Albufeira, Amsterdam and more
A pitch booking gives you the surface, the bibs and the balls for an hour or two, and you sort your own teams.
A pitch booking gives you the surface, the bibs and the balls for an hour or two, and you sort your own teams. Add a referee if the group needs one, and most do.
Footgolf is the softer version: a golf course, a football, and you play the holes by kicking. It takes a couple of hours, it is walkable, and it works for a group with a wide spread of fitness.
Trainers or moulded boots depending on the surface, and check which before you pack. Studs are refused on most artificial pitches.
Open a city to see the weekends you can add it to.
Football in Albufeira means the novelty formats: electric shock football and giant footdarts, played on an outdoor pitch at a sports venue about five minutes' walk from the centre. Sessions last an hour, with an English-speaking instructor running five-a-side, crossbar challenges and dribbling relays, plus bibs and balls. Groups of ten to 20 are the norm and it is 18+. Sessions are weather dependent and the pitch gets hot, so mornings are best in summer. Wear activewear and trainers.
The Barcelona football option is electric shock football: an hour on an outdoor pitch about 20 minutes' drive from the centre, with every player wearing a tag that can deliver a sudden shock during play. An event coordinator runs a mix of five-a-side, a crossbar challenge and dribbling relays, with ten devices in use at a time, which suits groups of 10 to 20. Bring trainers and clothes you can move in. It is played outdoors, so in summer take a morning slot, carry water, and arrange transport there and back before the day.
Most football formats run at a five-a-side centre on Lichfield Road, north-east of the centre: football darts, electric-shock football for up to 20 and a filmed five-a-side with player stats on an outdoor pitch. Sessions are an hour, or two for the filmed match. Footgolf is played on a golf course in Harborne, west of the centre, and takes two to four hours depending on group size; the venue is confirmed about two weeks before. Studs are refused, and fancy golf outfits are encouraged.
Football formats run at five-a-side centres in Leckwith, west of the centre, and off Manor Way in the north of the city, with the exact pitch often confirmed two weeks before. Options include football darts, oversized-boot football and electric-shock football, each about an hour; football darts stretches to 90 minutes for more than 20 players. Footgolf is played on a golf course on the eastern edge of the city over two to four hours. Wear sportswear and trainers. Studs are refused, and fancy golf outfits are encouraged.
Footgolf is the stand-out here: 18 holes on a course near the city, out in Dublin 24, played in teams of four with an event co-ordinator scoring. Allow two to four hours depending on numbers, with start times from 10am to 6pm. Studded boots are not allowed and loud golf clothes are encouraged. Footdarts and goggle football are shorter, about an hour (90 minutes for 21 or more), on all-weather pitches such as those around Templeogue. For something properly local, a refereed session of Gaelic football and hurling suits a sporty group. Venues are often confirmed about two weeks out.
Footgolf is played on a golf course west of Edinburgh, towards Linlithgow: 18 holes with an event co-ordinator, taking about two to four hours depending on numbers. Studded boots are not allowed, and loud golf clothes are encouraged. Footdarts runs at the Portobello pitches and electric shock football at Sighthill. Both take about an hour (90 minutes for 21 or more) and need at least ten players. Venues are often confirmed about two weeks before. The footgolf course is a drive out, so arrange transport and plan it for the morning.
Most football formats run at a five-a-side centre on Whittle Street, north of the city centre: football darts, electric-shock football for up to 20 and filmed five-a-side with player stats. Each runs about an hour, or two for the filmed match; football darts stretches to 90 minutes for more than 20 players. Footgolf is played at a golf centre in Formby, north of the city, over two to four hours, with the venue confirmed two weeks before. Wear sportswear and trainers; studs are refused. Avoid kick-off times on match weekends.
In Prague this is less a straight five-a-side and more the variations: footdarts at a giant inflatable board, goggle football played in distortion goggles, and an 18-hole footgolf round run by an event coordinator. Pitch formats last about an hour, footgolf longer, and return transfers are normally part of the booking because the venues are out of the centre. Players need to be 18 or over. There is also a car football version, but every driver must hold a full licence. Most formats include a beer at the end, so keep it to a daytime slot before the evening starts.
2 nights
From £335 pp
Flights are not included.
A three-star central hotel in Dublin, within walking distance of the pubs.
2 nights
From £440 pp
Flights are not included.
An upgraded central apartment or hotel in Liverpool, within walking distance of Concert Square and the Baltic Triangle.
IN THEIR WORDS
Brilliant festival … the event was organised extremely well and there was always someone on hand to help with anything.
Albufeira, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Prague.
In Albufeira, from £35 pp. In Amsterdam, from £29 pp. In Barcelona, from £35 pp. In Birmingham, from £33 pp. In Bournemouth, from £32 pp. In Brighton, from £31 pp. In Cardiff, from £31 pp. In Dublin, from £32 pp. In Edinburgh, from £31 pp. In Lisbon, from £45 pp. In Liverpool, from £31 pp. In London, from £31 pp. In Newcastle, from £31 pp. In Prague, from £71 pp. Flights are not included.
Yes, in any of these cities: Albufeira, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Prague. Add it when you get an instant price, or ask us.
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