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Seasons of Honour - A Centenary History of New Zealand Hockey 1902 - 2002
Geoff Watson with Wilf Haskell |
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| the Online Home for Christchurch hockey info - My story |
| The Hockey Man |
The origins of the Online Home for Christchurch hockey info began in early 1999 with the creation of a website focusing on grass hockey in Christchurch. This grass website, “Hockey On Grass”, was used to learn about designing Internet pages.
As the year progressed, despite minimal advertising online viewing increased and interest grew as word got around. In early 2000, inquiries started to filter in requesting coverage of turf based hockey. The local association website was out of date and initial inquiries indicated no updates were planned. A separate website for turf hockey, “Canterbury Turf Hockey”, was created to meet the need for regularly updated results and information.
As the year came to an end, I realised that maintaining the two websites was not only time consuming, but also that there were a lot of areas that were common to both sites. So in November 2000, I embarked upon design work for a new and expanded website that would combine both grass and turf hockey in Christchurch as well as covering national tournaments and international events.
On 26 March 2001, the new website opened. With a leaning towards local content, the focus was primarily to the Christchurch hockey fraternity though topics of national and international flavour provided interest for a New Zealand wide audience. Out of respect for the local association, the new website was promoted as an unofficial one.
New Zealand wide notification of the website was made by email newsletter, an innovation at the time. The Weekly Update newsletter continues to this day and this website continues to provide new and improved methods for conveying information and promoting interest in hockey.
The initial aims and objectives have not changed and were covered in that first newsletter.
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. . . is the combination of Canterbury Turf Hockey and Hockey On Grass - both previously unofficial sites. Due to demand and the absence of updated web information, . . . has been expanded to meet those needs.
. . . you will find a veritable hockey feast for those "hard to find" items, curios and the basic necessities. Covering results from Christchurch and national competitions to such things as the online Rules Books references, there is something for all.
”
The newsletter also introduced my online persona – the Hockey Man – to the New Zealand hockey community.
Since 2001, the website has grown both in size and popularity. The amount and type of information provided has increased. Novel inclusions have been added to the site as new technology has become available. As a result, the website is regularly redesigned and improved with these enhancements.
News coverage has expanded with more national and international events displayed. Local, national and worldwide employment opportunities are included. Christchurch clubs and schools have their own information on individual pages. The comprehensive Events Calendar has information far into the future. The first regular New Zealand online hockey poll was established in May 2003 on this website. Kiwi Hockey Talkback Forums opened in early 2005. Recently, information about hockey specific products such as books, compact disks and other equipment has been included.
This year it has been renamed as the Online Home for Christchurch hockey info.
An average 42% annual growth in visitors since opening has elevated the Online Home for Christchurch hockey info to the position as one of the most visited hockey websites in New Zealand and assisted it to the #1 ranking in it’s category (Christchurch hockey) on Google.com.
My interest in hockey ensured the sport would be the subject when I established a website to learn about designing Internet pages. I have kept my interest in hockey while continuing to learn innovative web design techniques and enjoy the challenges of maintaining and providing this website for Christchurch hockey.
“when you love a sport, it’s easy to do it for years”.
Sir Bob Charles |
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