FOOTBALL centre group Goals has said it is making progress in its growth strategy and sales for the first 18 weeks of 2017 are ahead of last year, in line with current market expectations.

As the East-Kilbride based group held is annual meeting, it revealed that 219 arenas will have been upgraded and re-laid by the end of H1, while nine further sites would join Ruislip in being upgraded to its “Clubhouse 2020” standard.

Construction on a third centre in Los Angeles is set to begin next month.

Addressing shareholders, Goals chairman Nick Basing, said: “Although there remains much still to do, we have continued to make encouraging progress in executing our strategic plan this year.”

Goals last month admitted that it was in talks about a possible merger with rival business Powerleague.