Kickabout Performance Academy. Picture: NSST-17-11-20-Kickabout 12-NMSYKickabout Performance Academy. Picture: NSST-17-11-20-Kickabout 12-NMSY
Kickabout Performance Academy. Picture: NSST-17-11-20-Kickabout 12-NMSY

'There is nothing like it' - State of the art football academy gets ready to open in Sheffield

A Sheffield football coaching centre unlike anything else in the north of England is to open its door to players next month.

Lockdown permitting, Kickabout Performance Academy on Vantage Drive in Tinsley will open to the public on Thursday, December 3, bringing state of the art football coaching to Sheffield for the very first time.

The Star got an access all areas tour of the new facility this week, with centre manager Damo Quigley demonstrating how the Kickabout’s games can help players maximise their potential.

Damo, who has been involved in grassroots football for 15 years, said that apart from a few finishing touches to the reception area, the academy was now ready to go.

He said: “Sheffield has got the biggest junior football league in the country but apart from SUFC and SWFC there wasn’t anything like this available.

“Everything we do is about technique and the speed of play is so fast - but it’s not just for elite players.

“We’re open to any member of the public who wants to come and have a bit of fun. There is nothing like it.”

The building was until recently a DPD distribution warehouse, with months of work going into transforming it into a state of the art football coaching centre.

“It took us an age to find a suitable unit and then we had to wait for planning permission and deal with Covid as well," said Damo.

“Getting tradesmen and materials in has been difficult but we spent a lot of time on it with an interior designer - the aim was to create that ‘wow’ factor.

“It’s meant to have a ‘street football’ feel which will take people back to when they started playing. We hope everyone will want to come back straight away.”

Damo added that many of the activities players can take part in at the academy could be linked to an associated smartphone app so players can compete with each other in an overall rankings table.

When they are fully up and running, Kickabout managers say they hope to be able to support around 20 new jobs, and have long term plans to expand to Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham.

To find out more or book visit https://kickaboutfc.co.uk.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

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