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Five-a-side potential gives businesses a kick

BBC Published Jun 8, 2010 Reviewed Jul 2, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Five-a-side potential gives businesses a kick
Powerleague and Goals Soccer Centres have 80 sites in the UK and predict there is room for another 100.
80 sites · sites100 sites · sites
Every week in the UK, about 350,000 people take part in five-a-side.
about 350000 people · participation
Last year Paisley-based Powerleague was bought by a private equity fund when the company's value stood at £80m.
80 £m · company value
The LA opening brings the total number of Goals sites to 37 and if it is successful, the company has plans for 13 more in the United States.
37 sites · sites13 sites · sites
Scott Kerr said the company’s centres are generally within a 10‑minute drive of 150,000 people.
150000 people · population within 10‑minute drive Scott Kerr, national operations manager
Goals Soccer Centres operates 37 sites globally after opening its first Los Angeles centre.
Goals Soccer Centres locates centres within a 10-minute drive time of 150,000 people.
Sean Tracey of Powerleague identified Italy, France, and Spain as key markets for five-a-side expansion due to underdeveloped networks.
There is room for up to 200 five-a-side sites in the UK.
200 sites · sites
The East Kilbride company is now valued at about £80m.
about 80 £m · company value
In South Africa, the company hopes to open four centres in the next year.
4 centres · centres
Goals Soccer Centres plans to open 13 additional centres in the United States if the LA location succeeds.
Powerleague has more UK centres than Goals Soccer Centres.
Twice as many people in Scotland say they would rather play football than watch it.
Five-a-side participation has exceeded 11-a-side for most of the past decade.
Both Powerleague and Goals Soccer Centres reported an increase in corporate bookings for parties.
Sean Tracey of Powerleague noted increased corporate events and sponsorship, but also observed reduced on-pitch activity during major World Cup matches.
Goals Soccer Centres has been making plans for about two years.
about 2 years · planning period Goals Soccer Centres
Scott Kerr described the Wimbledon effect as lasting about two weeks around Wimbledon.
about 2 weeks · duration of effect Scott Kerr, national operations manager

After failing to qualify for this year's World Cup, Scotland may have good reason to question its football credentials.

It is predicted there is room for up to 200 five-a-side sites in the UK.

However, two Scottish companies are leading the field in football - the five-a-side kind.

There has been a explosion in interest in the cut-down variety of the game in the past decade.

Powerleague and Goals Soccer Centres have 80 sites in the UK and predict there is room for another 100.

Every week in the UK, about 350,000 people take part in five-a-side.

Every evening, hoards of mainly men, pile on to the artificial turf as soon as work finishes.

The game is faster, a bit more furious than the 11-a-side game.

The five-a-side industry is now dominated by two main players.

Last year Paisley-based Powerleague was bought by a private equity fund when the company's value stood at £80m.

Meanwhile shares in Goals Soccer Centres rose following the announcement it had opened its first centre outside the UK in Los Angeles.

The East Kilbride company is now valued at about £80m.

The LA opening brings the total number of Goals sites to 37 and if it is successful, the company has plans for 13 more in the United States.

In South Africa, the company hopes to open four centres in the next year.

However, the UK still holds a lot of opportunities for the two main five-a-side firms.

Scott Kerr national operations manager for Goals Soccer Centres said: "We put our centres generally within a 10-minute drive time of 150,000 people - so there's quite a lot of scope within the UK to continue to grow and roll-out."

At 46, Powerleague has more UK centres, and has set its sights on Europe for expansion.

Sean Tracey, chief executive, of Powerleague said: "With football being the number one sport in the likes of Italy France and Spain, there are lots of opportunities for 5-a-side growth there especially because there isn't the developed network of sites there as there is in the UK."

What has made the two companies so successful is the passion in Scotland for football, with twice as many people saying they would rather play the game than watch it.

Research has also shown that five-a-side participation has exceeded 11-a-side for most of the past decade.

Many of the players are in their 30s and 40s.

Alan Jameson, 46, plays once a week at Goals' south Glasgow centre.

He said: "It's a good way of keeping fit and catching up with my mates. We have a couple of pints afterwards, it's a good laugh and cheaper than they gym."

Both Powerleague and Goals expect this year's World Cup will boost business.

Goals Soccer Centres said it had been making plans for about two years.

Scott Kerr said: "We call it the Wimbledon effect where people pick up a tennis racquets for about two weeks around Wimbledon -- the same happens around the World Cup with football."

Both companies have reported an upturn in corporate bookings for parties.

Sean Tracey from Powerleague views the World Cup as a bit of a double-edged sword.

He said: "We've seen a lot more corporate events, a lot more sponsorship from various clients and that's given an increased boost but obviously when the big games are on - people will be in the bar watching and not on the pitch."

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