How Middleton Sports Club Increased Membership 50% by Finally Getting Onlin
A historic social club in Teesdale was chasing members with a paper list and losing money to no-shows. We built a website with online ticketing and membership renewals – membership grew 50%, events took advance payments, and tourists could finally find them.
50% increase in membership
Advance event payments secured
Tourists and caravanners can now book
About the Project
Middleton in Teesdale Sports and Social Club is a historic community venue in County Durham – a gathering place for events, sports, and celebrations. The club has served the local area for years, but by late 2022, they knew they needed to modernise.
A grant opportunity came up that required digital improvements. Younger committee members saw the opportunity: build a website, reach more people, make it easier to join and book events.
But first, they needed to fix the systems that were holding them back.
The Challenge
Middleton Sports Club had three problems that were costing them members and revenue:
Archaic membership system
Want to renew your membership? You had to be in the club bar when the secretary was there. Your name got written on a piece of paper. That was it. Every year, the secretary would chase people down to renew. If you weren’t there at the right time, you didn’t pay – and eventually, you stopped being a member.
No advance event payments
Events were promoted on Facebook and often sold out. But tickets were manual, paper-based, and paid for on the night. No advance commitment meant:
- Uncertain attendance (people said they’d come, then didn’t)
- Cash flow problems (no money until the event happened)
- Missed opportunities (tourists visiting the area couldn’t book ahead)
Invisible to visitors
Middleton-in-Teesdale attracts tourists and caravanners exploring the North Pennines. But without a website, the club was invisible to anyone who didn’t already know it existed. Locals knew where it was. Visitors didn’t.
The Solution
We built a website that solved all three problems:
Online membership renewals
Members can now renew online whenever it’s convenient for them – not just when the secretary happens to be in. We added an optional donation feature, and some members now pay more than the standard membership fee to support the club.
Event ticketing system
We implemented online ticketing so people can book and pay in advance. Typically, 30% of tickets sell online, with the rest still sold in person or on the night. For major events like Bootleg Blondie tribute acts, the club sold 40 tickets online out of a ~160-seat capacity.
Advance payments mean:
- Better cash flow (money comes in before the event)
- Reduced no-shows (people are committed once they’ve paid)
- Tourists can book ahead (no need to risk turning up and finding it sold out)
Searchable online presence
The website made the club discoverable. Visitors searching for things to do in Teesdale can now find the club, see what’s on, and book tickets. The club went from relying on word-of-mouth and Facebook posts to being a searchable, bookable venue.
The Results
Since launching the website in late 2022:
- Membership increased by over 50% – online renewals made it easy for people to stay members instead of lapsing
- Events started taking advance payments – improved cash flow and reduced no-shows
- Major events saw strong online booking – like Bootleg Blondie, which sold 40 tickets online
- Website traffic spiked during event promotions – February 2023 saw nearly 300 visitors when promoting a major event, August 2024 saw over 400 visitors
The club now has a sustainable foundation for growth. Members can renew whenever it suits them. Events can be promoted and booked online. Visitors exploring the area can find them.
What Our Clients Say
Kane has been brilliant with the set up for our website. He has thought of every detail and has always given us great feedback and guidance. Since the launch of our website we have seen increased membership as customers can now pay via the website, as well as the ticket sales which have doubled also. We’ve also found that being searchable we’ve welcomed a lot more visitors into the bar which is absolutely brilliant. Kane is fantastic at his job and has a good idea for what businesses need from a website to suit their needs. Thanks Kane. 
