Sporting Pro reveals first 10 store locations

SPORTING Pro, the new challenger sports retail brand launched by Matalan and led by experienced operator Tom Knight, has revealed its first 10 locations.

The three shops are due to open in Walsall, Coleraine in Northern Ireland and Harlow, Essex, within a month.

A further seven stores will open in Colchester, Leeds, Knaresborough, Stockton, Sheffield, Stockport and Wakefield within the next two months.

In total 14 Sporting Pro stores will open this autumn, creating 370 jobs.

Tom Knight said: “Our first stores are near completion and we’re looking forward to seeing the public’s reaction. A tremendous amount of planning and imagination has gone into creating sport stores that offer shoppers something different.”

The interior fit-out features printed flooring resembling sports courts, pitches and running tracks.

The stores will be split into sections for each category including team sports, outdoor, racket sports, running and junior.

Sporting Pro has joined INTERSPORT, the brand management and buying organisation that operates worldwide, with over 5,400 retailers in 42 countries.