Two brands. Different approaches. Here's exactly what separates them — so you can make the right choice for your garden.
The short answer
FORZA makes traditional football goals. Open Goaaal makes a patented 3-in-1 system: goal, rebounder and backstop built into one frame. If you want a standard goal to leave in the garden, both work. If you want to train seriously — solo, without chasing the ball, without it leaving the garden — they're not the same product.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Open Goaaal® Standard | FORZA Steel42 Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Goal included | ✅ Yes — integrated into the system | ✅ Yes |
| Rebounder | ✅ Built in — returns the ball automatically | ⚠️ Available as a separate kit (additional cost) |
| Backstop net | ✅ Integrated — stops missed shots leaving the garden | ❌ Not included. Missed shots leave the garden. |
| Ball retrieval | ✅ None needed — ball returns to you | ❌ You retrieve it yourself after every shot |
| Solo training | ✅ Designed for it | ⚠️ Possible but you stop after every missed shot |
| Number of products needed | 1 | 2–3 (goal + rebounder kit + separate backstop if wanted) |
| Frame material | Powder-coated steel, ground anchors | 42mm galvanised steel, ground anchor pegs |
| Netting type | Trampoline-grade rebound netting | 3mm HDPE knotted net (goal); PP net (rebounder kit) |
| Patented design | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| As seen on | Dragon's Den (BBC Two) | — |
| Garden footprint | Single combined frame | Goal frame + separate rebounder frame if added |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
Features based on published product information. Prices, specifications and availability may vary. Always check the manufacturer's website for current details.
The backstop: why it matters
Every garden training session with a standard goal has the same problem: the ball goes over or wide and leaves the garden. You stop, you retrieve it, you repeat. If your garden backs onto a road, a neighbour's garden, or any hard-to-reach space, that becomes a real friction point — especially with younger players.
Open Goaaal's backstop net spans the full width and height behind and above the goal, catching every missed shot and funnelling the ball back into play. It's the core reason the product exists, and it's the feature that FORZA goals — including the Steel42 range — do not include in any configuration.
The rebounder difference
FORZA offers a Steel42 Rebounder Kit as an add-on for compatible Steel42 goals. It adds a rebound net across the goal opening. That's a useful training tool — but it's a separate product, a separate cost, and it doesn't include a backstop. You still lose the ball out of the garden on misses.
Open Goaaal's rebounder is the back wall of the goal itself. The trampoline-grade netting returns the ball back toward the player automatically. No kit, no extras, no gaps in the setup.
Which product is for which player?
Choose Open Goaaal® if:
- You want to train alone — shooting, crossing, volleys — without stopping
- You want the ball to stay in your garden no matter what
- You want one product that does everything: goal, rebounder and backstop
- You train in a confined garden where ball retrieval is impractical
- You want a system built specifically for garden football training
Choose a standard FORZA goal if:
- You primarily want a goal for matches and kickabouts with others
- You're happy to retrieve the ball after misses
- You have a large open space where ball loss isn't a concern
- You need a specific non-standard goal size not covered by Open Goaaal's range
Frequently asked questions
Does FORZA make a 3-in-1 goal, rebounder and backstop in one?
No. FORZA's goal and rebounder are separate products. The Steel42 Rebounder Kit attaches to compatible Steel42 goals, but there is no integrated backstop option in FORZA's current range. If you want all three functions in a single frame, Open Goaaal is currently the only product on the UK market that delivers this.
Is Open Goaaal more expensive than FORZA?
Open Goaaal and FORZA Steel42 goals start at comparable price points. Once you add a FORZA rebounder kit to a Steel42 goal, the combined cost narrows the gap significantly — and you still don't have a backstop. Check current pricing on each brand's website before purchasing.
Can I add a backstop to a FORZA goal?
FORZA does not sell a backstop product designed to pair with their goals. You could theoretically position a separate backstop net behind a FORZA goal, but that requires purchasing and setting up an additional product — plus managing multiple frames. Open Goaaal's backstop is integrated into the same frame as the goal and rebounder.
Is FORZA a good football goal brand?
FORZA is a well-established brand with a wide range of goals, accessories and training equipment. Their Steel42 range is a solid, widely-available garden goal. The limitation in the context of solo garden training is the absence of an integrated rebounder and backstop — which Open Goaaal was specifically designed to solve.
How long does it take to set up Open Goaaal vs a FORZA goal?
Both products require ground anchoring and net attachment on first setup. Open Goaaal is designed to be left in position in the garden once set up. FORZA goals also support permanent garden placement. Neither is a pop-up product — both are semi-permanent garden training goals.
Summary
FORZA makes good traditional football goals. Open Goaaal makes a different product — one designed specifically around the problem of solo garden football training: balls that leave the garden and sessions that get interrupted. If your priority is uninterrupted training and a self-contained setup, there's currently nothing else on the UK market that does what Open Goaaal does in one frame.
