Newcastle mobile firm scores Women’s EURO 2017 contract

Fans and staff travelling to UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 fixtures in the Netherlands this summer are being encouraged to get more active thanks to a new mobile app developed by a Newcastle-based mobile consultancy.

The Active Match App has been launched by the European Healthy Stadia Network in partnership with the European governing body for football – UEFA – and the World Heart Federation in a bid to encourage more fans to walk or cycle to games at UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, which takes place across seven Dutch cities from next week.

The European Healthy Stadia Network, a body set up to promote public health policies and practices across European sports arenas, commissioned award-winning web and mobile development firm Gospelware to design and build the app.

Gospelware builds bespoke mobile and web applications to transform the digital presence of businesses for a range of sectors including healthcare, retail and the automotive sector. The multi award-winning company was established in 2010 by Michael Dunn and Ryan Davies and have quickly grown into one of the North East’s biggest mobile consultancies.

The Active Match App provides users with maps and directions to host venues whilst detecting details of distance travelled, calories burned and details of CO2 emissions saved by not driving to the fixture. Users can log journeys throughout the tournament to enter draws for tournament balls and tickets for the final in Enschede on Sunday 6 August.

Michael Dunn, Founder and Commercial Director of Gospelware said: “We are delighted to have worked with The European Healthy Stadia Network to design and build The Active Match App.

“The app is sophisticated in its build in that it tracks how a user gets to a venue, using GPS to determine how fast they are going and discounting any speed over a certain threshold to ensure they haven’t travelled by car when they say they are walking or cycling.

“Women’s football has risen in prominence and popularity over the last decade, but over half of women living in Europe still do not meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.

“This app is designed to get users thinking about the health and lifestyle benefits of walking or cycling whilst incentivising them in the process.”

Matthew Philpott, executive director of the European Healthy Stadia Network, said: “We hope the app will foster an ‘active’ culture, encouraging both fans and tournament staff to make walking and cycling the default choice for all shorter journeys.”

Commenting on UEFA.com, Peter Gilliéron, chairman of the UEFA Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee, said: “UEFA is committed to helping people from all over Europe look after their hearts and lead healthier lifestyles. By demonstrating that walking and cycling are viable modes of transport on a matchday, we hope to provide more opportunities for fans to leave their cars at home.”

The Active Match App is the latest in a string of high-profile developments for the growing consultancy, which counts the NHS, BBC and Nissan amongst its client portfolio.

In April, Michael and co-founder Ryan flew out to New York to receive a Webby Award for Best User Interface on mobile app for the Realrider crash detection application for their client, Gateshead-based Realrider Technologies. Gospelware beat off stiff competition from global brands such as Dollar Shave Club and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for the award, widely considered as the leading international awards on the web, apps, video and social media.

The Active Match App is now available to download:

Android – Google Play

iOS – App Store