Preston Harriers, one of the UK’s oldest and most respected athletics clubs, was running into problems with their website – literally. Built on Wix, their old site was glitchy, slow to load, and difficult for members to use. Key information like club news, results and event updates were hard to find, and the site no longer reflected the club’s history, community or ambitions. It was time for an upgrade.
The committee reached out to Thrive Digital to help modernise their online presence. The priorities were clear:
Build a fresh, modern website that worked across all devices
Ensure easy navigation of the club’s busy news and blog section
Make it simple for members and potential new athletes to submit enquiries or join the club
Showcase the range of training groups, events and services clearly
Create a clean, user-friendly layout that reflects the club’s proud identity
The club also wanted a designer who would listen to their needs – not just deliver a cookie-cutter template.
We designed a custom 12-page WordPress website, with a structure tailored to how Preston Harriers’ members actually use the site. Navigation was key, so we gave the news section extra attention, ensuring it was categorised clearly (e.g. results, fixtures, notices) and easy to browse whether you’re a sprinter, long-distance runner or club parent.
We built out distinct pages for the club’s services, history, membership, and results—all wrapped in a clean, professional layout that feels local and personal, just like the club itself. The design is fully responsive and quick to load, with on-page SEO built in from the start to help boost visibility.
Throughout the process, we worked closely with the club, adapting the layout and content based on their feedback and refining the structure until everything felt right.
The result is a modern, fast, and easy-to-navigate website that works beautifully on desktop, tablet and mobile. It’s already getting great feedback from members, and the club now has a digital home they can be proud of.
Here’s what Preston Harriers had to say:
“The outcome was a professional, modern, fresh, easy to navigate website for PC, tablet or mobile, which has delighted club members.
I would recommend Gaby to design any website, for individuals, societies or businesses. She was a pleasure to work with.”
We continue to offer ongoing support and maintenance as the club updates its content, shares results and grows its membership.