From estate kickabouts to a full-blown indoor football revival, Yard Ball is putting the soul back into the beautiful game – one nostalgic kick at a time. Founder Scott Riley and Marketing Manager Hilary Newbould talk us through the playful origins of Sheffield’s street football success story, why it’s becoming a hit with families, teams and local businesses – and what’s next as a second site gets ready to launch
Yard Ball has such a nostalgic and unique concept – where did the initial spark for the idea come from?
Scott: The happiest time of my life (excluding meeting my wife and having kids) was being a kid growing up on my old estate back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. My life basically consisted of playing out 24/7 with my mates – usually with a ball – on the park fields. If it wasn’t the field, it was the yard. If it wasn’t the yard, it was the garages. If it wasn’t the garages, it was the pub car park. Pretty much anywhere was fair game for a kickabout.
Then came a time when I took my lad to see his nan in the maisonettes I grew up in and started explaining all the stuff I used to do as a kid (the bits I could actually tell him about) – how we spent hours playing 1v1 or 2v2 on the yard with the washing posts as nets. At that exact moment, two lads were on the yard trying to knock a can off a bin – which was totally normal to me. My lad actually found it a pretty good game to watch, and it was just two mates making up a game with a can and a ball.
That got the cogs turning and kicked off the creative thought process. From there, the idea for me was all about how I could pass my experience on to a new generation – and give us older ones something to remember. Kids and parents have it tough now: kids glued to screens, never bored enough to build that creative spark; adults doom-scrolling through life, constantly connected but never really present. My mission was to create a space that pushed back against all of that.
What were some of the early challenges you faced turning that childhood inspiration into a fully-fledged business?
Scott: Lots of challenges! The two biggest were finding someone willing to invest and hand over their hard-earned money to help create the vision, and then finding a building in Sheffield. There were loads of opportunities outside the city that would’ve been amazing, but I wanted the idea to be born in the place I grew up.
That part was mainly tough because, when you actually say it out loud – presenting a business plan built around kids and adults playing street football, kicking balls through maisonette windows, in a council-estate environment recreated indoors – it does sound mental. But as soon as I met my investor, he just got it. He’s actually a distant relative who was born and raised in Sheffield before moving away. After meeting quite a few investors, he was the one where it instantly clicked. He understood the vision straight away and was willing to back it.
The next challenge was whether I could deliver everything on what was (at the start) a tight budget, while still keeping the standard high. Thankfully, my background in design, branding, and generally being a creative person helped massively. Being able to control the creative side myself and work with a solid team gave us a huge head start. Site 2, which is coming in 2026, should be a breeze…
How has the response been since opening – did you anticipate the level of interest you’ve had?
Scott: The response has been incredible really. Over 90,000 people have played in the Yard – plus spectators like mums, dads, grandparents – and often, they end up joining in. This is exactly what I hoped would happen: to bring joy to people, just like it did for me as a kid. It brings back the love of the game.
The overall feedback has been so positive from both adults and children. People don’t quite know what they’re going to walk into until they get here – and it’s amazing to hear the excitement when they go into the Yard. We’ve had lots of mind-blowing moments – current and ex-pro footballers and managers, a Lioness, and visitors travelling from as far as Cornwall and Northern Ireland.
One that still sticks in my mind is a visit from a grandad, his son and grandson – three generations playing together in the Yard, absolutely loving life and creating memories.
Yard Ball is described as “a place to love the game again” – how do you capture that spirit?
Hilary: “A place to love the game again” means stripping football back to what made us fall in love with it in the first place – creativity, freedom and simply enjoying time with a ball.
We try to capture that by focusing on moments rather than messages. We show kids trying something new, families laughing together, and players taking on challenges in their own way. It’s not about elitist playing – it’s about imagination, creativity and fun.
Beyond the gameplay, you’ve created a full social experience – how important was that in your vision for the space?
Scott: The experience is everything, because it ties into all the elements I experienced growing up in Sheffield – time with family and friends, football, music, fashion. That’s really what underpins the essence of Yard Ball.
I grew up going to working men’s clubs most weekends with my uncles. We’d play football outside until dark, then head in for a go on the bingo, the meat raffle or a game of pool with some of the grown-ups. We’d play Green Beret on the arcade, then head back out for one last kickabout before finishing the night with a chippy. It was such a positive environment, and I wanted that spirit to be part of the experience. We’ve brought that vibe into the café/bar area – our own version of the working men’s club – so people can relive that feeling or feel part of something new.
What kind of feedback have you had from businesses who’ve booked the venue for client entertainment or team building?
Hilary: Most businesses tell us they’re surprised by how much everyone ends up enjoying it. Often the booking comes from someone who already loves football, or someone looking for a team-building activity that’s a bit different – and it always exceeds expectations.
Book in at yardball.co.uk
Insta: @yard_ball
