New Footy Nation football skills park enjoys superb opening weekend in Southport

FOOTY Nation in Southport has enjoyed a busy opening weekend as they look forward to the School Easter holidays. The brand new leisure attraction opened its doors on Saturday, 21 March 2026, as the UK's 1st indoor football skills park. This is a brand new concept created by local husband and wife Michelle and Matthew Ball, creating nearly 40 jobs for local people. It is open 7 days a week.

Parents to 2 boys, Michelle and Matthew wanted to open somewhere that would be creative, fun and exciting. Michelle Ball said:- "The opening weekend has gone great! It was a really positive start with lots of people through the doors, lots more coming to take a look inside, with great feedback all round. We are already getting lots of bookings for the Easter holidays and a ton of birthday party enquiries, so I think the message will be to book early to avoid disappointment!"

Southport's newest leisure attraction combines structured skill-based challenges with interactive football games in a purpose-built, weather-proof environment designed for players of all ages and abilities.

The owners have transformed 2 units at Ocean Plaza Leisure which were previously occupied by a Chinese buffet restaurant and a burger restaurant. Footy Nation features a series of football-based challenge games, including:- Match Ball, Curve Ball, Score Ball, Kick Ball, Spin Ball and Pin Ball. Each activity is designed to test different elements of the game, from accuracy and control to reactions and technique.

Alongside the main games area, the site also included:- a cafe bar, boot room, merchandise stalls and additional mini-games. The new attraction adds to a vibrant area which already offers the Tenpin bowling alley, Vue Cinema, PlayTown, a gym, and local restaurants.

Michelle Ball said:- "We are excited to be open at Footy Nation! The site has been in build for the past 9 months; this has taken a long time coming! We have been planning this concept for the past 3 and a half years. My husband, Matthew, is a brilliant engineer and he has been designing a series of games that we know our visitors will love. We have been working together with 3 different programmers to combine football with technology so that you can keep track of your scores as you go around the venue. There is nothing else like this in the UK; or in the world. We already run a series of successful inflatables venues across the UK so we have a deep background in the leisure industry. As parents of 2 boys, we felt there was a real gap in the market and a real need for somewhere like this. After soft play what is there? For kids and adults who love football, apart from playing football on an outdoor pitch, there's not much in the way of football-related attractions. Footy Nation isn't just for kids, it's for everyone. Whether you're a complete beginner, a grassroots player or just want to have a kickabout with friends, anyone of any age or ability can come and have a go. It could be School friends; colleagues on a work outing; 20 somethings wanting to come and have a fun time together before heading for a night out. People can book us for parties or work team building days out, subject to availability. We are really pleased to have opened Footy Nation, adding to the superb array of leisure attractions we already have here in Southport. We have had huge interest from people ever since we 1st announced our news that we would be opening! Everyone has been asking us when we're going to be ready ever since! We are very excited; and relieved; to have reached our opening date. People can book spaces online or they can turn up and book in person. However, we would always encourage people to book online in advance to avoid disappointment if we're full. We'd like to thank everyone for their support."

Footy Nation also caters for group bookings, including:- birthday parties, team-building events and family outings. It's a perfect chance for you to dribble your way to the top of the leaderboard against your friends, family or colleagues.

Michelle said:- "Footy Nation is about creating an environment where people can challenge themselves, compete with friends and enjoy the game in a different way. Southport is the perfect place for us to start this new venture."

For more details visit:- FootyNation.Com.

Multi billion pound Typhoon support deal agreed as part of major UK export win

UK built fighter jets for T�rkiye will be supported under a major new training and support contract. The UK and T�rkiye have signed a multi billion pound agreement which will see the UK train Turkish Air Force pilots and ground crew to fly and maintain Typhoon fighter jets, marking the next phase of the landmark �8 billion Typhoon deal agreed in October 2025.

The support agreement, signed in London today between:- Defence Secretary John Healey MP and Turkish Defence Minister, Yaşar G�ler, will see 10 Turkish pilots and nearly 100 ground crew technicians; covering mechanical, avionics, weapons and mission systems; trained in the UK.

The work also secures production of aircraft components and spares in support of T�rkiye's maintenance of the aircraft with the support of UK industry, including:- BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA, Rolls Royce and Martin Baker; backing British defence jobs across the country. That work includes:- delivery of spares and support equipment, associated engineer and pilot training, high-tech training simulators and electronic warfare capabilities.

More than a 3rd of every Typhoon is built in Britain, with production lines in Scotland, Lancashire and Bristol, and 330 UK companies in the supply chain. The overall deal is securing 20,000 skilled UK jobs for years to come, demonstrating that defence is an engine for growth by being a powerful backer of British industry.

T�rkiye's acquisition of Typhoon will strengthen NATO's combat air capability on its eastern flank. The training programme represents a significant step forward in delivering on the wider deal, which is the largest UK fighter jet export order in nearly 20 years.

Typhoon fighter jets continue to demonstrate their importance around the clock, flying regular defensive missions in the Middle East to help protect UK personnel and allies and partners in the Region.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:- "This partnership does not just export world leading British built jets, it builds alliances, grows our economy, and makes NATO stronger. T�rkiye's decision to acquire Typhoon is a vote of confidence in British industry and British jobs, and this agreement brings the UK T�rkiye partnership to life. As UK Typhoon pilots continue to fly defensive missions over the Middle East, I'm proud that Turkish pilots and engineers will train alongside our RAF personnel to strengthen our collective security; this is defence delivering for Britain."

The Typhoon workshare agreement sees 37% of each aircraft manufactured in the UK; the rest of each aircraft is produced by the Eurofighter Partner Nations. The UK jobs include:-

Nearly 6,000 jobs directly support the Typhoon programme at BAE Systems sites in Warton and Samlesbury, where production and final assembly of each Turkish Typhoon fighter jet will take place.  
The Typhoon programme supports more than:- 1,100 jobs in the South West Region. That includes:- Rolls Royce in Bristol producing critical modules and components for Typhoon's EJ200 jet engines and acting as main hub for maintenance of the engines.  
The Typhoon programme supports more than 800 jobs, in Scotland. That includes:- Leonardo in Edinburgh manufacturing the fighter jet's cutting edge radar for identifying enemies.

Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems' Air Sector, said:- "We're proud to support the UK's partnership with T�rkiye by delivering a trusted defence capability that deepens collaboration and reinforces shared security commitments. T�rkiye's acquisition of Typhoon strengthens this partnership and enhances the country's advanced combat air capabilities. We're delighted to play a key role in enhancing T�rkiye's readiness to operate the new aircraft through this training and support agreement with the UK Government."

Typhoon remains the proven backbone of RAF combat air power, and T�rkiye's acquisition signals growing international confidence in British aerospace capability.

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New Footy Nation football skills park enjoys superb opening weekend in Southport

Multi billion pound Typhoon support deal agreed as part of major UK export win