Please help York Eagles play basketball in Gothenburg

What is the fundraising about?

York Eagles Basketball Club is looking to raise funds to support its amazingly talented U16 girls’, U16 boys’ and U14 boys’ basketball teams who will be participating in the Gothenburg Basketball Festival in Sweden, during May half term 2025. The Festival is one of Europe’s largest youth basketball tournaments, with 8,000 – 10,000 players participating from 850 teams from Scandinavia and the rest of mainland Europe.

Who are York Eagles?

York Eagles Basketball Club is one of North England’s most successful community basketball clubs, operating 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.

About the York Eagles U16 girls Team

Despite girls’ basketball still being in its infancy at York Eagles, the girls’ U16 team has very quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with, last year completing an incredible unbeaten season to be crowned U14’s National League champions.

The girls participating in the tournament:

- Alex Dunlop Gibson

- Amelie Hetherton

- Ava Lad

- Danika Croft

- Elizabeth Hirst

- Isabella Schiller

- Katherine Hirst

- Maya Foulkes

- Molly Jones

- Zofia Parsons

About the York Eagles U16 boys Team

The U16 boys' team only played their first competitive season of basketball last year, incredibly finishing runners up in the North 1 Conference league. Despite a number of the players coming to the sport late, they have shown remarkable dedication and passion for the game.

The boys participating in the tournament:

- Freddie Drummond

- Hayden Fogg

- Henry Ferguson

- Iker Martinez Chavana

- James Wormald

- Lewis Longhorn

- Luke Lattimore-Bahrij

- Milo Metcalfe

- Samuel Ho

- Will Poole

About the York Eagles U14 boys Team

The Eagles’ U14s boys team has also demonstrated that it has the potential to compete at the highest level, having last season won the U13’s northern league, and are currently title challengers for this season’s North 1 Conference.

The boys participating in the tournament:

- Alex Lawson

- Bertie Hardisty

- Cameron Stewart

- Conor

- Fin Lewis

- Freddie Wainwright-Smith

- George Fitz-Thomas

- Isaac Morris

- Jake Richardson

- James Clayton

- Leo Frusher

- Maks Molka

- Oscar Longbottom

- Raylan Durkin

- Sam Smales

- Tobias Davies

- Trevor Wood

- Will O’Connor

What is the Gothenburg trip about?

York Eagles would like to provide the U16 girls and U14 boys 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 on the trip will create a lifetime bond with the sport.

Who will be supporting the Eagles on the trip?

The players will be accompanied to Gothenburg by Coach Tyler Paton-Pottage (assistant Head Coach at York Eagles and Basketball England Aspire Yorkshire Coach 24/25), Coach Ghada Khattab (U16 girls), Coach Gary Poole (U16 boys) and Coach Steve Hardisty (U14 boys).

Coach Tyler said “The Gothenburg Basketball Festival represents as an incredible opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best basketball players from across Europe. Our teams’ successes in the north of England leagues will count for nothing, and it will be a true test as to whether our players can rise to the challenge”.

Coach Ghada commented “As the only UK basketball club participating in the tournament, it is a great way to put York Eagles on the map and shine a light on the fantastic work that the club is doing in getting young girls into basketball, not only at a recreational level but also providing a pathway for them to compete at the highest level”.

Coach Steve added “Having witnessed the positive impact of the Club’s tour to Los Angeles in 2024, this is another amazing opportunity for our players to progress their personal development, form new friendships and absorb a different culture, whilst playing the game that they love to the highest standard.”

Coach Gary said “At York Eagles, we believe basketball is for everyone. Team sports like this give young people so much more than just skills on the court - they build confidence, teach teamwork, and create friendships that last a lifetime. Our Under 16’s team is made up of players from all backgrounds, united by their love of the game. The Sweden tournament is an incredible opportunity for them to grow and challenge themselves. With your support, we can make sure every player gets the chance to be part of this experience."

Why are funds needed and what will be funds be spent on?

There is no escaping that community sports trips like this are incredibly expensive, and without external funding would simply not be financially viable. As a Club, we ensure that no child is excluded from participating on grounds of affordability, and the success of our fundraising is essential to achieving that. The funds raised will help cover the cost of flights, accommodation, food, transport, kit and basketball tournament fees.

Sponsorship

We are looking for companies or organisations to provide sponsorship for the teams participating in the tournament. If you are interested in helping this amazing trip, please contact Coach Steve Hardisty (via Contact the Organiser on GoFundMe).

Small print

If this amazing trip fails to happen for any reason, all funds raised will be reallocated to further trips/tours for the U16 girls, U16 and U14 boys and/or will be applied for 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 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.

More small print

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

The Snappy Trust

For those of you that supported our tour to LA in 2024, you will be aware that from our fundraising, we donated £1,500 to 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

See https://www.gofundme.com/f/york-eagles-u13s-la-basketball-camp

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

We will again be looking to support The Snappy Trust, so once our fundraiser hits £10,000, 15% of all funds (up to £1,500) will be donated by York Eagles to The Snappy Trust.

OUR AMAZING SPONSORS

We have some amazing sponsors who are helping make our trip a reality. We can’t thank them enough. Please support them where you can.

HGH Wealth Management

HGH Wealth Management are independent financial advisers and have the expertise, experience and plain-speaking approach to help you to achieve your financial goals. We aim to make a real difference to your financial well being in the present and the future. We have offices in York, Easingwold and Filey and there’s no charge for your first appointment.

Nick Lawson, HGH Wealth Director:

“It’s a real pleasure to support the York Eagles team as they head to Sweden for the basketball festival. Best of luck to all of the teams taking part and most of all – have fun!”

MEP Solutions

Founded in 2018, MEP Solutions LT is a forward-thinking company specializing in the design, installation, and maintenance of internal engineering systems. Despite being a relatively young enterprise, we have assembled a team of highly experienced engineering specialists who bring both practical expertise and deep theoretical knowledge to every project. Many of our experts have spent years in the industry, ensuring that our clients benefit from innovative, reliable, and efficient engineering solutions.

MEP Solutions is proud to sponsor the York Eagles as they participate in the Gothenburg Basketball Festival, one of Europe's largest youth tournaments. This sponsorship reflects MEP Solutions’ commitment to supporting young athletes in their personal and athletic development. The Eagles' participation in this international competition provides them with a unique opportunity to challenge themselves, build lifelong skills, relationships, and represent their community on a global stage.

Ramshill Cleaners

Ramshill Cleaners is a family run, professional dry cleaners and laundry service provider based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. We are happy to support York Eagles on their exciting trip to Sweden to attend the Goteborg Basketball tournament.

The Whole Caboodle

The Whole Caboodle, established in 1994 in Harrogate, UK, is a full-service digital marketing agency specialising in the automotive industry. With over 30 years of experience, they offer bespoke AI-powered websites through their CaboodleCode 2.0 platform, enhancing user engagement and increasing conversions by at least 20%. Their services encompass digital media, advertising, design, and innovative solutions like Online Car Events and the MyMotability platform, which generate significant returns for clients. Known for unparalleled innovation and customer service, The Whole Caboodle tailors its offerings to meet the unique needs of each client, from single-site dealerships to large multi-franchise groups.

Tiddlywinks Private Day Nurseries

Tiddlywinks Private Day Nurseries are a group of outstanding nurseries providing high quality care and education across North Yorkshire. If it's not fun you're not learning!

We are sponsoring the York Eagles as it is so wonderful to see the passion and commitment of the team and its coaches, which are great building blocks for future success.