Activesoccer

What Activesoccer does

Active Sport (formerly Active Soccer) is a UK-based children's multi-sport coaching and childcare organisation founded in 2005 by Mark Whitwood in Maghull. The company delivers structured sports programmes, school PE provision, wraparound childcare, holiday camps, and alternative education services to children aged 18 months through 16 across 11 locations in the UK and Ireland, with primary density in North West England and growing presence in South East England and the Republic of Ireland. The operating portfolio spans branded programmes including Active Tots (early years), Active Soccer (football), Active Cricket, XT Club (Ofsted-registered wraparound care), Active Foundation (community/charity), and a slate of school-facing services (Curriculum PE, PPA cover, Alternative Provision, Be Active wellbeing, Girls United, Enrichment Days, Extra-Curricular Clubs).

The technology stack combines a proprietary in-house management platform called Active Hub (used by franchisees and staff for day-to-day operations, session booking, and customer management) with consumer-facing booking routed through third-party SaaS tools — sportsoftware.io for general bookings, Class For Kids for XT Club wraparound care, GoVenue.io for venue hire at Maghull, and JoinIn for Active Soccer Sefton and Warrington football sessions. Communication infrastructure runs on MailerLite for newsletters and Microsoft Forms for Alternative Provision referrals. Accreditations include Ofsted-registered childcare, afPE Quality Mark, and British Franchise Association (BFA) and CAA accreditations, which collectively underpin the school and franchise channels.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: per-session coaching fees and holiday camp tuition from parents, recurring school contracts (PPA cover, curriculum PE, wraparound care, alternative provision) secured via a dedicated School Partnerships team, birthday party packages tiered from £150 (15 children) to £350 (Captain Active Gladiator Games), and franchise licensing at a £10,000 entry investment. Distribution operates through direct-to-consumer online bookings, a B2B sales motion targeting primary schools, and franchise expansion into new territories — a structure that diversifies demand sources across consumer long-tail, institutional contracts, and licensed operators.

Name

Activesoccer

Legal name

Active Sport

Website

https://activesoccer.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Active Sport (formerly Active Soccer) is a UK and Ireland children's multi-sport coaching and childcare organisation delivering football, cricket, early years programmes, school PE, wraparound care, holiday camps, and alternative provision to children aged 18 months to 16 across 11 locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Sports Coaching and Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADAAAJ

Youth & Teen Personal Training

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Personal Training (In-Person & Virtual)

SECONDARYEDACAMAI

Physical Activity & Motor Development Programs (Health-Focused)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Health and Nutrition Programs for Young Children

SECONDARYEDALAIAC

Intramural Sports & Recreational Leagues

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

SECONDARYHSADAGAB

Lifestyle & Habit Change Coaching

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Health Coaching & Lifestyle Wellness

Keywords

• Children's sports coaching
• School PE provision
• Wraparound childcare
• Holiday camps
• Franchise sports programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Maghull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sports Coaching Sessions: Fees for structured sports coaching programmes including football, cricket, and multi-sport sessions for children. Revenue generated per session or programme.
2. Holiday Camps: Multi-day holiday camp programmes during school breaks offering multi-sport activities, Super Camps with XT creative sessions, and specialist sports camps.
3. Birthday Parties: Party packages including football or multi-sport activities at Active Sport Centre Maghull or through franchise locations.
4. Franchise Investment: Franchise model requiring £10,000 investment. Franchisees gain access to programmes, branding, systems, and support.
5. School PE Provision: PPA cover and curriculum PE delivery services to schools, generating revenue through contracted school partnerships.
6. XT Club Wraparound Care: Before school, after school, and holiday childcare clubs providing extended care services for primary school children aged 4-11.
7. Alternative Provision: Specialist education programmes (Thrive for primary, No Limits for secondary KS3/4) using sport as intervention for pupils at risk of disengagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Active Sport (formerly Activesoccer) delivers structured children's sports coaching and childcare programmes for ages 18 months to 16 years across the UK and Ireland. The company sells football and cricket coaching sessions, early-years programmes (Active Tots, Balance Bike), school PE curriculum and PPA cover, Ofsted-registered wraparound care (XT Club), holiday camps, masterclass days, birthday parties, alternative provision, and a franchise model. Operations span 11 locations including its flagship Active Sport Centre in Maghull.

Product overview

Active Sport (formerly Active Soccer) is a multi-sport coaching and childcare organisation delivering programmes for children aged 18 months to 11+ across the UK and Ireland. The offering is a platform of distinct branded programmes: Early Years (Active Tots with Balance Bike and nursery delivery), Schools (Curriculum PE, Extra-Curricular Clubs, XT Club wraparound care, Alternative Provision, Enrichment Days, Be Active, Girls United), Sports (Active Soccer football and Active Cricket), Activities (Holiday Clubs, Masterclass Days, Birthday Parties), Active Foundation community initiatives, and the Active Sport Centre Maghull as the flagship facility. The company also operates a franchise model for regional expansion. Bookings are managed through sportsoftware.io, Class For Kids, GoVenue.io, and JoinIn platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XT Club: Wraparound childcare service providing before school, after school, and holiday club activities for children aged 4-11 years. Ofsted-registered childcare accepting childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare payments.
• Active Tots
• Active Foundation
• Captain Active

Products and services

• Active Tots Physical activity sessions for children aged 18 months to 4 years featuring story-based, structured play designed to develop coordination, balance, confidence, and fundamental movement skills, delivered by expert coaches.
• Balance Bike Programme Two-level balance bike course for preschool children (Level 1: confidence and control; Level 2: skills and independence) delivered in 6-week progressive sessions.
• Active Tots for Nurseries & Preschools Professionally delivered physical activity sessions for early years settings, supporting Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) outcomes and physical activity guidelines, sold directly to nurseries and preschools.
• Curriculum PE & PESSPA Support Qualified coaches assigned to primary schools to deliver broad and balanced PE curriculum from fundamental movement skills to sport-specific techniques, supporting PPA cover and staff development, with afPE Quality Mark alignment.
• Alternative Provision (Thrive and No Limits) Sport-led alternative education using mentoring and structured activity to support pupils at risk of disengagement or exclusion, including Thrive for primary and No Limits for secondary KS3/KS4, with referrals via Microsoft Forms.
• Enrichment Days One-day school events featuring high-energy activities that complement the curriculum, focus on confidence, teamwork, wellbeing, and skill development, fully managed and inclusive.
• Be Active Programme Six-week wellbeing journey combining physical activities and educational sessions to support children in developing healthy, active lifestyles and understanding mental and physical wellbeing.
• Girls United Specialist extra-curricular programme delivered through lunchtime and after-school clubs designed to increase participation, confidence, and enjoyment in football, cricket, and rugby for girls.
• Holiday Clubs Multi-sport holiday camps with options ranging from standard Holiday Multi-Sport Camps to premium Super Camps featuring football, multi-sport, and XT Club creative sessions.
• Masterclass Days High-energy expert coaching sessions for children who want to develop their skills in focused, specialist environments.
• Birthday Parties 2-hour football or multi-sport birthday parties (ages 4+) and Captain Active Gladiator Games parties held at Active Sport Centre Maghull or franchise locations, with tiered pricing from £150 for 15 children.
• XT Club (Wraparound Care) Ofsted-registered before-school, after-school, and holiday childcare combining sports, team games, creative activities, arts and crafts, and healthy snacks in safe, nurturing environments, accepting childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare.
• Active Soccer (Football Coaching) Football coaching sessions designed to develop skills, build confidence, and inspire a love for the game, led by experienced coaches in safe, supportive environments across multiple locations.
• Active Cricket Cricket programmes including ECB All Stars (ages 5-8), ECB Dynamos (ages 8-11), and Club Training (ages 8-14), with holiday camps and 1-to-1 coaching available.
• Extra-Curricular Sports Clubs After-school and lunchtime sports clubs offering athletics, badminton, basketball, dodgeball, football, handball, netball, cricket, rugby, tennis, and multi-skills for schools.
• Active Sport Centre Maghull 3G floodlit 5-a-side venue and head office hub offering pitch hire, birthday parties, room hire, and holiday camps; open 7 days a week with varied operating hours.
• Camp Craic Flagship summer experience on Achill Island, Ireland, combining sport, adventure activities, and the opportunity to explore one of Ireland's most beautiful locations.
• Franchise Partnership Franchise offering a £10,000 investment for full access to Active Sport programmes, branded marketing, systems, club support, bespoke software platform (Active Hub), and BFA, CAA, and Ofsted-ready accreditations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years experience in children's sports coaching sector
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SportsCool: Children's sports coaching franchise delivering multi-sport sessions in schools and communities across the UK. Directly comparable franchise-based model and school channel to Active Sport's multi-sport curriculum delivery.
• Premier Education Group: UK's largest franchised children's sports coaching and wraparound care provider, delivering PE lessons, after-school clubs, and holiday clubs via a franchise network. Directly comparable as a multi-sport, school-focused, BFA-accredited children's activity franchise competing for the same school and parent customers.
• Premier Sport: UK children's sports coaching organisation delivering multi-sport and sport-specific sessions in schools and communities. Comparable in the school sport delivery model and target customer base of primary schools and families.
• SCL Education Group (School Clubs Ltd): Major UK provider of wraparound childcare, holiday clubs, and sports coaching in schools, operating the 'ACE' and 'Multisports' brands. Closely comparable given Active Sport's XT Club wraparound care and school sports delivery, with overlapping customer base of primary schools and working parents.
• Little Kickers: Pre-school football franchise for children aged 18 months to 7 years, operating across the UK and internationally with a franchise model. Directly comparable to Active Tots and Active Soccer's early-years football coaching, especially in franchised growth approach.
• Total Sport UK: UK children's multi-sport coaching provider delivering PE curriculum, after-school clubs, and holiday programmes to primary schools. Comparable on school PE provision and multi-sport offering targeting the same primary school segment.
• Create Development: UK provider of PE curriculum, Real PE programme, and school sport training targeting primary schools and academies. Comparable as a curriculum-licensed PE/sport provider competing for school sport premium budgets.
• SuperStar Sports: Children's multi-sport coaching provider delivering holiday camps, after-school clubs, and birthday parties across the UK. Closely comparable on consumer-facing activities (camps, parties) targeting the same parent and child demographic.

Emerging players

• Aspire Active Education: UK school sport and PE provider delivering coaching, CPD, and curriculum support to primary schools. Comparable as a school-channel sports coaching competitor, though typically smaller scale than Active Sport's broader multi-product offering.

Broad incumbents

• GLL (Better): UK-wide charitable leisure and community sport operator running Better-branded leisure centres, children's activities, and holiday programmes. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering children's sport and holiday programming at greater scale, though as part of a wider leisure portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sefton_activesoccer
• Xx.com/active_soccer
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/activesoccer-limited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Activesoccer