Partnership opens new horizons for local basketball opportunities

Grassroots basketball in Northamptonshire has received a boost thanks to a new partnership between the county’s university and amateur basketball club.

The University of Northampton and Northamptonshire Titans have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at supporting the game’s growth across the county.

The agreement, which was signed on Tuesday 5 December, formally recognises the intentions of the University and Northamptonshire Titans to collaborate on several projects.

Benefits for the University and its students and staff will include offering increased opportunities for the University’s players to receive high quality coaching and training to progress their emerging talent, while Northamptonshire Titans will benefit from regular use of on-site facilities.

Scott Bradley, Head of Science within the Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology at the University, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Northamptonshire Titans.

“We have a strong basketball culture locally and we can tap into this via the partnership, which will provide an opportunity for the University to continue player development for students alongside their studies, as well as produce a BUCS program which will, in time, compete with the very best.

“Through the partnership we can support Northamptonshire Titan’s objectives of growing regional basketball at all levels. In doing this, we are not only supporting the thriving local basketball scene, but also having positive social impact on people in the county, which is a key driver for the University.”

Director of Basketball Operations at Northamptonshire Titans, Pete Burgoine adds: “Northamptonshire Titans are delighted to announce that we have reached a partnership agreement with the University of Northampton. This agreement aims to increase participation in basketball at the University by providing more access to the sport.

“The agreement will mean more resources for the sport in the region, including better facilities, coaching and support. It will also open up increased opportunities for young players to receive high quality coaching and training, to enable them to progress to the higher levels of basketball. It will help develop the Titans senior programme into an elite team that can compete at the highest levels in the country.

“This agreement is a major step forward in the development of basketball in Northamptonshire and will help create an exciting future for the sport, completing the local performance pathway and help to “keep talent local”.

“We are proud to be part of this partnership and look forward to seeing the results it will bring. We would like to thank University of Northampton for their help in creating this agreement and for their commitment to the development of basketball in the county.”

Find out more about Northamptonshire Titans via the organisation’s website.

Find out more about the Northampton Energy Elite Athlete Scholarship at the University of Northampton.