This week, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have taken a major step forward in the realisation of their plans to institute an ambitious junior basketball programme through reaching an agreement with the Ellesmere Port Panthers through which they will become a part of The Jets organisation and will be known as BiG Storage Cheshire Jets from the start of the   2008/9 season.

Ellesmere Port Panthers are undoubtedly one of the most successful junior basketball clubs in the whole country.   They have won a grand total of 13 national titles since 2002 and currently boast no fewer than 9 England Internationals and 4 Welsh Internationals at various age-groups within the club’s playing membership.

Kim Leedham, Chairman of Ellesmere Port Panthers said ‘as a club, we are delighted to become part of The Jets organisation. While we have had a great deal of success in our own right this new arrangement will provide an even better and more competitive environment for all our young people. We will benefit both through attracting the elite players from the 10 new junior clubs which   BiG Storage Cheshire Jets are   currently in the process setting up across Cheshire, North Wales and The Wirral and from the whole Jets brand which will provide a huge motivation for our boys and girls.’

Peter Hawkins Director of BiG Storage Cheshire Jets continued ‘we are absolutely delighted to have worked with the Panthers committee produce a scheme by which they can become part of The Jets organisation. The club operates at the highest level of professionalism and with ex-Jets supremo Mike Burton as Head Coach, providing one of the best training environments for young elite basketball players in the country. As we deliver our Hoops4Health programme to a minimum of 10,000 school children next year, they will all now have the opportunity to progress through our local league structure onto national league, then they can stay in the area through taking our foundation degree in sports coaching (basketball) at Chester University and eventually, we hope, form part of our BBL team.’

Paul Smith Director of Basketball at BiG Storage Cheshire Jets added ‘Mike (Burton) and I have worked together for many years and together we will be ensuring we put the coaching structures in place to deliver a consistent standard across the entire age-range; starting with teaching 7 year olds to dribble a ball through to developing elite athletes for our BBL team. This is definitely a time of opportunity for young people in Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral with ambitions to be the best basketball player they can be.’

Alongside this BiG Storage Cheshire Jets are in the process of establishing 10 local teams for young people who want to continue to develop their basketball outside of the school environment.