soccer is situated just opposite the Capitol arcade, but if you're not from the area, you can usually find a branch in most relatively large towns.

Anyway, back to my search for a swimming costume. Well, I'm afraid to say, that I took one look at Sports & Soccer, presumed it was a sports shop catering for football equipment, and walked straight past.

It wasn't until serveral months later, when I was out shopping with my boyfriend in one of Cardiff's frequent downpours, that he dragged me soggie, kicking and screaming into this "awful football shop!". Well, much to my surprise and delight, the first thing I saw when I walked in there, wasn't a football, or even a football boot, or any other item of football kit for that matter, but lo and behold, a huge umbrella! And do you know what the next thing I saw was? A swimming costume.

Having bent my other half's ear sufficiently for not telling me before that this wasn't a football shop, I started off in earnest to hunt for a well earned bargain.

The layout of the shop, I have to say, leaves alot to be desired. The aisles are far too close together, and the shop gets really crowded. The stuff isn't labelled, so everone just charges about the place, knocking things flying as they go, and to be honest, by the end of the day, the majority of the stuff you are looking for is all over the floor.

However, the quality and price of the stock are a little more optimistic. They have all the usual sports brand names, but the thing they seem to have most of, and also at the best price, is Donnay gear. Donnay seem to make everything form roller blades to volley-balls to nice, tight, relatively smart girlie T-shirts, and everythi
ng in between. I bought one of said T-shirts for the huge price of three pounds, and I've worn it to death, only it hasn't died! The quality of donnay stuff seems excellent. Even their socks seem to fare pretty well, although I do find it cheaper to nick those from my mum/ dad/ boyfriend's draw rather than buying them!

The staff in the shop are always really friendly, but they are not always avaiable, and never seem to really know what I'm on about, but maybe that's just me. There also always seems to ba a queue, so if you're looking for a bargain, put aside half an hour at the very least. That said, the number of times I've had to take things back which I've bought for someone and got the wrong thing, or it didn't fit are too many to count. I have never had any problems changing things or even getting my money back.

This is definately one of the cheapest sports shops about, and they have everything you want if you are prepared to spend the time looking. I have bought swimming costumes, badminton rackets, umbrellas and various clothes there, and the price and quality of all of them has been excellent. However, I wouldn't recommend going at a busy time, as this can be really stressful, I always suffer badly from sports shop rage.

Summary: