Gladiators pop in to visit pupils
East Kilbride school kids were thrilled when players from Caledonia Gladiators stopped by for a coaching session ahead of the British Basketball League (BBL) Trophy Final.
Jonny Bunyan and Kyle Jimenez visited Duncanrig Secondary last week following the news that Scotland’s only professional basketball team are to build a stateof-the-art professional stadium at Playsport, East Kilbride.
Donating branded merchandise including foam fingers, foam gladiator helmets and clappers, the players also led a basketball coaching session for excited pupils.
The club, which announced it is moving its facilities to East Kilbride this summer, competed in its first BBL Trophy Final in nine years against Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday in front of a sell-out crowd at Emirates Arena (see page 34).
And youngsters from the East Kilbride school were there cheering on their new home side.
Chris Fabian, principal teacher of pupil support and head basketball coach at Duncanrig, said: “We were delighted to have Gladiators players Jonny and Kyle come along and work with some of our own budding young basketball players.
“All the pupils who had the opportunity to train with them enjoyed it immensely and hopefully some of them may be inspired to elevate their own game.
“Everyone at the school would like to wish the Caledonia Gladiators all the very best at the British Basketball League finals at the weekend.”
Caledonia Gladiators secured their place in the BBL Trophy Final after defeating Derby Trailblazers 83-65 earlier this month in the semi-final.
It was the first time they have reached the final since they lost 8376 to Worcester Wolves in 2013/14.
It was also a chance for the club to win their first silverware since they won the BBL Playoffs in 2002/3.
Gareth Murray, Caledonia Gladiators head coach, said ahead of the final: “We can’t wait. Cheshire Phoenix is a tough operation but Gladiators are playing well and building momentum every match.
“Playing to a sell-out crowd on home soil is a superb opportunity for us to make history for the club. Having support from kids, families and sporting fans from all over
Scotland means the world to us and hearing that roar of the home-crowd will be the added motivation for us to secure the win.”
The team, formerly Glasgow Rocks, have big plans for the Lanarkshire town over the next three years.
Caledonia Gladiators have announced an ambitious £20million plan to build ‘Europe’s finest basketball stadium’ in East Kilbride – which could also see the town host regular music concerts.
Club owner and smart meter millionaire Steve Timoney and his wife Alison announced the largest single investment in Scottish basketball history, when they revealed they will embark on a two-stage project for a 6000-seater development at the Playsport facility in Stewartfield.
It is earmarked for completion in 2026 and is also expected to bring a jobs boost to the town.
Gladiators hope the stadium can also act as a concert venue that can ‘fill the gap between mid to large size venues’, such as the 14,000-seater OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
And the club have ambitious plans to make Playsport – which is owned by Mr and Mrs Timoney – home to the Team GB basketball squad.