A Sligo-based sports group that counts Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester City among its clients last year recorded an 8 per cent increase in profit to €2.4 million after revenue rose by 25 per cent.

Revenue at the Support in Sport (SIS) group, which supplies playing surfaces to major clubs and sporting bodies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, increased last year from €21.7 million to €27.1 million.

Company founder George Mullan yesterday confirmed that the firm was projecting sales this year of €33 million and profit of about €3 million.

When the company was established in 2001 it employed just two people. Now employing 80 full-time staff across Ireland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, SIS has secured contracts totalling €22 million in the first quarter of this year alone.

The reach of the company’s operations extends to Ukraine, and if Ireland win their group in the UEFA European Championship this month, they will be playing on SIS-produced turf at the Shakhtar Donetsk stadium in the quarter finals in Donetsk.

Outlining the growth in new and existing markets last year, Mr Mullan said: “We had our first full year of sales from three new subsidiaries in Angola, eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“Our UK companies achieved record sales both in construction and manufacturing.”

SIS provides playing surfaces for some of the world’s major sports competitions, including the World Cup finals, African Cup of Nations, UEFA Champions League and Six Nations Rugby.

The group provides pitches to major clubs across Europe including Manchester City and Juventus, and this summer will provide the surface for the pitch at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium. This year it will also supply new pitches to Bilbao, Lille, Ajax, Torino and FC Copenhagen.

“Further contracts with high-profile European clubs are set to be announced over the coming months,” Mr Mullan said.