Goals Soccer Centres nets backing from Man City parent for US roll-out

Goals Soccer Centres on Tuesday made an ambitious new signing, teaming up with the owner of Manchester City for a roll-out of its football pitches in America.

The joint venture will see City Football Group, which also owns the New York City and Melbourne City clubs, provide an initial $16 million (£12.3 million) for a flurry of new openings.

The tie-up includes Goals Soccer Centres’ two sites in California, plus its pipeline for eight more in the US over the next four years.

Nick Basing, chairman of the AIM-listed five-a-side firm, which has 46 UK sites, said: “We are both highly ambitious about the potential growth. This could become a significantly sized business.”

The pair launched the venture at Goals Pomona in Los Angeles with Manchester City players, including Yaya Touré and Leroy Sané.

Goals Soccer Centres will continue to invest in its UK business, which saw sales rise 2% to £17.3 million in the first half.

The firm is enacting a turnaround after a string of profit warnings. Former Inter Milan chief Michael Bolingbroke was parachuted on to the board.