The Challenge
Ollie United FC, a charity football team, needed a custom website to showcase player profiles, real-time league standings, fixtures, and results. The challenge was to create a platform that would engage their supporters while automating the complex task of regularly updating football-related data. Design the Web NI was tasked with developing a bespoke WordPress solution that not only catered to these needs but also integrated advanced backend functionalities for data automation.
Custom Logo Animation with Lottie
A standout request from the client was to bring their logo to life. The Ollie United FC logo features a hand, symbolising Ollie’s love for high-fiving everyone. Inspired by this, Design the Web NI created a custom logo animation using Lottie, where the hand performs a high-five gesture. This playful animation adds personality to the site and was met with enthusiasm from the client, reflecting Ollie’s spirit and the team’s values.
Data automation with Custom Coding
The absence of a dedicated API presented a significant challenge, as the team needed to display up-to-date league information without manual updates. To overcome this, Design the Web NI implemented a data scraping solution, carefully following the robots.txt file guidelines. By utilizing a Heroku Node.js application for data caching, the site is automatically updated every Sunday, providing accurate and fresh information for visitors without any intervention from the client.
User Friendly Content Management
A key requirement was to ensure the website could be easily managed by Ollie United FC. The WordPress admin panel was customised to allow the team to effortlessly update news sections, player profiles, and other content. This made ongoing site management simple, empowering the client to keep their fans informed without needing technical expertise.
SEO Focused Development
The website also required an emphasis on search engine optimisation (SEO) to increase its visibility and attract more visitors. Design the Web NI incorporated meta optimisation, strategic keyword usage, and a user-friendly design, which led to a significant boost in organic traffic and increased exposure to potential fans and sponsors.
Future Enhancements
Looking ahead, Ollie United FC has plans to expand their website with an online merchandise shop, adding another layer of engagement for their supporters. This next phase will continue to build on the site’s strong foundation, offering fans an even more immersive experience.
By meeting these challenges, Design the Web NI successfully delivered a highly functional, visually engaging, and easily manageable website for Ollie United FC, tailored to their unique needs and future growth plans.
Lottie Animation
Technologies Used
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