A family day out with a football twist

Finding something the whole family wants to do can be a challenge. One person wants to be active, another is keen to compete, and someone else would rather avoid anything that feels like a serious sports session. Footy Nation in Southport brought all of that together for us in a way that felt playful from the moment we arrived.

Allow around 90 minutes for the overall visit. It gives the family time to try the different football games, cheer each other on and compare scores without feeling rushed. It’s a fun, action-packed experience for everyone, with enough variety to keep people involved. You don’t need to be a football expert to join in; the challenges are easy to understand, and everyone can have a go at their own pace.

What do you do at Footy Nation?

Footy Nation is an indoor football skills park at Ocean Plaza in Southport. Rather than playing a traditional match, you move around a series of interactive challenges that test different skills. There are games focused on shooting accuracy, dribbling, control and quick reactions, with a lively, arcade-style feel.

Some challenges are about getting the ball exactly where you want it, while others make you think quickly or keep your feet moving. The variety makes a difference when you’re visiting as a family: one person might be confident with a ball at their feet, while another discovers they’re surprisingly good at a precision challenge. The scores add a friendly competitive edge, and it’s hard not to get drawn into trying to beat your own score or overtake the person in front of you. It is quite interesting to see how everyone’s skills vary across the challenges.

The games keep everyone moving and watching. There’s always someone having a turn, someone else offering encouragement, and plenty of reasons to laugh when a shot goes wide or an unexpected score appears. It feels active without turning into a formal training session, which makes it accessible to mixed ages and abilities.

Allowing 90 minutes for the visit

The time passed quickly because the mix of challenges meant it never felt like we were doing the same thing over and over. We were playing, competing, cheering and talking about the results as we went along. Allowing 90 minutes for the overall visit gives you time to enjoy the experience together, though it’s worth checking the current length of the booked game session when you reserve.

Parents can join in too, and that changes the feel of a family outing. Everyone has a chance to take part, have a laugh and celebrate each other’s best attempts. If you have football-mad children, they’ll have plenty to enjoy; if you have a more reluctant player, the short, varied games can make it easier to get involved.

There is even a fun photo booth at the end! You can download your images for no extra cost.

The café and the Ocean Plaza location

There’s a café area on site, which is handy for taking a breather and grabbing a drink or snack. Footy Nation is at Ocean Plaza Leisure Complex on Marine Drive, close to Southport’s seafront. That makes it easy to build into a bigger day out, whether you’re planning a walk by the sea, a meal, or another activity at Ocean Plaza.

The venue also offers birthday and group bookings, so it could work well for a celebration where the usual party games need a football-themed update. Booking ahead is sensible, particularly at busy times, as sessions have limited spaces. Check Footy Nation’s website for current session information, prices and availability before setting off.

Is Footy Nation worth a visit?

We all enjoyed our visit. Footy Nation gave us a genuinely fun, action-packed family outing, with enough competition to keep things exciting and enough silliness to make it feel like a day out rather than a sports lesson. Allow around 90 minutes for the overall visit, and check the current session details before booking. It’s a good option for families looking for something active to do indoors, whatever the weather is doing outside. The cost is £14.95 per person, which I thought seemed reasonable.

Footy Nation’s Southport venue is currently the location to visit. The company says it plans to expand to other towns and cities, but Southport is the only confirmed open location at the time of writing. If another one opens nearer to you, this is the sort of place that could easily become a favourite for a family afternoon, birthday treat or rainy-day plan.

Location: Footy Nation, Ocean Plaza Leisure Complex, Marine Drive, Southport, PR8 1SQ.

Before you go: Check the official Footy Nation website for up-to-date booking details, session length, opening times and prices.