A new team of coaches have laid foundations for the sport of basketball in Beartown with the local community as the cornerstone.

Congleton Grizzlies launched in 2021 and the management team led by chairman Jack Purdham allied a wealth of coaching experience, including from across the Atlantic, to passions raised on the courts at home.

Bill Baxter, Ryan Anderson, Tom Watson and assistant coach Harry Holland were building the skills, techniques and court-awareness at a Monday night training session, along with the behaviours needed within a team.

Purdham highlighted that the youngsters' enjoyment will be the springboard to success at the club.

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He said: "It's not the parents, it's the kids. The kids won't lie.

"They'll wake up and go, 'Oh, it's only Tuesday, I've got to wait another week 'till basketball.'

"That's how I'm trying to see it."

Stockport Lapwings National Cup win in January could be a fillip for increased numbers of girls attending after Tokyo's summer Olympics brought wider inclusion from the tradition of the men's five-on-five game.

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Purdham said: "We've got some new faces that I've seen tonight.

"Some of the girls that I've seen play basketball, at the American level, are better than the lads that play basketball here (in the UK).

"My belief is, how it's growing at the moment, that by January 2023, we could put out an all-female team."

Monday night is for training across all the groups at the club, mixed juniors and seniors, with some progression of age-ready players into the adult set-up.

Girls can also register interest for their upcoming female team, set to be ready in just over eight months time.

Three boys were recently put forward by the club for the Aspire talent programme, Basketball England's training camp for player development in the 11-15 year old group.

The men's seniors closed out the session with drills and plays being finalised ahead of their first competitive fixture, against table-topping SK Nukes Red in Division Three of the Thursday Senior Mens League in Stockport.

The opponents, who only joined the division themselves at the start of this season, welcomed the arrival of fresh blood, because they will be seeing some new faces from outside of their area.

Nukes chairman Mark Shelley said: "No matter what the outcome, they will be given a good game."

A breadth of ages take part in the Congleton club, from young teens to older professionals.

Grizzlies head coach Ryan Anderson was sharpening any loose corners in preparation for the game and his chairman said the PE trainee teacher at Congleton High School has been the massive tip of the spear in terms of building coaching momentum in the ranks.

Branded team kits and training gear is helping with the off-court identity which the club is eager to build.

The Grizzlies bear logo is a nod to their home town and the club received support from local sponsors Stephenson Browne of High Street, and JS Trophies.

Jack Purdham said: "You've got all the kids in there, they might just have been to two or three sessions but all of them have got a kit with their name on it.

"(The kids) aren't at school together, but here they're all friends."

That hand of friendship was recently extended to Astbury Mere care home on Newcastle Road in Congleton, via a set of hand-written Christmas cards with notes from youngsters at the club.

Information about Congleton Grizzlies can be found via their website.

Congleton: You can follow them on Facebook, where you can also find their contact details.

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