Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) had a year of frantic corporate activity. In April management revealed bid talks with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which eventually turned into a 144p-a-share offer. The had the support of management, but eventually just failed to secure enough shareholder backing. Having peaked at 149p in early August - buoyed by a rival approach from a competitor - the shares have since fallen back to their pre-bid levels.
Professional fees relating to the takeover attempt and various other one-off charges left a £2.8m scar on earnings. Strip that out and pre-tax profit rose 10 per cent to £4.4m. The company has been growing mainly by opening new five-a-side football centres - five were launched last year and one so far this year (in Chester). Ignoring the new pitches, turnover growth was a more modest 1 per cent.