Goals Soccer Centres Share Discussion Threads

[shazzybabes2] 13/7/2007 21:59

just keep buying as i play at centres and they are always busy

[rajbeers] 13/7/2007 20:24

so what has actually happened today?

[shazzybabes2] 03/5/2007 13:16

These shares look so cheap at present . Been into one of their centres and look to be very busy and lots of people spending lots of money on 5 a side.

[digitalinvestor] 12/3/2007 08:47

Thanks cupasoup - looks like a great set of results!!!

[cupasoup2006] 06/3/2007 14:12

Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2006

Key Points

Financial

Prime locations, quality facilities and outstanding customer service has
resulted in another record result underpinning our market position for the
long-term

* Sales up 43% to #16.0m (2005: #11.2m)

* EBITA* up 67% to #6.1m (2005: #3.6m)

* EBITA profit margin increased by 5% to 38%, benefiting from further
economies of scale, increased utilisation and tight cost control

* Profit before tax* up 78% to #4.7m (2005: #2.6m)

* Basic earnings per share* up 87% to 7.3p (2005: 3.9p)

* Like for like sales growth of 9%

* Final ordinary dividend proposed in respect of the current year of
0.65p per share making 0.95p for the full year, an increase of 90% on the
previous year dividend

Rollout

* Five centres added during the year

* On schedule to open five centres during 2007 of which one is already
open and one is under construction

* On schedule to open a minimum of five centres during 2008 and to
increase the rate of openings thereafter.


Current Trading

* Trading has remained strong since the year end


Chairman's statement

A great result for the 2006 season!


This has been another record year as Goals continues to deliver strong financial
performance. Sales increased by 43% to #16.0m (2005: #11.2m). EBITDA increased
by 59% to #7.2m (2005: #4.5m), and EBITA increased by 67% to #6.1m (2005:
#3.6m). This resulted in a 75% increase in profit on ordinary activities before
tax and amortisation to #4.8m (2005: #2.8m), a 78% increase in profit before tax
to #4.7m (2005: #2.6m), a 79% increase in basic earnings per share (before
amortisation) to 7.5p (2005: 4.2p) and an 87% increase in earnings per share to
7.3p (2005: 3.9p).

The Board intends the Company will continue to retain the majority of
distributable profits and cash flows to contribute towards the funding of its
planned rollout of new centres. However, the Directors have proposed a final
ordinary dividend in respect of the current year of 0.65p per share making 0.95p
for the full year (2005: 0.5p). This represents a 90% increase and the Board
intends to continue to propose to pay dividends each year growing at least as
fast as earnings.

Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 20 April 2007,
the final dividend of 0.65p per share will be paid on 27 April 2007 to
shareholders on the register on 30 March 2007.

Our staff are focused on and our systems are geared towards maximising
utilisation. I am pleased to report that like-for-like sales increased by
approximately 9% during the year. Our focus on prime locations, quality
facilities and outstanding customer service has led to strongly increased
revenues from existing centres and new openings.

The company has adopted FRS 20 - share based payments in 2006. As a result the
profit and loss account for 2005 has been restated. This has reduced the profit
for the year ended 31 December 2006 by #203,000 and December 2005 by #162,000.



Taking 5-a-side into the premier league

The popularity of 5-a-side football continues to grow. Football is the most
popular sport in the UK and 5-a-side football, as a commercial activity,
continues to grow rapidly amongst all age groups and both genders. This has been
acknowledged by the Football Association in their formal recognition of the
small sided game. The Board believes the unique Goals concept positions the
Company well to capitalise on this popularity and exploit the continuing major
commercial opportunity to satisfy significant potential and latent demand in the
market.

The Board recognises the long-term potential of the small sided football market.
Goals is the premier operator in the UK - a position maintained by our
commitment to prime locations, quality facilities and excellent customer
service. We believe that this will continue to underpin Goals premier market
position over the long term. It is our aim to continually exceed customer
expectations and to provide the best possible customer experience.


Our strategy remains focused and straightforward:

* To continue to innovate and lead the industry,
* To accelerate our rollout of "next generation" soccer centres in prime
locations,
* To maximise revenue from existing centres through outstanding customer
service,
* To continue to build a positive national 5-a-side brand and to develop
marketing partnerships with operators of recognised complementary brands,
* To continue to generate high returns on capital.


We continue to make excellent progress in all these areas.

Goals has acquired an enviable reputation through its commitment to quality and
service, indeed all pitches at all centres are 3G artificial grass, a unique
market position. This has led to many innovative partnerships with schools,
local authorities and the private sector. Our commitment to quality and our
positive community policies have led to recognition and support from sporting
organisations and government bodies. The FA has introduced a Small-Sided
Football Award to aid the continued development of the sport by offering
recognition and benefits to those providers that attain their quality standards.
Goals welcomes this initiative and has applied for the Award for all its centres
in England.

The small sided game continues to grow in both stature and popularity. The
Football Association and UMBRO have partnered to launch a brand new national
five-a-side competition, 'The FA UMBRO Fives'. This exciting development is the
only competition of its kind and is being heralded as The FA Cup of five-a-side
football - the biggest and most prestigious Small Sided Football tournament in
the country. Like The FA Cup, competing teams have the chance to progress to the
final stages to be held at the new Wembley Stadium.

Our brand partnership with UMBRO, the Football Association's "Official Partner
for Small Sided Football" has now been implemented. This has led to many joint
initiatives aimed at increasing both participation in grassroots football and
awareness of the Goals brand nationally. Our website now incorporates a '
Kit-Shop' operated in association with UMBRO which has proven to be extremely
popular. This partnership is in line with Goals strategy of working with brands
enjoying a strong association with football. In addition to this we have
recently renewed our sponsorship agreement with Powerade, 'The Official Sports
Drink' of The 2008 UEFA European Championship.


5-a-side is now a whole new ball game

Goals is the premier operator in the market. Our "next generation" offering
comprises the latest artificial pitch technology, high quality facilities and
superior customer service. During 2006, we continued to evolve and improve the
Goals concept. We continue to invest in our advanced management and
communication systems to improve customer experience and increase income. Our
new online 'Team Manager' facility has been implemented and has attracted
significant take up among customers.

We appreciate the benefits that could accrue from online booking for our
customers and are working to implement this over the next few months. We have
already implemented the first stage of this with online booking for tournament
teams.

Goals benefits from a high level of customer satisfaction identified through
measured feedback. We aim to continually exceed customers' expectations and to
provide the best possible customer experience.


New signings

Since the Company listed on AIM in December 2004 we have opened 11 additional
centres representing a 100% increase.

Goals continues to develop its strong site pipeline to provide for future centre
openings. We have developed a well defined and proven site selection strategy
which is fundamental to the ongoing success of the business. We continue to be
successful in identifying and developing high profile sites in densely populated
areas.

Our reputation has enabled us to pursue sites through partnership arrangements
with the private sector, schools, local authorities and colleges. This is
endorsed by our recent selection by The Royal Parks to develop a facility in The
Regent's Park, London, a decision based on both financial and qualitative
measures.

We continue to be innovative in seeking out new and special development
opportunities, as demonstrated by the opening of Goals Birmingham at Star City,
Europe's largest urban entertainment complex. This exciting centre features 10
pitches developed on the top deck of a multi-storey car park adjacent to an
elevated section of the M6 motorway resulting in both high visibility and
accessibility. This facility has been submitted for a national design award by
Birmingham City Council.

Five new centres were added during 2006 at Sutton, Southampton, Birmingham (Star
City), Plymouth and Bradford.

We are confident of opening a minimum of five new centres during 2007. Goals
Perry Barr has already opened, Goals Hayes is under construction and
construction work is due to start shortly on a further centre.

Our site pipeline continues to strengthen and we are confident we will open a
minimum of five centres during 2008 and increase the rate of openings
thereafter.



Goals in the community

Our commitment to youth sports development in the communities in which we
operate is evidenced by our Community Access Policy providing free access to key
user groups during off-peak hours. By working in partnership with schools, local
authorities and government bodies we have improved access for children to
quality sports facilities.

Every week, thousands of children benefit from free use of Goals
state-of-the-art facilities. We therefore take our corporate and social
responsibilities seriously and will only enter into partnership and sponsorship
arrangements which meet our strict ethical codes.

It is the policy of Goals to strive for environmental excellence in all aspects
of management and operation. In recent years the Company has continuously
improved environmental performance through an ongoing reduction in business
costs and waste. The Board plan to continue to increase awareness of
environmental issues across the Company.

The Board recognises the significance of effective health and safety management
and is committed to providing a safe, secure and healthy environment for both
customers and employees. The Company has a detailed health and safety management
plan in place and this is reviewed regularly by the Board.



A team game

The Directors continue to strengthen the management team to match the Company's
continued growth. The delivery of a quality service and experience to our
customers is down to the professionalism, knowledge and passion of our staff.
Our future staff requirements are provided through ongoing training and
promotion from within. I should like to thank all Goals staff for their major
part in delivering another year of operational and financial success.


Financial review

This has been another record year as the Goals concept continues to deliver
strong financial performance.

Sales increased by 43% to #16.0m (2005: #11.2m). This included a contribution of
#1.6m from the new centres opened during the year.

This strong performance is further evidence of the Company's proven "next
generation" concept and the focus on increasing revenues not only from
developing its pipeline of new sites but also from its existing centres. Our
staff continue to focus on customer retention and maximising pitch utilisation
and our systems are designed to assist the staff to achieve this objective. I am
pleased to report like-for-like sales growth of 9% in the year despite a minor
impact from the World Cup during June. By targeting the corporate sector through
the offering of World Cup themed corporate events, we minimised the impact from
loss of play during major World Cup games.

EBITDA increased by 59% to #7.2m (2005: #4.5m), and EBITA increased by 67% to
#6.1m (2005: #3.6m). The gross profit margin was maintained at 87%, the EBITDA
profit margin increased to 45% (2005: 41%) and the EBITA profit margin increased
to 38% (2005: 33%). The improvement in margins reflects the ongoing increase in
utilisation across the centres, economies of scale and tight cost control.

Cash inflow from operating activities increased by 52% to #7.3m (2005: #4.8m).
We invested #13.7m in capital expenditure during the year, #12.6m of which
relates to investment in new centres. This has resulted in an increase in
interest costs from #0.9m to #1.3m.

Profit on ordinary activities before tax and amortisation has risen by 75% to
#4.8m (2005: #2.7m) and profit before tax increased by 78% to #4.7m (2005:
#2.6m).

The tax charge for the year is at an effective rate of 35% (2005: 38%). Two
percent of the tax charge related to disallowable charges for share based
payments and goodwill amortisiation (2005: 3%).

This resulted in a 79% increase in basic earnings per share (before
amortisation) to 7.5p (2005: 4.2p) and an 87% increase in basic earnings per
share to 7.3p (2005: 3.9p).

The company has adopted FRS 20 - share based payments in 2006 and as a result
the profit and loss account for 2005 has been restated. This has reduced the
profit for the year ended 31 December 2006 by #203,000 (December 2005:
#162,000).

International Financial Reporting Standards will be adopted from 1 January 2007.

Net Debt at 31 December 2006 was #23.9m (2004: #15.5m). This level of debt
represents 135% of shareholders' funds and 54% of tangible fixed assets. We have
put in place a new #30m five year revolving credit facility with HBoS. This will
fully fund our objective of 10 further centres over the next two years and
provide a significant contingency for further centre openings. EBITDA interest
cover for the year was 5.6 times (2005: 5.1 times). The Company has interest
rate hedging in place which fixes borrowing costs at 5.85% on #10m and the
balance is at a margin of 1.1% over LIBOR.


Current trading

The Company has continued to trade strongly since the year end. We remain
confident in our business model and product, and look forward to 2007 and beyond
with enthusiasm in terms of trading performance and new centre openings.



Sir Rodney Walker 26 February 2007
Chairman

[angelika] 26/2/2007 03:47

Nice one MT, thanks.

[m.t.glass] 25/2/2007 19:47

Goals Soccer kicks off plan for 10 centres
WILLIAM LYONS

FOOTBALL five-a-side specialist Goals Soccer Centre is expected to unveil plans for another 10 complexes as it narrows the gap on rival operator Powerleague.

Analysts say the East Kilbride firm, which floated on the Alternative Investment Market in December 2004, will expand to 32 centres by the close of 2008.

The focus of the expansion will be England, where chief executive Keith Rogers believes the market is still relatively un-tapped.

Investors in Goals have achieved a return of 60% in the last year as the World Cup helped fuel the craze for after-work kick-about football. Since listing, its value has climbed to more than £100m, up from £26m.

Despite the phenomenal growth analysts say there is still value in the stock given the high levels of profitability per centre.

One analyst said: "At £3 to £5 per game per player the activity is affordable. Given this low cost we feel it is very defensive to an economic slowdown."

The annual results, which are announced tomorrow, are expected to confirm a robust outlook. They will also put pressure on Powerleague, which runs 33 sites and is presently the UK's biggest five-a-side football pitch operator.

Analysts say that although Powerleague is the bigger of the two operators, Goals - which has a £25m war chest to net further expansion - is growing faster and generating significantly greater returns per centre.

Powerleague has been the more aggressive, signing up a slew of sponsors including Nike, Barclays Bank, Lucozade and Microsoft's Xbox games console division.

But Goals has a strong working relationship with the Department for Education and schools, and has signed up partnership deals that are more closely associated with football, which analysts argue are more sustainable in the long term.

Goals has experienced rapid growth. Since listing at 62p a share, its pre-tax profits have climbed 355% to £ 2.8m. Its current share price is 345.5p.

Rogers started in the five-a-side football business by co-founding Anchor International, which opened its first five-a-side centre in 1987.

He expanded the business before selling to private equity firm 3i for £28m in 1999.

After selling Anchor, Rogers led a management buy-in of an existing five-a-side operation running five centres, backed by Bank of Scotland and Dunedin, which has evolved into the current business.

In December, Rogers banked more than £2.8m after taking profits following a 300% rise in the shares since coming to the market. That sale equated to 2.4% of the group but Rogers still has a holding of four million shares, equivalent to 9.7% of the issued share capital.

Last year Goals opened five new centres - at Sutton in the Midlands, Southampton, Birmingham Star City, Plymouth and Bradford.

This article:

[m.t.glass] 09/2/2007 09:42

Enter company name GOALS in searchbox to see which funds now hold a stake. Then click each fund to see if GOAL makes their top ten holdings.

[rajbeers] 08/2/2007 22:28

without doubt

[sclothier] 08/2/2007 20:48

Well what a wonderful concept. Played at a goal centre the other day for the first time and thought it was a great idea, did a bit of research and found out that the company had floated and now have seen how well it has done. I gather from the BB that you guys are confident the share price will see a further increase?

[vaind] 01/2/2007 13:05

Wooooooh......whats happening !! its all good.

[free willy 2] 15/1/2007 11:10

Goals Soccer Centres

It's coming home – National 5-a-side Cup for Stockbrokers

KBC Peel Hunt and Goals Soccer Centres would like to invite you to
take part in the inaugural KBC Cup, a national 5-a-side football
tournament that will span the length and breadth of the UK to find
the nation's greatest stockbroking footballers.

This is the chance stockbrokers throughout the land have been
waiting for, to kick their rivals into touch and battle it out on
the pitches to become the national KBC Cup 5-a-side winning team.

Top prizes include a weekend trip to the USA including
accommodation and spending money.

The competition starts in February, 2007 and will take place in
venues around the UK, with a live final in London in April. It won't
cost a penny to enter and Goals will provide a fully interactive
website, with regularly updated details of all matches, a running
commentary and league table and full training programmes for all
teams.


To register your interest for this event and for a full information
pack, contact [e-mail].

Cut off date for entries - Friday 2nd Feb 2007!

[digitalinvestor] 09/1/2007 07:28

I phoned up and was told this month! Was at a Goals centre recently - fantastic! It's hard to describe, but unlike any other 5-a-side stuff out there. Centres look great

[rajbeers] 08/1/2007 19:04

any date given for the birmingham site opening?

[cupasoup2006] 08/1/2007 16:47

Notice they have another two sites underway and one about to open in Birmingham

[vaind] 08/1/2007 16:24

A lot of buying recently. Momentum heading in the right direction.

[rajbeers] 21/12/2006 20:13

was wondering why theres been so much buying recently

[m.t.glass] 21/12/2006 08:15

Five-a-side soccer pitch owner aims to score further afield
December 21, 2006

By Tracy Alloway

London - Goals Soccer Centres, a UK owner of five-a-side soccer pitches, plans to expand in Britain and possibly elsewhere in Europe as the format gains popularity.

Futsal, the official version of small-sided soccer, was developed in Latin America and uses a smaller, heavier ball to encourage shorter passing and better control.

Goals Soccer, based in Hamilton, Scotland, will open at least five new centres next year, managing director Keith Rogers said last week.

The scaled-down format has surpassed 11-player traditional soccer in the UK, according to England's Football Association. About 2.6 million adults regularly play five-a-side soccer, compared with 1.8 million eleven-a-side players.

Goals Soccer said in September that first-half profit rose 70 percent to £1.35 million (R18 million).

"Five-a-side is much more accessible," Rogers said. "It's a way for people to get involved in their favourite sport in a recreational way." The length of a five-a-side field is less than half that of the large-format pitch.

Shares of Goals Soccer have risen 66 percent this year, outperforming the FTSE all share index and boosting its market value to £118 million.

Goals Soccer, whose main British rival is Powerleague Group, has 21 centres, all in the UK, and intends to expand into its competitor's territory in northwest England.

Construction had started on centres in west and north London and new sites were planned for Liverpool and Manchester, which were home to England's most successful soccer teams, Rogers said.

Liverpool has won English domestic league titles a record 18 times and the European Cup five times. Manchester United, the most successful English team of the past decade, has won 15 championships and two European Cup finals.


"There is no rush" to move into mainland Europe, Rogers said. "But we're doing our homework for the future." Five-a- side football is most popular in southern Europe, where Spain holds the current Fifa Futsal championship.

The company used cheering sound effects in its locker rooms and floodlights on its pitches to recreate the experience of stadium soccer, Rogers said.

Fifa, soccer's world ruling body, is promoting the sport to encourage players to develop better skills and dissuade them from using long, aerial passes and a physical style of play. Ronaldo, Brazil's three-time world player of the year, played Futsal in his youth.

Powerleague, whose chairman, Claude Littner, is the former chief executive of London football club Tottenham Hotspur, has 10 centres in northwest England and 11 in London. It is the largest operator of five-a-side pitches in Britain, with 35 centres in total.

Powerleague was founded by Rogers in 1987 and sold to 3i Group in 1999 for £28 million. It sold shares in 2005.

Analysts at Altium Securities estimate Goals Soccer will have sales of £16.2 million in 2006. Altium estimates Powerleague will have sales of £20.5 million.

English soccer's Premier league is the world's richest by revenue and plans to extend its financial advantage over competitors from next season by signing new broadcasting contracts.

British Sky Broadcasting and Setanta Sports, the Irish pay-TV company, have paid £1.7 billion to screen live matches in the UK for three seasons. - Bloomberg

[barry11] 10/11/2006 17:04

Thanks Nomad, bit of profit taking today

[nomad70] 10/11/2006 15:51

barry11: Simple chart breakout - as a rule of thumb I'm informed that chart breakouts usually amass a further 10% to the share price. Fantastic growth stock - shame I sold half of mine at 2.67 - a few days prior to the breakout. D'OH!

[barry11] 06/11/2006 09:35

Anyone know anything that would have caused the rise today up 14p. No similar rise in Powerleague

[cupasoup2006] 24/10/2006 08:33

Daily Express today refers to Altium Securities giving GOAL a target price of 330p

[billfisher98] 07/10/2006 13:25

Chart looking good for a possible breakout, especially with the heavy buying earlier in the week.