A Bradford-based five-a-side football company has expanded its operations by snapping up its first centre in the South of England.

And, as the deal was announced, the firm's boss took the opportunity to give the Telegraph & Argus's Bradford City campaign a boost.

Taskcatch, which took over Skylark in March last year in a £1.5 million deal, has bought the Soccercity site in Fareham, Hampshire, for £730,000.

The two-court indoor centre currently caters for 350 teams a week in a 30-league format, and also boasts a child play and party area, hosting as many as 25 parties a week.

The turnover of Soccercity for the year ended August 2003 is expected to be more than £700,000.

Taskcatch, which also owns centres in Thornton and Leeds, plans to expand the centre by adding more courts to meet demand and develope more sites in the South.

Previous owner of Soccercity Simon Reynolds will join the board of Taskcatch as southern development director and will continue to oversee operations at Soccercity and source development opportunities.

Jason Lynn, chief executive of Taskcatch, said: "I am delighted to have started our expansion programme with a centre that has a ten-year track record of profitable trading.

"The appointment of Simon Reynolds to the main board adds further experience to the team and will assist with the expansion of the group."

And Mr Lynn threw his weight behind the Telegraph & Argus Support Your City campaign - and urged other firms in the city to follow suit.

Taskcatch opened its centre in Thornton especially on New Year's Day at the request of manager Bryan Robson who wanted his team to train there.

"I was really pleased to read about the T&A appeal," said Mr Lynn. "It is particularly important for local businesses to rally round when the club is in difficulty and do what we can to support them.

"Bradford City have done us proud in the past and I know they will again, we should not turn our backs on them now.

"Bryan was really appreciative of our making that special effort and I think it gives the team a boost when they realise that people will go the extra mile for them."

Bantams secretary Jon Pollard said the club was "hugely appreciative" of Taskcatch's support and relied on its facilities for its football in the community programme and in bad weather.