Purpose Media shows Premier League ambition
South Normanton e-commerce website specialist Purpose Media has been appointed by Derby County Football Club to create its new website.
The club will exit the EFL Digital network – which was launched in the early 2000s – at the end of June 2017, and the new website will be launched at the beginning of July.
Derby County is one of only a small handful of clubs which have opted out of the new Football League digital deal, which would have tied them in with the league’s preferred provider until at least 2023.
Purpose Media is the current developer of www.wearederby.com, the club’s online ticketing and hospitality platform, and following a lengthy consultation process with a number of potential partners, the club has commissioned Purpose Media to create its new digital platforms.
This will include a new-look official website and mobile platform and, as well as being the first place for news, features, interviews and ticket stories, the Club says it is is determined to provide a whole new online experience for fans.
Derby County’s president and chief executive Sam Rush said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Purpose Media for this ground-breaking project.
“The club website has been outside the club’s control for over 16 years, in which time digital technologies have transformed the way we all live our lives. By creating a brand new up-to-date digital platform, we will not only be able to take advantage of some of these technologies, we will also be able to provide our supporters with a much improved online experience.”
Purpose Media’s managing director Matt Wheatcroft said: “We’re incredibly proud to be working with Derby County Football Club on the new website. We’ve seen some fantastic results with the WeAreDerby site and have a great relationship with the club, so the next step is to build on that and create something truly special.
“Moving from the EFL Digital network means that Derby will get a more flexible and distinctive site that’s tailored to their fans. We know that one size doesn’t fit all, so we’ll be designing and building a website that works specifically for the Derby staff and support.”
The club wants its supporters to be involved in the process of building the new official website and other digital platforms from the word go, in order to provide feedback over the coming months.
Being involved in the project will vary from fan to fan, but the aim is to ask those willing to participate to feature in focus groups, online surveys and beta testing.
The project will be ongoing throughout the 2016/17 season ahead of next summer’s launch and there will be different levels of feedback required from fans, depending on their use of the website.
Derby County’s Brandon Furse, who is leading the project, said: “Purpose Media was our number one choice. Since working with it over the past three years we have built an excellent working relationship and it has certainly delivered results. For example, when we first launched our online ticketing platform, designed by Purpose Media, our online ticket sales rocketed.
“This new project is about the website becoming the number one place that all supporters go to find out what they want across all areas of Derby County. We are asking our supporters to get involved and help shape this platform right from the very beginning – and I can’t wait for us to deliver together.”
