As the Newcastle Eagles Central Venue League prepares to mark its 20th anniversary next month the Eagles Community Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of its newest junior basketball club, the Ponteland Panthers.

Working in partnership with Ponteland schools, this new club will tap into the growth the sport is seeing across the region, after the foundation surpassed a record membership of almost 2,000 young players across its existing 12 clubs last season.

“We are constantly working to increase the range and available access of our programme”, said Ian MacLeod, Eagles Community Foundation Development Manager.

“Ponteland is an area that we have been very keen to have club provision in and it will be an excellent addition to the foundation’s programme.”

The Panthers become the foundation’s 13th club and will be headed up by experienced community coach Chris Applewhite, who has been responsible for the impressive development and growth of the Gosforth Goliaths.

Coach Applewhite is now taking his talents into Northumberland to ignite this new site and sessions start as soon as next week at Ponteland Community Primary School.

Thursdays will welcome Ponteland’s Under 10s, 12s and 16s, and then on Fridays its Under 14s as well as a dedicated hour of girls only coaching for Under 12 and Under 14 age groups.

Club memberships and weekly coaching is available on the Eagles membership platform know as ‘The Nest’ and players can be signed up to one free taster session now.