The UK’s first indoor football skills park opens its doorways in Southport this weekend!
Footy Nation will welcome its first football-loving followers from 10am this Saturday (twentieth March 2026) at Ocean Plaza Leisure close to the seafront.
This is a model new idea created by native husband and spouse Michelle and Matthew Ball, creating practically 40 jobs for native folks. It will likely be open seven days every week.
Parents to 2 boys, Michelle and Matthew wished to open someplace that might be artistic, enjoyable and thrilling.
Footy Nation opens in time for the college Easter holidays and has already loved large curiosity from folks.
Southport’s latest leisure attraction combines structured skill-based challenges with interactive football video games in a purpose-built, weather-proof surroundings designed for gamers of all ages and skills.
The homeowners have remodeled two models at Ocean Plaza Leisure which have been beforehand occupied by a Chinese buffet restaurant and a burger restaurant.
Footy Nation includes a sequence of football-based problem video games, together with Match Ball, Curve Ball, Score Ball, Kick Ball, Spin Ball and Pin Ball.
Each exercise is designed to check totally different parts of the sport, from accuracy and management to reactions and method.
Alongside the primary video games space, the positioning additionally included a restaurant bar, boot room, merchandise stalls and extra mini-games.
The new attraction provides to a vibrant space which already presents the Tenpin bowling alley, Vue Cinema, Playtown, a health club, and native eating places.
Michelle Ball mentioned:
“We are so excited to be opening Footy Nation!
“The website has been in construct for the previous 9 months – at the present time has taken a very long time coming!
“We have been planning this idea for the previous three and a half years.
“My husband, Matthew, is a superb engineer and he has been designing a sequence of video games that we all know our guests will love.
“We have been working along with three totally different programmers to mix football with know-how with the intention to maintain monitor of your scores as you go across the venue.
“There is nothing else like this in the UK; or in the world.
“We already run a sequence of profitable inflatables venues throughout the UK so we now have a deep background in the leisure trade.
“As mother and father of two boys, we felt there was an actual hole in the market and an actual want for someplace like this.
“After tender play what’s there? For youngsters and adults who love football, aside from enjoying football on an outside pitch, there’s not a lot in the way in which of football-related points of interest.
“Footy Nation isn’t only for youngsters, it’s for everybody. Whether you’re an entire newbie, a grassroots participant or simply need to have a kickabout with buddies, anybody of any age or capability can come and have a go.
“It might be faculty buddies; colleagues on a piece outing; 20-somethings wanting to return and have a enjoyable time collectively earlier than heading for an evening out.
“People can e-book us for events or work team-building days out, topic to availability.
“We are actually happy to be opening Footy Nation and including to the very good array of leisure points of interest we have already got right here in Southport.
“We have had large curiosity from folks ever since we first introduced our information that we might be opening! Everyone has been asking us after we’re going to be prepared ever since!
“We are very excited; and relieved; to have reached our opening date and we are able to’t wait to welcome everybody.
“People can e-book areas on-line or they will flip up and e-book in particular person.
“However, we might at all times encourage folks to e-book on-line in advance to keep away from disappointment if we’re full.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their support.”
Footy Nation additionally caters for group bookings, together with birthday events, team-building occasions and household outings.
It’s an ideal probability so that you can dribble your solution to the highest of the leaderboard towards your folks, household or colleagues.
Michelle mentioned: “Footy Nation is about creating an environment where people can challenge themselves, compete with friends and enjoy the game in a different way. Southport is the perfect place for us to start this new venture.”
Do you might have a narrative for Stand Up For Southport? Do you want promoting, PR or media assist? Please message Andrew Brown or e-mail: [email protected]
