Aspire 2 Achieve and the Sassco.co.uk Knightflyers say thank you to a local hero.

Aspire 2 Achieve and the Sassco.co.uk Knightflyers hosted a special awards ceremony at Coquet High School on Friday 26th for local hero, Joyce Richardson. Joyce, who is retiring at the end of the school year, has touched the lives of hundreds of young people in Northumberland.

The ceremony was attended by the Sassco.co.uk Knightflyers and students whom Joyce had taught over her career.

‘’Joyce, you have been a true inspiration to us all, you have dedicated a lot of your career to help create a sustainable basketball club in Northumberland which is ran the right way, we are honoured to have worked along side you and had your support’’ said Alan Hoyle from Aspire 2 Achieve ‘’your input into Aspire 2 Achieve has been invaluable and our whole organization thanks you for everything you have done for us.’’

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Alan Hoyle
Alan Hoyle is one of only two players in the United Kingdom to score over 100 points in a game, a feat he has achieved three times scoring 113, 107 and a UK and Europe high 121 points, each in a single game.

Alan grew up in Northumberland and is an inspiration to young people in the area. Aspire 2 Achieve is a local organisation which gives young people the opportunity to participate in activities and learn new skills which they thought were ‘out of reach’ to them. Whether it is through coaching or mentoring, Alan is a positive role model to everyone he comes into contact with.

Isobelle Gibson
Isobelle Gibson grew up in Northumberland and has first hand experience of both playing and coaching in the region. Isobelle plays for the Northumberland Knightflyers senior team while coaching the junior club. She has achieved personal success this year by being named Northumberland’s Student of the Year.

Michael Fittes

Michael Fittes went through school with Alan Hoyle and shares his dream of giving back to the community. He has worked with young people in other projects around Northumberland and has experience of working with children of all ages.

All our staff have experience with coaching basketball in Northumberland and other areas in the UK. Our head coach Alan Hoyle has over 9 years coaching experience and has received training from the six time World Champions, the Chicago Bulls. Our unique experience allows us to offer an unmatched training programme to people of all abilities.

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Brian, as Team Secretary, has known all the background goings on within the Sassco Organisation for the last few years.

Brian has always been involved in football even from an early age, playing for school teams and numerous youth teams often in goal or the heart of the defence and although age has crept up on him he has kept his passion for the game.
 
He Formed Downhill Wolves Under-10’s in 2003 which folded in 2006 after 3 succesful years having been promoted in our very first season albeit at small sided football. It nearly became Sassco Wolves, but it folded before having the chance (Sassco Impact took on the youth mantle for Sassco, the following season).
 
Then he became secretary of Sassco in 2006, having been contacted to find the club a new secretary. He took the job himself and enjoyed every minute. He also formed the new ALS sponsored 6 a side team which competed in the Sassco League, which folded due to the lack of commitment by the players. As for the 11-a-side, Brian had to resign at the end of the 2008/09 season, due to the formation of a new youth team of which he is the assistant manager, called Northside United Under-15’s, competing in the third division of the Russell Foster Youth League.

He then re-took his post of secretary of Sassco for the 2009/2010 season.

Q) You’ve been with Sassco for a number of seasons now. What are your impressions of the team, the set up, the players, etc. having already been in charge of other teams yourself in the past?

WATSON: The team on the whole are a great bunch of lads. The set-up has also to be commended and I’m proud to be a small cog in a well oiled machine, as there are a number of us on the management staff , General Manager Sangha, Coaches Greenwell and Pearson, Captain Dave Gourlay and even tea boy Muers, who all muck in when the chips are down. As it was the exact opposite when I had my youth team. I only had one person who would help now and again (and the failed Sassco duo*) but it was to no avail as the club folded after 3 years.

* That was Mickey Donkin, who failed to coach the youth team.

Q) After winning the Fair Play Trophy for 2006, Sassco have turned into the “bad boys” of the division with a number of yellow cards, including a major red card in the incident we’re not allowed to mention. Why do you think the discipline has suffered?

WATSON: It should be drummed into the players heads by the management/captain – NO DISSENT, I can’t remember the last time a Sassco player was booked for a rash challenge (can you?). However our discipline has improved slightly due to the removal of certain players (hotheads) and harmony has been restored to the dressing room.

Q) Sassco famously never train, or warm up before games. What do you think of this?

WATSON: Well I guess its because of work commitments and the six a side league, that Sassco never train, however I think the team should warm up before a match led by the captain / coaches*.

* Simon Mulvaney took the role or pre-match warm up in Portugal.

Q) How have your dealings with the League, opposing teams and the Council been as you tend to be the main point of contact.

WATSON: My dealings with everyone concerned have been ok, just a few problem teams who fail to contact you sometimes and you have to contact them!

Q) As Team Sec. you tend to be given an open reign by General Manager, Sangha. Do you think you have full autonomy to do what your think is best for Sassco, or do you think your hands are tied?

WATSON: Although I’ve got full power to control Sassco and do what I see fit for the good of the club, I’ve never had to use it due to the nature of the club structure with most things taken care of by Mr.Sangha. 

Q) What, in your opinion, is the direction that Sassco should go now?

WATSON: Like I said before; the removal of certain individuals has made Sassco stronger, with the team starting to gel under new tactics and management, as you can see by our rise up the table. Keep it up, lads. Lets not waste our opportunity this year (2010) as we have been in this position before and we blew it. We could possibly look for another pitch in the future as Downhill Pitch F has got worse year after year.

Aspirations for 2010: To see Sassco win a trophy and to revive my idea’s of a Sassco Youth League and write a book titled The History of Sassco Part I.

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It’s finally happened. After around eight years of battles against each other, William Harper (commonly known as Billy, The Tash and various other names) has decided to cut his losses and jump into bed with the enemy (not literally, thank God).

On a serious note, the world renowned William Harper, will operate in the role vacated by Gourlay and Richardson before him. We will also endeavour to kit him up in coordination with Adidas equipment. General Manager, Davinder Sangha, will pull the squad together as before, but it will be down to Mr. Harper to put his tactical knowledge in place prior to the games. His first appearance is most likely to be on our game on the 11th against Forest Hall.

Mr. Harper spent the last season with Sporting Redhouse, but prior to that had stints in charge of Sunderland North, Sporting Club Sunderland and the infamous Toddy’s (details available in the Archive Section).

His playing days saw him debuting for Sassco in their first ever game in 2002, with sporadic appearances up until 2005. Since then he was mainly involved in the Castlepark Junior’s team.

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