23 Jan 2019 07:00
Goals Soccer Centres plc
("Goals" or the "Group")
Appointment of Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair
Goals Soccer Centres plc, a leading operator of outdoor small-sided soccer centres with 50 sites, including four in California, USA, is pleased to announce it has appointed Stephen Kirkpatrick as Senior Independent Director. He will join the Board and chair the Audit Committee with effect from 1 February 2019.
Stephen (aged 55) is an experienced Non-Executive Director. He qualified as Chartered Accountant with KPMG, and subsequently specialised in corporate finance. He then spent 15 years with Bank of Ireland Group in a variety of senior leadership roles including that of Chief Executive in Northern Ireland and Head of Retail Credit for the Group.
Stephen currently chairs the Northern Ireland Investment Fund Scrutiny Board and is the Senior Independent Director of DLLNI Limited, the UK subsidiary of Xperi corporation, a large US listed technology group. He is also a Director of Corbo Group, one of the largest, privately owned retail investment property groups in Northern Ireland where he was CEO from 2010-2016.
Previously, Stephen was a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at Wireless Group plc, and chaired the Audit Committee of Mutual Energy Limited, which had publicly listed bonds.
Michael Bolingbroke, Chairman of Goals, commented:
"We are very happy to have Stephen joining our Board. He is a very experienced and well-respected Non-Executive Director who will bring us rigour and further financial expertise. Stephen will play a pivotal role in helping guide the Executive team to deliver on our turnaround strategy, We and the team look forward to working with him as we take Goals on the next stage of its journey."
Stephen Kirkpatrick said:
"I am delighted to be joining Goals. The Company has a sound strategy with clear evidence that its investment in its arenas is beginning to deliver increased sales, whilst in the U.S. the partnership with City Football Group is truly ground-breaking. I look forward to working with the Board and helping the Executive team deliver the next phase of growth for the Company."
Additional information
The following information is being disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 and paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules for Companies. Mr Stephen Kirkpatrick, aged [55], has been a director or partner of the following companies or partnerships during the five years preceding the date of this announcement:
Current directorships: | Past directorships (last five years): |
DLLNI Limited | Boucher Restaurant Limited |
Corbo Limited | Moyle Interconnector Limited |
Obroc General Partner Limited | Premier Transmission Limited |
Corbo Asset Management Limited | West Transmission Limited |
Boucher Developments Limited | Belfast Gas Transmission Limited |
Lemon Quay (Five) Limited | Mutual Energy Limited |
Lemon Quay (Four) Limited | Wireless Group Limited |
Hire Class Limited | Arena Fitness Limited |
Murray House Property Limited | Smyth & Gibson Investments Limited |
ASM (NI) Developments Limited | Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers Limited |
Lemon Quay (Three) Limited |
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Northern Ireland Investment Fund Scrutiny Board |
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Malory Properties Limited |
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Murray House Property Limited |
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Mr Stephen Kirkpatrick has no beneficial interest in the ordinary shares of Goals.
Save as set out above there are no further disclosures required pursuant to Rule 17 or Schedule Two,
paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Mr Kirkpatrick's appointment to the
Board of Goals.
23 January 2019
Enquiries:
Goals Soccer Centres plc Michael Bolingbroke, Chairman Andy Anson, CEO | 01355 234 800 |
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Canaccord Genuity Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker) Chris Connors Martin Davison Richard Andrews | 020 7523 8350 |
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Instinctif Partners Matthew Smallwood Andy Low | 020 7457 2020 |