DOUGLAS HALL MIDLETON SPRINGFIELD 1999

CLUBS ON THE NET




Time was when hitting the net had only one meaning in football - that time has passed. Ask Douglas hall, Midleton, and Springfield, three AUL clubs who can be found on the net, the internet that is.



The 'Hall site has been up and running for about 2 years. When Joe Doherty started the site, it was pretty much experimental: "I wasn't sure what, if any, interest there would be. I had been working on my own site and added a few pages for the club".



Over time, the site has evolved and now includes results and fixtures, generally updated on a weekly basis. "This is one of the difficulties", says Joe. "It is always necessary to keep the site updated - there is no point in having and using the internet service without maintaining accurate information".





Another "side effect" has been correspondence from clubs and individuals around the world. So far, Doherty has recorded letters from Italy, Portugal, England, Scotland, Wales, USA, Canada and Mozambique. "Former Douglas Hall players in Belgium and Austria have been in touch, as have Douglas natives in Australia and New Zealand. I like to think that these Douglas people see the site as a link to home - hence the need to maintain accurate information".



Further, with access to the internet now spreading, there is no doubt that Douglas players do access the site and check that their own latest result is included.



Joe says that feedback has been very positive and while maintenance can be time consuming (not always), the effort involved is overall worthwhile. In addition, team managers are now well aware of the need to provide information about their teams - scorers, results, performances and so on - similar to the need to provide information for inclusion in the newspapers.





The Springfield web page is running since last Christmas and is constantly being revamped. It now gives a brief history of the club and has a separate page on each of the teams from Under 11s up to the Premier side. These pages include match fixtures, results, scorers, league tables and some photographs, all of which are updated as soon as the results are at hand.



While the web page could be classified as an 'unofficial' site it has the full backing of the club. Ted Creedon started the page as a hobby both for himself and his son who plays with the U-16 & U-17 sides, but the 'hobby' is now starting to be a regular informative sheet, especially for ex players now abroad.



The Midleton website had a more planned start than the others as it is part of a change in structures and ongoing developments that are currently taking place within the club who see it as a gradual process.



Midleton FC chairman Michael Kirby and his fellow officers decided to enlist the services of Pat Carroll, who had spent a number of years with Churchvilla FC in the role of club development, to re-package Midleton Football Club.



The site has provided the club with a new means of communication and at the same time allowing the public access to what is occurring within the club.





Through the website the club has built up relationships with a lot of clubs all over the country and worldwide some of whom are undergoing similar development plans as the Magpies. Knockgriffin Park is renowned for its facilities and it is the clubs aim to constantly improve them for players and members. It is widely anticipated that within a very short period of time website and email communication will be the norm within a lot of clubs and organisations, it is Midleton Football Club's intention to utilise it to its full extent.





It was decided to look at the entire workings of the club over a three month period .Significant areas included- all playing sections, administration, cost saving measures, club image and presentation , fund raising and club sponsorship



On the playing side Midleton FC is currently going through what can best be described as a "period of transition “with a high percentage of very young players.

The advent of the website along with the development of the all weather playing surface has allowed Midleton FC enhance other areas within the club. All club business is now computerised, a players database has been constructed which contains all relevant information from registration, membership, home address, phone no.etc. It has provided the club with a new means of communication and at the same time allowing the public access to what is occurring within the club.

It was Midleton Football Club's aim to procure a high profile sponsor and the Magpie website went a long way in achieving this when the large multinational Stryker Instruments after a very courteous meeting with Stryker Instruments Mr. Mike McGrath and Midleton FC's officers, Stryker Instruments expressed a desire to become associated with the club. This was seen as an endorsement of the new foundations being put in place by Midleton FC. Through the website the club has built up relationships with a lot of clubs all over the country and worldwide some of whom are undergoing similar development plans as the Magpies. Knockgriffin Park is renowned for its facilities and it is the clubs aim to constantly improve them for players and members. It is widely anticipated that within a very short period of time website and email communication will be the norm within a lot of clubs and organisations, it is Midleton Football Club's intention to utilise it to its full extent.

Billy,

Thank you for your interest in the site, I have enclosed a brief summary as a

text attachment for you.

Kindest Regards,

Pat Carroll

Lisanley,Cloyne,Co.Cork

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~midletonfc//

http://indigo.ie/~tcreedon/springfield.html), Midleton (http://homepage.tinet.ie/~midletonfc) Cork City (at least 4) and Cobh Ramblers. If there are others, I would be delighted to hear of them, because building links on the 'net also helps to build additional links between clubs. Our address is: http://indigo.ie/~joedoc/dhafc.html If you need more information, please let me know, Regards, Joe Doherty PRO Douglas Hall AFC