Leeds digital brand's new product is in league of its own

Pitchero was set up nearly a decade ago with the aim of providing an online platform for amateur and grassroots sports teams.

Today people involved with more than 70,000 teams across the worlds of football, rugby, hockey, netball and cricket use its services to run professional-looking websites with the minimum of fuss – which in turn gives them extra time to spend on participation instead of administration.

And now the firm has announced details of Pitchero Play, which will allow clubs to create instant highlights from games with a digital app.

Users will be able to publish footage on a selected club website and social media channels within 60 seconds of the magical moment – be it a great goal, tackle or conversion – happening on the field.

Pitchero chief executive Mark Fletcher told Digital City: “Participation in grassroots and amateur sports is incredibly important to the future of sports teams and athletes here in the UK.

“We want Pitchero to be the network that allows clubs to focus their efforts on growing participation and engaging the next generation of sports stars.

“By making the technology work for the club we want to help them flourish and raise the level of grassroots sport across the country.”

Pitchero was founded by Mark and fellow entrepreneur Jon Milsom in 2007.

It recently moved from offices in Birstall to a base at Capitol Park in Tingley and is planning a major staff recruitment push that it says will boost its international presence.

The firm today described Pitchero Play as the “latest in a line of product developments that will look to expand the brand’s customer footprint both in the UK and international markets”.

It also said: “Capitalising on an emerging trend towards increased video consumption, the new tool is the latest example of Pitchero’s determination to grow participation in grassroots sport through digital technologies that empower the amateur clubs.

“With industry insight predicting that video consumption will form 80 per cent of internet traffic by 2019, Pitchero Play gives amateur clubs the opportunity to harness and embrace this trend to build engagement with their own communities.”

For further information about the firm and its services, visit the www.pitchero.com website.

The Yorkshire Evening Post recently launched its Digital City platform in partnership with Sky Betting & Gaming.

The platform is designed to highlight the giant strides being made by a sector that boasts around 3,000 organisations in Leeds.