A brand new football skills park, the first of its kind in the UK, is set to open its doors in Southport this autumn.
Construction is now underway on Footy Nation, an exciting new addition to Ocean Plaza Leisure Park, located near Southport’s popular seafront. The innovative venue is taking over two former restaurant units previously home to The Chinese Buffet and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
Designed as a hub for football lovers of all ages, Footy Nation will complement the wide range of family attractions already at Ocean Plaza, which include Vue Cinema, Premier Bowl & Laser, and Playtown.
The concept is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Michelle and Matthew Ball, who plan to launch in Southport before expanding the brand to other locations across the UK.
Follow Footy Nation’s journey on social media for updates and a first look at what’s coming in the weeks ahead.
Managing Director Michelle said:
“We’re really pleased to have started the construction on the UK’s first football skills park at Ocean Plaza Leisure, and we’re set to launch this Autumn. We think it might just become your new favourite place to kick a ball around!
Footy Nation will be an innovative new football skills park, with some new immersive features that we know children are going to love – but we’re keeping them under wraps for now!
We want to create an exciting, but welcoming football-themed space, where people can have fun and improve their game.
Football is a hugely under-catered sport within the leisure market, despite its huge popularity, so we are excited to be able to bring this concept to the market. This has been a long time in the making!
We have been busy planning this for the past three years and now we’re all ready to go. We have been working very hard in the background. There is nothing like this anywhere else in the UK. What we’re creating here is unique.
As a family with two children of our own – our boys are 11 and six years old – people are always talking about football themed parties, but there is not a lot of choice about what you can do and where you can go.
Matthew and I are both born and bred in Southport. It is great to be able to create something like this in our home town. We will be right on the doorstep to ensure Footy Nation’s development every step of the way before we roll it out across the UK.
This Footy Nation in Southport will be the first of many. We have been involved in the leisure industry for the past 11 years in different parts of the country.
We have never been in a place as supportive of new businesses as Southport. The team at Ocean Plaza Leisure and the team at Southport BID have been so supportive towards us. We’re definitely not doing this alone.
As Southport residents, we have enjoyed watching Southport BID being heavily involved in organising new events and attractions such as the Bear Hunt Trail and the Dinosaur Trail and others. They are always working hard to promote local businesses and to attract more people into the town.
Southport has a huge amount to offer. There is so much investment happening, with the likes of the new Marine Lake Events Centre being built, the new Town Hall gardens on the way and the restoration of Southport Pier.
Sothport has a unique heritage that cannot be replicated;, it is a very special place. The one thing it is missing is a couple of top quality indoor leisure attractions for families, and that is where we have a real opportunity to do something to add to the reasons for people to come and visit.”
People should keep checking on Footy Nation’s journey through their social media pages over these next few weeks, with lots more to come.
Michelle said:
“We don’t want to give away too much just yet! But Footy Nation will feature a series of interactive football games that children can play, between friends, or between family. They are going to love it.
We will have some brand new, bespoke designed games which will focus on various football skills. Watch this space!”
You can keep up to date with more details about Footy Nation on the website.
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