Goals Soccer Centres plc

AGM Statement and appointment of Non-Executive Directors

The Annual General Meeting of Goals Soccer Centres plc ("Goals" or "the Company"), the market leader in outdoor small-sided soccer centres with 47 sites, including one in California, USA, is being held at 10.30am today, 5 May 2016 at the offices of Canaccord Genuity, 88 Wood Street, London EC2V 7QR.

At the meeting Nick Basing, Chairman, will make the following statement:

"I was appointed Chairman of Goals on 14 March this year. I identified 6 short term priorities at that time:

·      Recruit a new CEO

·      Appoint new Non-Executive Directors

·      Complete an in-depth review of all aspect of the Company

·      Develop overall investment strategy

·      Complete the US Business Plan

·      Implement an operational improvement plan

We are making good progress:

We have concluded the search for a high quality CEO. Our expectation is that we will be able to announce details imminently.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Anthony Lloyd (aged 41) to the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect. Scott founded Next Generation Clubs in 1997 having identified the opportunity to innovate and re-define premium, large scale, family-orientated sports and leisure facilities. Following a successful period of roll out within Next Generation, Scott led the management buy-out of David Lloyd Leisure from Whitbread Plc and formally merged David Lloyd Leisure with Next Generation Clubs to create the David Lloyd Leisure Group. In 2013 David Lloyd Leisure Group was sold to TDR Capital for approximately £750m, where Scott performs the role of Non-Executive Deputy Chairman.

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We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Harwood Bernard Mills (aged 63) to the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect. Christopher is a highly experienced Board representative holding a number of Non-Executive Director positions across a range of companies. He founded Harwood Capital Management in 2011, a successor from J O Hambro Capital Management, which he co-founded in 1993. He is Chief Executive and investment manager of North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc and Chief Investment Officer of Harwood Capital LLP. Christopher was previously a Director of Invesco MIM, where he was head of North American investments and venture capital, and of Samuel Montagu International.

We expect to make a formal announcement on the appointment of a highly capable new senior independent Non-Executive Director imminently. 

Phil Burks and Alex Short, Non-Executive Directors, will be stepping down from the Board today. Phil is not standing for re-election and Alex who had previously intimated his resignation with effect from 30 June 2016 will leave the Board with effect from today. I would like to thank Phil and Alex for their contributions

The review of the Company has included a wide ranging view of the market, the performance of the Company in recent years and an assessment of all assets that the Company operates, along with consumer insights. We are drawing it to completion by next week and we will announce the results of this review together with the strategic plan shortly afterwards.

Our near-term operational improvement plan is being implemented which is solely focused on overall performance of the Company and we are encouraged by the early signs.

On current trading, I can report that like for like sales are marginally negative for the first 18 weeks of the year. However, the significant decline in last year's second half has been eroded. This first quarter of trading in 2016 compares against positive sales growth in the same period last year". 

The Company also confirms that the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015 has been posted to shareholders and is available, in electronic form, on the company's website www.goalsplc.co.uk.

​​​​​​​​​​5 May 2016

Enquiries:

The information required by Schedule 2 paragraph (g) in relation to the appointment of Scott Lloyd is as follows:

Scott Lloyd currently holds directorships at the following companies:

Company

Kings Park Capital LLP

Deuce Acquisitions Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Operations Holdings Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Properties No. 1 Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Properties No. 2 Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Properties No.3 Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Properties No. 4 Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Manco Limited

Pure Sports Medicine at David Lloyd Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Farnham Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Nominee No.1 Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Nominee No.2 Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Nominee No.3 Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Nominee No.4 Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Development Sites Limited
David Lloyd Leisure JV Holdings Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Group Limited
Ealing Racquets and Healthtrack Limited
Racquets and Healthtrack Group Limited

Burton Waters (HL & R) Limited

Tennis Club Management International Limited

Design Collective Limited

Brooklands Healthtrack Limited

Core Exercise Clinics Limited

Gatehouse Nursery Holdings Limited

Markson Tennis and Leisure Centres Limited
Grassport Limited

Cheshire Oaks Racquets & Healthtrack Limited

Nottingham Racquets & Healthtrack Limited

David Lloyd Sports Centres Limited
Solihull Racquets & Healthtrack Limited

Castledene Leisure Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Nurseries Limited

Farnridge Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Limited

Manchester Racquets and Healthtrack Limited

Odyssey Glory Mill Limited

Next Generation Amida Services Limited

Next Generation Amida Beckenham Limited

Next Generation Amida Hampton Limited

Next Generation Amida Fleet Limited

Harbour Club Operations Limited

Leisurejobs.com Ltd

Smilewood Limited

Harbour Club Limited

Sports Management (Scotland) Limited

N.G.C. Project Management Limited
Nextgen Limited
Newhavens Restaurant Limited

Celsius Spa Limited

Next Generation Clubs Limited

David Lloyd Riverview Limited (Ireland)
David Lloyd Health & Fitness BV
David Lloyd Leisure SrI
Belbor Limited
David Lloyd Leisure Nederland BV
David Lloyd Leisure Property Holdings BV
David Lloyd Leisure Property BV
Next Generation Australia Pty Limited
Next Generation Clubs NZ Limited

Tomargo Holdings Limited

Next Generation Clubs Australia Pty Limited

NG Bidco Limited
Next Generation Clubs Pacific Limited

Scott Lloyd has also held directorships at the following companies in the last five years:

Company

UKActive

Next Generation Clubs (Holdings) Limited

David Lloyd Leisure SA Limited

Herbert Pharo Plant Limited

Stax (Farnham) Limited

Superset Tennis Limited

Herbert Pharo Plant Limited

David Lloyd Leisure Ter Elst BVBA

David Lloyd Leisure España I SL

David Lloyd Leisure España II SL

David Lloyd Leisure Property Holdings 1 SPRL

David Lloyd Leisure Property Holdings 2 SPRL

David Lloyd Leisure Operations SPRL

In addition, Scott Lloyd was a Director of the following entities which entered into liquidation within 12 months of his resignation:

Company

Superset Tennis Limited - Creditors voluntary liquidation, commencement of winding up 7 April 2010 and was dissolved on 8 May 2012

Christopher Mills, is interested in 10,270,000 ordinary shares, being 17.57% per cent. of the Company's issued share capital. 6,770,000 ordinary shares are held by North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC and 3,500,000 ordinary shares are held by Oryx International Growth Fund Limited. Harwood Capital LLP is investment manager to North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc and investment adviser to Oryx International Growth Fund Limited. Harwood Capital LLP is a limited liability partnership of which Christopher Mills is a partner and Chief Investment Officer.

The information required by Schedule 2 paragraph (g) in relation to the appointment of Christopher Mills is as follows:

Christopher Mills currently holds directorships at the following companies:

Company

Christopher Mills has also held directorships at the following companies in the last five years:

Company

In addition, Christopher Mills has been a director of the following companies which have been placed into liquidation or receivership/administration:

 All creditors paid in full:

·    Nationwide Security Group plc - Receivership completed 2 March 2005

·    Tricor plc - resigned 3 February 2003 - Voluntary arrangement completed 2 April 2014

Companies that went into administration and creditors lost money as a result of liquidation:

·    Valiant Sports Holdings Limited - Creditors' voluntary liquidator appointed on 2 April 2013. The estimated deficiency to investors and creditors was £2,667,085

·    Jarvis Porter Group plc - Administration completed 28 August 2008 - a dividend of 3 pence per share was paid to unsecured creditors

·    United Industries plc - resigned 28 October 2005 - Administration completed 26 January 2008. The estimated deficiency to investors and creditors was £48,142,869

·    Versatile Group Limited - Administrative receiver appointed 3 September 1998 by Bank of Scotland who had charges and cross guarantees supporting a debt of £2.4 million. In addition, the group had estimated deficiencies as regards creditors of £0.6 million and total estimated deficiencies in excess of £0.7 million. Versatile Group Limited was struck off the register on 15 May 2001

 Administration ongoing:

·    W.G. Mitchell (2005) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

·    W.G. Mitchell (Charlotte Square) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

·    W.G. Mitchell (George Street) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

·    W.G. Mitchell (Enterprises) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

·    W.G. Mitchell (Fifteen) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

·    W.G. Mitchell (Seven) Limited - Christopher Mills resigned on 12 January 2015 - Administrator appointed 1 April 2009

Save as disclosed above, there are no further disclosures required to be made in respect of the appointment under Schedule 2(g) or Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies.