Please help the York Eagles U14 Girls get airborne

What is the fundraising about?

The amazingly talented and dedicated York Eagles Basketball Club U14 girls’ team is raising funds for a once in a lifetime trip to attend a basketball camp in Los Angeles, USA during the 2024 Easter school holidays.

Who are York Eagles?

York Eagles Basketball Club is one of Northern England’s most successful community basketball clubs. It was founded in 2008 by Head Coach, Dave Smith, and operates on a not-for-profit basis, providing basketball activities for boys and girls, for both performance and recreational purposes, with over 1,000 visits per month from youth players. The Club has won an impressive 8 North Conference titles including the Eagles U18’s men’s team completing an incredible second consecutive unbeaten season (20-0) in 2022/2023 to retain their crown as North Conference Champions. On an individual level, the Eagles now have a track record of feeding juniors into national teams, recently including Ollie Bishop representing England at U14’s and George Andrews being selected to play for Tanzania at U16’s. The recent development of girls’ basketball at the club at national league level is evidence of the club’s commitment to equality and diversity.

About the York Eagles U14s girls’ team

Girls’ basketball is still in its infancy at York Eagles, with the first players having only walked through its doors in 2019. By 2021 there were enough players to play occasional friendly community league matches. The girls rose to Coach Ghada’s challenge of playing at national basketball league level in the 2022/23 NBL season against some big northern teams just to gain experience. They exceeded expectations finishing the season a very respectable 6th place out of 10. At the time of press, in the current 2023/24 NBL season, the U14 girls remain undefeated after 9 games and are championship favourites in a very competitive national league. Their quick development since they started out is testament to their passion, enthusiasm and dedication to the game, and the hard work of their inspirational coaches.

What is the LA trip about?

York Eagles would like to build on the incredible start that the U14 girls have shown and provide them with the very best opportunities to excel within the game and further their own personal development. Each of the players has demonstrated a real commitment to the game, and it is hoped that the opportunity to participate in the trip will create a lifetime bond with the sport.

What will the Eagles be doing on the trip?

The LA tour will involve a week of intensive basketball. The exact programme is still to be finalised but it is currently planned to include training and games at the prestigious Sierra Canyon High School (whose girls’ team are 5-time winners of the California state championships) and the Santa Monica Basketball Academy. The trip will also allow the players an opportunity to showcase their skills on the iconic Venice Beach basketball courts in the shadow of Muscle Beach, as well as attend an NBA game at the famous Crypto.com Arena with the LA Lakers or the LA Clippers.

A tribute to Coach John Stewart

The trip will also be used to pay tribute to and honour John Stewart who sadly passed away in 2023 from cancer. John, whose son Cameron plays for the U13 boys, had coached the squad since the players joined the Club as youngsters. He was super passionate about basketball as a fan, player and coach and the trip to LA is a perfect way to honour his legacy and remember him. He will be deeply missed by the Club and the players that he coached.

Read more as reported by The Press. https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23890456.york-eagles-basketball-honour-passionate-former-coach-john-stewart/

Who will be supporting the Eagles on the trip?

This is a joint trip with the U13 boys’ team. The U14 girls and U13 boys will be accompanied to the LA camp by Coach Ghada Khattab (Coach of the U14 girls), Coach Tyler Paton-Pottage (assistant Head Coach at York Eagles and Red Star Camp Coach) and Coach Steve Hardisty (Coach of the U13 boys).

Coach Ghada commented “The inclusion of the U14 girls on the LA trip is a slam dunk for the Club and demonstrates that it really takes seriously its commitment to equality and inclusivity. Not only do the U14 girls compete at the highest standard in their own league, they punch above their weight when lining up against the boys, and it will be a pleasure to see their keen rivalry with the U13 boys play out on the courts of LA”.

Coach Tyler said “This is a group of players that have each demonstrated that they have the potential and desire to compete at the very highest level, and the trip to LA will provide an incredible opportunity for them to experience coaching and gamecraft at the highest level.”

Coach Steve added “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all players on the trip to live and breathe basketball in what is one of the world’s most famous and best ranked cities for basketball. There could be no better springboard or motivation for them to accelerate their development and understanding of this amazing sport. This is also bigger than just the game and will hopefully enable the players to absorb a different culture and form new friendships across the world with others also sharing a passion for the sport.”

The U14 girls attending the trip:

- Danika Croft, 2021/2022 Joint MVP Eagles Award

o Favourite NBA teams: LA Lakers

o Favourite WNBA players: Maya Moore

o School: Millthorpe School, York

- Maya Foulkes, 2021/2022 Joint MVP Eagles Award

o Favourite NBA teams: LA Lakers

o Favourite WNBA players: Sabrina Ionescu

o School: Millthorpe School, York

- Amelie Hetherton, 2021/2022 Special Player Eagles Award, 2022/2023 MVP Eagles Award

o Favourite NBA teams: Golden State Warriors

o Favourite WNBA players: Steph Curry and Elena Delle Donne

o School: Archbishop Holgate’s CE School, York

- Molly Jones

o Favourite NBA teams: Boston Celtics

o School: St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate

- Zofia Parsons, 2022/2023 Special Player Eagles Award, 2023 Miss Hustle at Red Star Camp

o Favourite NBA teams: LA Lakers

o Favourite WNBA players: Breanna Stewart

o School: All Saints RC School, York

- Grace Roberts

o Favourite NBA teams: LA Lakers

o School: Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering

What will be funds be spent on?

LA isn’t a cheap destination! Players are paying for their own flights, travel and spending money. They are then being asked to fundraise at least £1k each to help cover the costs of accommodation, food, transport, kit and basketball camp activities. Although we are looking to raise a substantial sum of money, it is unlikely to cover all the costs of the trip, and therefore each player will be expected to cover any shortfall from their own funds.

Small print

The organisation of this amazing trip is well under way but if it fails to happen for any reason (whether by reason of adverse weather, industrial action, a repeat of COVID, a failure to raise the full funding required to finance the trip, minibus failure or otherwise!), all funds raised will be applied for another trip for the U13 boys’ and U14 girls’ squads and/or the benefit of the York Eagles Basketball Club, to further the fantastic community work that it does in developing young people in and through the sport of basketball. If the funds raised exceed the cost of the trip, any surplus will be applied for future trips and/or the benefit of York Eagles. The participation of each of the players on the trip is also subject to them strictly adhering to the York Eagles Code of Conduct, remaining as part of their respective squads and being available to travel with the squad. Where sufficient funds are raised the trip may be made available to additional players from York Eagles.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations to our fundraiser.

Whilst you are here

We would be grateful if you could also spend a few minutes checking out the great work done by one of York’s amazing local charities, The Snappy Trust, which is dedicated to maximising the personal development of children and young people with learning difficulties.

Please check them out, and donate, here: https://www.thesnappytrust.org

As a community club open to all, the York Eagles is often attended by children with learning difficulties. Within the confinements of regular sessions, it is difficult to provide the more tailored approach that is required for children with disabilities. As a club, we would like to do more. So once our fundraiser hits £10,000, 15% of all funds (up to £1,500) will be applied by York Eagles into providing dedicated sessions for children with learning difficulties, to be organised in conjunction with The Snappy Trust. All players attending the LA trip have committed to assist with the programme to provide some hands-on and engaging activities for children that aren’t necessarily able to participate in mainstream sports through traditional routes.