Gooner

https://github.com/mc-rizzy/basic-website/tree/main

⚽ What it does

Gooner is a one-stop platform for Arsenal fans. It brings together:

Real-time news and match updates

In-depth fan-driven analysis and opinion pieces

Live matchday chat and fan forums

Curated Arsenal social media highlights

A community-powered blog for fan stories, rants, and chants

Whether you're checking the lineup or joining the banter, Gooner keeps you connected to the club and the culture — 24/7.

🛠️ How we built it

We built Gooner using a modern tech stack:

Frontend: React + Tailwind CSS for a fast, clean, responsive UI

Backend: Node.js with Express, connected to a MongoDB database

Authentication: Firebase Auth for user sign-up/login

APIs: Integrated with football data APIs for live scores and stats

Hosting: Deployed on Vercel with CDN caching for performance

We also used web scraping (ethically) for relevant fan content and live social media feeds.

🧱 Challenges we ran into

Data consistency: Live match data from third-party APIs wasn't always reliable or synchronized

Content moderation: Balancing free fan expression with responsible community standards

Design scope creep: It was tempting to keep adding features and lose focus

Fan engagement: Encouraging meaningful contributions from early users required constant iteration

🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of

Launched a working MVP in just a few weeks

Built a small but passionate early user base

Got shoutouts from a few Arsenal fan pages on social media

Created a truly clean, ad-free interface focused on the fan experience

Had multiple users say: “This is what we’ve been waiting for!”

📚 What we learned

Arsenal fans are incredibly vocal — and crave platforms where they can express that passion

UI/UX is just as important as features — people stay because it feels good to use

Building a niche community takes time, trust, and active engagement

Even the smallest features (like a live match thread) can become a fan favorite when done right

🔮 What's next for Gooner

Mobile app launch — for real-time push notifications and smoother matchday chat

Fan polls & match predictions — bring more interactivity to the community

User profiles & badges — reward loyal contributors and superfans

Podcast & video content — featuring fan panels and special guests

Partnerships with supporter groups and creators across the globe

We’re just getting started. Gooner is more than a website — it’s the voice of the Arsenal faithful.

Built With

• next
• tailwind