'It’s taken off really quickly': New eight-a-side football pitch opens at popular Northampton venue
A new eight-a-side football pitch has opened at a popular Northampton venue – and it’s already proving to be a success.
Five-a-side football venue Goals Northampton, in Mereway, has opened a larger new pitch after demand from customers.
The eight-a-side pitch, the first of its kind at the popular site, was created by merging two smaller pitches into one.
Venue manager Jamie Culley said: “The opportunity came up when we were relaying the turf on our pitches, and customers had always said they wanted a bigger pitch in Northampton.
“There wasn’t another seven or eight-a-side pitch in Northampton, so it’s always been something that we’ve wanted to do.
“There was a lot of demand and we’re always looking for ways to reinvest into the facilities we provide.”
So far, the pitch has proved a hit, with grassroots teams and women’s football among those using it.
Jamie said: “We’ve had a lot of grassroots teams using it, as well as a lot of women’s football.
“We’ve also started running tournaments on it. Everyone really enjoys it, so it’s definitely been well received by the community.
“Because it’s new and there wasn’t anywhere else in Northampton where you could play that format, I think that’s why it’s taken off really quickly.”
On the benefits of an eight-a-side pitch, Jamie said: “A lot of teams sometimes don’t have enough players for 11-a-side at the weekend, so this gives them another option.
“People can bring more of their friends along and get involved. With five-a-side, you’re sometimes on the bench for five or 10 minutes, whereas with eight-a-side there are more people playing. It’s also a bigger goal, which I think attracts people.”
Here’s some of the events and offers coming up for the pitch:
A new eight-a-side tournament series is being launched this Sunday (September 20). The Super Cup Winter Series will see a tournament held every two weeks, while discounts will also be available for grassroots teams at certain times.
Goals is also looking at the pitch being used as a home venue for junior teams at weekends.
Northampton Town Walking Football has also been training there, with the pitch now giving the team the opportunity to host fixtures.
The centre is also offering a KICKABOUT deal for children aged 16 and under. Children can play for £5 at weekends, with a guaranteed one-hour session. If the centre is not busy, they can stay and play for longer at no extra cost.
A new women’s league for players aged 16 and over will also launch at Goals Northampton in October. It will be the centre’s first women's league and is being sponsored by local business Blended.
The pitches can be booked through the Goals website or its new app. Prices range from £8 to £9 per player for a 60-minute session, depending on the time of booking.