England and Lancashire fast bowler James “Jimmy” Anderson is celebrating ten outstanding years in cricket and to mark the occasion Manchester based digital agency Cahoona has created www.jamesanderson613.com on behalf of the James Anderson Benefit Committee.
In just five days, the website has been visited by 3000 people while the Twitter account @613anderson has reached over 2000 followers. Jimmy’s England colleagues Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan, and former England captain Michael Vaughan have all helped spread the message to their followers.
Visitors to the website can follow Jimmy’s illustrious career through a series of real time data and statistic charts and diagrams (known as infographics). Fans also have the opportunity to honour James’ benefit year with limited edition signed prints that represent his achievements, as well as the chance to book tickets for special events throughout the year.
James Anderson said: “My benefit year has got off to an amazing start with the launch of the James Anderson 613 website. I’ve been inundated with well-wishers, but most importantly we’ve started to raise money for my chosen charities, Nordoff Robbins, Chance to Shine and the Activate Sport Foundation.
“Cahoona has done a great job on the site, and I am really looking forward to seeing how the site grows and what else The James Anderson Benefit Committee can achieve over the year.”
The website was built using Raphaël.js; a JavaScript library that allows developers to create beautifully rendered vectors for websites across all major platforms. By combining this technology with Opta Sports data, the James Anderson infographics can update dynamically, in real time within the browser. Opta Sports is an organisation that collect, package and distribute information on around 60,000 sporting fixtures, giving fans an unparalleled insight into the fundamentals of sport.
Cahoona director Ben Holden said: “It’s been a pleasure and a privilege working with one of Britain’s top cricketers. We’re really proud of the site and it truly demonstrates the potential of real-time vector graphics in changing the way people experience high profile sporting events online.
“We’re confident that the James Anderson Benefit Year site will set a trend for this kind of digital activity and Cahoona are already discussing the creation of further branded sporting experiences using the technology behind this site.”
A snap shot of James Anderson’s Career
James began playing cricket for Burnley under 11s when he was nine, before making his First XI debut at the age of 15. His first representative cricket matches came when he played for the Lancashire Under 15s B team, prior to joining Lancashire Under 19s. He made his First team debut at the end of the 2001 season. The following season he made his first-class debut at Old Trafford against Surrey, finishing the season with 50 first-class wickets and winning a place on the England Academy in Australia.
He was soon handed his One Day International (ODI) debut against Australia at the MCG, picking up Adam Gilchrist as his first international wicket. He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003, taking 11 wickets in a two-nil series win. He then took a hat trick against Pakistan at The Oval in that same summer’s ODI series, and later helped England to a four-nil Test series whitewash against West Indies in 2004.
The Ashes of 2010/11 were a major high point for James and the England team. In taking 24 wickets in their three-one series win, James became England’s second-highest wicket-taker on an Ashes tour down under, behind the legendary Frank Tyson. James currently finds himself the second-highest ranked bowler in Test cricket, and seventh highest England wicket-taker of all time. He’s currently England’s second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, behind Darren Gough.
For all the latest information and news on James Anderson’s Benefit Year visit www.jamesanderson613.com.
Twitter: @613anderson
Facebook: facebook/jamesanderson613
Twitter: @wearecahoona
-Ends-
For Further Information Contact:
Lisa Ashurst, Ashurst Communications on 07973 401123 or lisa@ashurstcomms.co.uk
Today award-winning, MediaCityUK based, floral design company Verdure is celebrating its most successful Valentine’s Day ever, with over 200 arrangements delivered across Greater Manchester in just eight hours.
Valentine sales are up 52% on last year. The most popular arrangement was Valentine’s Roses and the most expensive delivery they made was a request for a bespoke arrangement worth £375.
Kai Leek, Verdure said: “We’re thrilled at the response to our Valentine’s Day collection, it’s always a pleasure to deliver our flowers, it’s even better when they are a surprise. This year has been our most successful so far, and it goes to show that despite these tough economic times romance, especially in Greater Manchester, is far from dead.”
Verdure hand delivered all flowers on 14 February to all areas of Greater Manchester including as far afield as Stockport, Wigan, Oldham and Rochdale as well as many locations in the city centre.
Partners Kai Leek and Adi Thomas set up floral design company Verdure in 2005. Based in MediaCityUK, Salford, the team of five provide flowers and floral design services for a wide range of customers including weddings, award ceremonies, product launches, parties, football clubs and concert venues. They have a very strong retail side to the business and are able to make deliveries across the UK. Verdure won silver gilt awards at RHS Tatton Park flower show in 2010 and 2011, and won best exhibition stand at the recent Tatton Park Wedding Show.
-Ends-
For Further Information Please Contact:
Lisa Ashurst, Ashurst Communications on 07973 401123 or lisa@ashurstcomms.co.uk
On Wednesday night Spinr, a new company that will develop and market mobile Apps was launched at the Shaping Cloud event at the University of Salford at MediaCityUK. Spinr is the new sister company to Shaping Cloud and it aims to turn people’s App ideas into reality with the help of students at the University.
Carlos Oliveira of Shaping Cloud and Spinr said: “If you have an idea for an App which would make your life easier, or just something more light-hearted, then Spinr offers the opportunity to turn it into reality without you needing any of the technical know-how.
“We created Spinr after realising that all those App ideas out there needed someone to turn them into reality. With the App incubator, we use our range of skills to create, market and look after the App. We aim to turn ideas into profitable, long-running Apps that you will be proud of.”
The Spinr team will look at how practical and marketable an App idea is, as well as its potential appeal to the target audience the App is aimed at.
Carlos continued: “If you think of an App that the world’s been missing, go to spi.nr and submit your idea. The submission form is easy to fill out, and gives you the option of selecting your App type and target age range. The Spinr team will assess the viability of your idea, and if we think it will work, we will take care of every aspect of the creation of your App.”
If an idea is successfully submitted, the originator will earn 30% of all subsequent profits. Spinr takes on all the associated costs and financial risk. In return Spinr retains all commercial rights and trademarks.
Professor Brian Longhurst, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Media and Digital Futures at the University of Salford also announced last night that Spinr will be working with students at the University to develop, build and deliver Apps, giving the students valuable experience while they study.
Professor Longhurst, said: “Spinr is a very exciting proposition and we’re looking forward to working with the team to see how we can develop our partnership. Offering students the chance to work on live projects is an excellent opportunity for them to develop their skills and build a portfolio of work.”
The team behind Spinr are at their heart strategic marketers, application specialists and business development experts. Spinr is partnership between Shaping Cloud, the application development specialists, and online marketing house 4Gen Media. Spinr was created to fill the gap in the market for a ‘one-stop-shop’ concept of development, design and marketing in the App industry.
-Ends-
For Further Information Please Contact
Lisa Ashurst, Ashurst Communications on 07973 401123 or lisa@ashurstcomms.co.uk