FORMER Thames Valley Tigers legend Paul James is bringing basketball back to Bracknell.

The town has been without a basketball team since the Tigers franchise pulled out of the BBL League in 2005.

But as the News exclusively revealed last week - James and Sunninghill resident Ruth Fettes have launched the Bracknell Basketball club to bring the sport back the area.

James spent 17 years with the Tigers as a player and a coach and still lives in Bracknell despite coaching BBL outfit Worcester Wolves.

And he is delighted to bring the sport back to his home town. He said: "It is a very exciting proposal. I had 17 fantastic years in Bracknell as a player and a coach and this is a way to give something back to the town.

"Back in the day Bracknell was a hot-bed of basketball talent and the Tigers' mens team had a great committee scheme.

"There has been a bit of a void since the Tigers left and we want to try to fill that." The club will have youth teams for boys and girls between under-10s and under-18s levels.

The top two boys age groups, the under-16s and under-18s, will be competing in the National League.

Alongside the club James and Fettes, pictured, have launched Game Time coaching services, which will work with schools in Bracknell Forest as the Tigers did previously.

James added: "It is a great opportunity to introduce youngsters to basketball, but it is not just about that.

"We want to educate through sport.

"We will have a team of top quality coaches with a winning track record.

"We will be announcing our coaching team in the near future and there may be some familiar names." Looking to the future James - who is the current England mens head coach - refused to write off the possiblity of senior basketball turning to Bracknell.

But he admits that possibility is some way off at this stage.

He said: "It is too early to be thinking about that, but certainly the Bracknell Leisure centre still has the facilities to host a BBL team.

"The focus is working with youngsters to try to give them an opportunity to have somewhere to play and to suceed in the sport" Training sessions for the teams have started and continue throughout the summer, with leagues starting in September.

For more information about joining the team or sponsorship opportunities email game.time@hotmail.co.uk or call 07760 293729