CHESHIRE Phoenix visited an Ellesmere Port primary school this week as part of the British Basketball League's Hoops4Health campaign.

Members of the first team, management and coaching staff arrived at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary in Little Sutton on Wednesday, February 8, to deliver an assembly and classroom sessions to pupils about the challenges that they faced when growing up and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Children were also able to ask first-teamers Larry Austin Jr, Will Neighbour, Tahjai Teague and Jamell Anderson about their favourite players, moves and to take a look at Jamell Anderson's gold medal, won with the England men's 3x3 team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Nix Hoops4Health Roadshow incorporates three stations: healthy eating, smoking cessation and basketball skills delivered by the clubs professionals. Each child taking part in the Roadshow receives a free ticket to one of Cheshire Phoenix' home games at the Cheshire Oaks Arena.

The club also run regular matchday clinics which have seen children across the borough engaging with the sport.

Speaking to the Standard, Jamell Anderson, said: "For me growing up, sport had a lot to do with the decisions that I made in life. Most kids love sport and I think by packaging healthy eating and staying away from drugs, with basketball, it's a really good way to get that message across."

Jamell's success with England has also given him an added sense of responsibility when hoping to inspire the next generation.

"It's everything. There's actually a lot of pressure in those moments.

"When I was younger, no one came into my school. I didn't know about basketball until I was 15, I'm pretty certain that if I'd of known about it sooner I would've started playing sooner. So when I'm stood in front of those kids I know that I could be inspiring the next Jamell Anderson, I could be inspiring someone who go to the olympics or the commonwealth games, so it's really important."

Chester and District Standard: St Mary of the Angels pupils sit for a special assembly.St Mary of the Angels pupils sit for a special assembly. (Image: Cheshire Phoenix)

St. Mary of the Angels' Headteacher, Helen Thorpe, said: "These are the most successful of all the sport initiatives that we've had visiting the school. The children are really engaged by the players and I think it's because of the interactiveness of the programme.

"Quite often the children will see sportspeople or they'll listen to sportspeople talking but they don't often get the opportunity to work alongside them, to actually do the physical activities and classroom activities they are doing now.

"So much of the 'big sport' is out of reach for so many people, the likes of Premiership football activities and things like that. They're simply unobtainable, but having this community initiative that's being brought to the children regardless of costing means that everybody gets that access and it makes a huge difference."

Cheshire Phoenix General Manager James Brice said that these programmes are as important for the club as they are for local schools.

"It's invaluable, it's what builds our fanbase. The bedrock of the club is community and the work that we do within it. Coming out to schools, engaging with the kids and inviting them to a game and getting their families involved. It's important that we do this work and in turn that's what fuels the pro team.

"We have a great group of professionals at the club and that is something we look for when we're recruiting in the summer: 'do they fit with the programme and the ethos of the club and what we want to deliver on and off the court?' It's really important that they buy into it and we have a great group that deliver it and enjoy doing it."

On the Hoops4Health campaign, James added: "It's bigger than basketball. It's about a healthy lifestyle and making good choices with regards to smoking and the harmful effects. It's having a real impact in communities where you ordinarily wouldn't get to see a big 6ft 11 basketball player telling you why you shouldn't smoke or a Commonwealth Games gold medalist explaining what sort of foods he's putting in his body to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

"The impact is huge and we can't underestimate it."