The Raptors basketball club based in Rossendale are expanding into Accrington and Blackburn as they seek to grow the club and offer additional opportunities for young people to play basketball. The Club have formed links with Blackburn Rovers who, through the Premier League for Sport Programme, are supporting the club to reach out to young people across East Lancashire.

New sessions will be delivered for 10-16 year olds at Accrington Academy on Fridays between 5-6 pm and at St Wilfrids in Blackburn 6-7pm for girls aged 10-16 and 7-8pm for boys aged 10-16. It is hoped that these new sessions will attract players new to the sport as well as young people with some experience in Basketball. The sessions will be coached by experienced qualified CRB cleared coaches. Former England International and Rossendale Raptors star player Steven Gayle will be coaching the sessions in Blackburn on a Tuesday night and is keen to share his experience with younger players

"I started playing basketball as a young kid in central Manchester and it helped keep me out of trouble. Basketball has helped me to travel the world, play in different countries and make a career from sport. I've played for teams all over the country and am excited to share my experience and skills with the next generation of basketball players and maybe inspire them to a better future whilst having a lot of fun at the same time!"

The partnership with Blackburn Rovers is an important one for the Club, and a relationship which may blossom in the future. Many of Europes most prestigious basketball clubs are strongly linked with top European Football clubs who share resources and interlink community engagement programmes. Teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv and others have dominated European basketball in recent years and demonstrates that the two sports can work well together.

For more information about basketball sessions in Rossendale, Accrington or Blackburn visit www.rossendaleraptors.co.uk