Sherford’s new multi-use games area has been opened by members of professional basketball team Plymouth Raiders, who took to the court to shoot hoops with local children.
In a game of pros versus pupils, the team took on children from Sherford Vale, to celebrate the launch of the new community facility in style.
Members of the Plymouth Raiders British Basketball League squad – Andrew Lawrence, Elvisi Dusha, Will Neighbour and Liam Langridge-Barker – were joined by head coach Paul James, general manager Phil Hughes and club trainer Elliot Coackrell, to mentor the groups of school children and teach new skills, in an afternoon of fun. It was the first community activity that the Raiders squad has been able to engage in for over a year.
In groups of 10, three sets of pupils from Sherford Vale’s Otter, Badger and Deer classes – all aged between 6 and 11 – got stuck into the challenges set by the Raiders, picking up some pro tips, and having a huge amount of fun in the sunshine during a truly memorable training session.
The new multi-use games area (MUGA) is part of a range of new facilities at Sherford. It is a secure outdoor space for sport, learning and play. Suitable for a variety of sports, from basketball and netball to football and hockey, residents and visitors of all ages can enjoy different sports within one accessible area.
Raiders general manager, Phil Hughes, said:
“For us as a club, this event is the first for quite some time where our professional players have been able to interact with the local community so the welcome we received and the keenness to learn from the children of Sherford certainly added to the enjoyment of everyone involved.”
Suzi Mills, a member of the teaching staff at Sherford Vale, added:
“The coaches encouraged the children to really practise, perfect, and showcase their skills and the children loved taking part! It was a fantastic afternoon for all involved and we were thankful to be part of it.”
