10 April 2008
Saffron Stealers on winning streak
Saffron Walden's basketball team, the Stealers are playing for the end of season cup, when they take on the Southend Scorpions in the semi-final this Sunday 13th April at home.
The cup competition pits the four teams of each basketball league against each other and a win on Sunday will put the team through to the finals on May Bank Holiday Monday at the Chelmsford Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre.
A win will be the icing on a perfect season for the Stealers who have won every game this season, and have already been crowned the Essex Division 2 Champions for 2008, as well as going through to Division 1.
The team has been a fixture of Saffron Walden since 1984, training every Sunday at the Lord Butler Leisure Centre, Peaslands Road in the town for the past 24 years.
The team members whose ages range from 17 to late 30s are passionate about the sport and are highly motivated, says coach Russell Haselton.
"The guys just want to win everything," Russell said. "My job involves keeping them focussed in the right areas, playing to their own strengths and exploiting the opponents' weaknesses."
Russell believes the team's success is down to, in part, the injection of money from the Saffron Building Society.
"The building society has donated some money and this has been a real confidence booster for the players," said Russell.
Russell said the money had enabled the team to buy a new kit which helped motivate the players to win.
"The Saffron Building Society's financial donation paid for new kits for the team members to replace our dreary old team kit, and has played a major role in the recent resurgence of team spirit within the club. If you look the part, you'll play the part," he said.
Russell said the Stealers were an important part of the Saffron Walden community.
"The Stealers run a youth off-shoot of the club coached by Andy Shuttlewood at the Friends school on Tuesday evenings during term time for both girls and boys of secondary school age," he said. "Talented youngsters are then invited to the Sunday evening senior spot during the summer off-season to gain more experience and progression into the senior squad."
Russell said over the years Andy's programme had nurtured the current winning Saffron Stealers, who "lived and breathed the sport".
"Being sponsored by a local organisation such as the Saffron Building Society is an inspiration to the team," he said.
"It really connects the community and makes us very happy to be part of the Saffron Stealers. We are really looking forward to Sunday's match and the chance to compete for the final play-off. We hope to make Saffron Walden and the Saffron Building Society proud, playing in our Saffron Building Society basketball kits." For more information on the Saffron Stealers visit their website www.swbasketball.moonfruit.com
