Goals Soccer Centres FY trading in line after better H2

16th Jan 2017 08:06

(ShareCast News) - Goals Soccer Centres said on Monday that trading in the year to the end of December was broadly in line with market expectations as it posted a rise in sales.The company, which operates small-sided soccer centres, said group sales for the year were up 1.3% to £33.4m, with like-for-like sales 0.6% higher, reflecting a "significant" improvement in the second half of the year.Goals said football volume stabilised and ended the year positively, recording a year-on-year increase of about 1%, helped by a strong second half performance of 3.1% growth and reflecting an improved customer experience, driven by the Arena modernisation programme."With our robust trading driven by the implementation of our strategic plan, a strong balance sheet and solid growth prospects, we look forward to delivering continued progress in 2017, as we move our focus to upgrading our UK clubhouses to the new Clubhouse 2020 format and the opening of our second centre in the US in February 2017. We look forward to the future with growing confidence."Goals also announced that executive director Keith Rogers has stepped down from the board.