Powerleague is a leading operator of small sided football artificial pitches with 42 football centres across the UK, Ireland and Netherlands, based in Fitzrovia, London in England. It also has a successful league operations arm called Powerplay which runs and manages leagues in over 350 locations across the UK for both football and netball. Powerleague has developed an exclusive football playing surface called “POWERPITCH™” which it claims to be the best artificial playing surface in the industry.
Origins edit
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In 1987 Keith Rogers opened the world’s first commercial 5-a-side football centre[1] in Paisley under the brand name of Pitz,[1]. He built a successful business with 11 centres and a site pipeline before selling the profitable business to 3i who rebranded the business as Powerleague.
Recent History edit
In 2002, after the business went into decline under new management, 3i approached Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Chief Executive Claude Littner to take over the executive role.[2] In 2003, Littner led a management buyout of the firm, leaving 3i with a minority stake. Having listed on the Alternative Investment Market, in 2008 Powerleague took over the Soccerdome centres from JJB Sports in a £17.4M deal.[3] Powerleague was then acquired by Patron Capital in December 2009.[4]
Patron Capital installed a highly experienced new management team in 2018. The leadership team is led by current CEO Christian Rose. Rose is joined by Mike Evans (CFO) and John Gillespie (COO). Since 2018, Powerleague has seen a sustained period of success and in 2021 recorded revenues of over £24.5m with EBITDA of £3.9m.
In large part, this period of sustained growth has coincided with re-investment in Powerleague's 42 football centres. With a particular focus on brand-new pitches, club house upgrades and re-developed bar areas.
References edit
- ^ a b Bruce, Chris (2 May 2019). "The architect of 5-a-side". Nutmeg Magazine. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Claude Littner: 'I had my first and most successful business when I was eight years old'".
- ^ The Scotsman, http://www.scotsman.com/business/football-operator-powers-ahead-with-163-17-4m-jjb-soccerdome-deal-1-1156867
- ^ Hayman, Pete. "Patron completes Powerleague takeover | Leisure Opportunities news". www.leisureopportunities.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.