EVERTON LAUNCH BASKETBALL TEAM

Everton is living up to its People's Club reputation by helping form the Everton Tigers Basketball Club.

The new team will play at the very highest level, the British Basketball League, and the Everton in the Community registered charity is at the very heart of the initiative.

EitC Trustee, Gary Townsend, explained a bit more about this exciting new venture:

"It probably started about ten years ago when Everton in the Community began working with Toxteth Tigers. It started off as just football coaching but it has developed, embracing race and diversity issues, and six months ago we decided to form Everton Tigers."

The move will see the creation of an elite professional basketball team as well as dramatically increasing the level of community work offered in the Merseyside area.

The new club will be formed from the existing Toxteth Tigers Programme that has enjoyed success from a grass roots level right up to international standard for over 40 years.

The Tigers are currently the biggest provider of basketball opportunities in Liverpool and are involved in a range of initiatives that reach over 1,500 people each year. They have also forged links with Liverpool Community College to form the Basketball Academy.

"Everton in the Community reached out to over 35,000 people last year and that's a figure that we want to improve on even more," added Townsend.

"The basketball will certainly help us to achieve that. The potential crossover between the football fans and the basketball followers is fantastic.

"We are the only North West team confirmed to take place in the BBL next season and I am sure many of our football supporters will take an interest in Everton Tigers."

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