Goals Soccer Centres, the five-a-side football operator which floated on AIM last December, has seen sales grow by 35 per cent over the past year and a 100 per cent increase in profit on ordinary activities – from £0.3m in 2003 to £0.6m.

Announcing the company’s preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2004, chair, Sir Rodney Walker, said: “The popularity of five-a-side football has never been greater. Football is the most popular sport in the UK and five-a-side football as a commercial activity has grown rapidly in recent years.

“We believe there is a major commercial opportunity to satisfy significant potential and latent demand through the provision of quality next generation facilities in unrivalled locations.”

The company currently operates 12 centres and plans to open 14 more over the next three years. The latest site, Goals Black Country, opened in January, and will be followed by centres in Teesside, Heathrow, Sheffield and two further locations during 2005.

The company currently welcomes more than 30,000 customers per week, but expects this to rise to 50,000 by the end of the year.