John Wilson – Itsa Goal Post Ltd – Sheffield -The Inventor of Mini Soccer Portable uPVC Goals.
Before the introduction of children’s portable PVC goals by our company, it was common practice by children to use “Jumpers as the football goalposts’. When John Wilson decided to make the first 12’x 6’ – 3.6m x 1.8m) 7v7 Mini Soccer Goal from wood and pea netting in 1959 he did not realise that this would eventually change the way children’s football was played.
The first children’s plastic goals in carrying bags were manufactured in 1986. The portable goals were easy to assemble, lightweight yet strong, virtually impossible to knock over and light enough to carry around, a set of goals could now be transported easilly in the back of a car to a football pitch to set up fast games. The goals looked realistic, they were at an affordable price and this opened up the possibility for schools football games, home users to buy quality goalposts for the garden and local clubs to increase children’s football.
The Itsa Goal Portable Goals were welcomed by the English F.A., they were approved to launch small-sided games for children where the introduction of proportional fooball goals and pitches allowed more touches of the football for everyone. This new proportional game introduced and encouraged girls to take up the game at a younger age which led to an explosion of girls and ladies football. An invitation to F.I.F.A. soon followed and our children’s goal post was subsequently approved by the world’s governing body The Federation de-International de-Football Association. – See the letter below from F.I.F.A dated 1992.
A new manufacturing industry producing low-cost safer children’s football goalposts was created around this original innovative idea- many copies around the world followed. They say imitation is the best form of flattery and although numerous copies of our concept have been made none have bettered those original football goals we made. The photograph below demostrates the first goal design performing at Wembley Stadium before the Coca Cola Cup Final.
The biggest brand in the world “Coca-Cola “chose our original plastic goals for a unique scheme directed at helping introduce young children to the small sided game. The promotion “The Big Red Bag” was a collaboration with the Football Association aimed at developing the game in schools and junior grass roots football. The equipment provided a complete football pitch in a bag that included two football goals, proportional smaller footballs, corner flags, pitch markers, and players coloured bibs. This low cost easy to use training aid helped increase the participation in childen’s football.
Read more about the creation of Children’s mini soccer goals CLICK HERE
Our portbale uPVC Goals can be purchased from our shop, click on one of the products below to find the best online prices. Below i have highlighed just a few of our most popular uPVC goals. Various goal post sizes are available. We also supply aluminium goals and steel goalposts.
GOALS AVAILABLE TODAY
Some of our most popular uPVC Goals available to buy today !
The original mini soccer size 12′ x 6′ uPVC Goalpost – Click here
8′ x 6′ portable goaloost – Click here
Futsal 3m x 2m Goalpost – Click here
Youth Goalpost size 16′ x 7′ for 9v9 games and larger gardens – Click here