Footy Nation is the UK’s first football skills park and is opening in Southport this year

Footy Nation will test your football skills and bring a new immersive experience to Southport in Autumn 2025.

Work to build the UK’s first football skills park, Footy Nation is underway at Ocean Plaza Leisure Park near Southport’s seafront. 

Footy Nation is transforming two units previously occupied by the Chinese Buffet and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. 

The new immersive centre is set to be an exciting addition to Southport and the other family attractions already at Ocean Plaza, which include Vue Cinema, Premier Bowl & Laser and Playtown.

Footy Nation is owned by husband and wife Michelle Ball and Matthew Ball who want to open in Southport before rolling their concept out to locations across the UK. 

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!” 

 Keep up to date with Footy Nation in Southport on their website HERE.