An entrepreneur with plans to launch the UK’s first professional five-a-side football league remains positive after the project stalled.

Louie Evans – who grew up in Blenheim Way in Stevenage – had organised a showcase event at Wembley Stadium last week, but said “the sponsors didn’t come through”.

The former professional footballer played for Peterborough United for five years before turning his hand to business and founding recruitment consultancy The Pathology Group in 2006.

The business grew rapidly, boasting £60 million in revenue and with 100 staff employed at the firm before Louie sold it last year.

Combining his love of football with his business acumen, Louie plans to create the National Fives League – hoping to encourage families to get involved in sport together.

But the showcase event, featuring five-a-side footballers from around the world, was cancelled.

Louie said: “The sponsors didn’t come through on it. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not ideal, but it will happen next year. It was too short notice for the sponsors and there wasn’t enough time to get all the promotional material together.”