NEW FACES ON SHOW AS WILDCATS TIP-OFF

The waiting is over, as the basketball season begins this weekend for the Durham Wildcats, with a tough “double header” of two games on consecutive days.
On Saturday (26th September) the Wildcats head off to the West Midlands to visit Birmingham As, in the Pool stage of the Patron’s Cup – a competition for teams in EBL Division 2.
Both the competition and the opponents will be new to Durham, who were promoted (as EBL3 North Champions) at the end of last season, but coach Dave Elderkin is looking forward to the challenge.
“We’re as much of an unknown quantity to them as they are to us” he says, “and Stephen Jones was with Birmingham University before joining us last season, so he’s been able to give us a few pointers about the other Birmingham team.”
The following day (Sunday 27th) sees the Wildcats return to Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre for their first home fixture of the season, as they play host to old rivals Huddersfield Heat in the first round of the National Cup.
While Durham were moving up into Division 2, Huddersfield were heading in the opposite direction, and now play in Division 4 North, but coach Elderkin is taking nothing for granted. “After last season there could be no better way for Huddersfield to start this campaign than with the scalp of a second division team” he explains. “They’ll be fresh, as well, not having played on the Saturday, so we’re making sure that we don’t view this game with any degree of complacency.”
The match tips off at 3.00pm, with tickets priced at £4.50 for adults and £3.00 for under-16s, but  special offer tickets are available from Community Schools or by visiting the Wildcats’ website, at www.durhamwildcats.co.uk.
The game will be an opportunity for fans to renew acquaintance with many of their favourite players from last season, as well as seeing the new recruits in action for the first time.
American signing Scott Morton, from Geneseo University in New York State, will be studying for a Masters Degree in Management at Durham University and will be working with Stephen Jones at Durham University to expand basketball in the University and the wider community.
A powerful player, Scott has already impressed Dave Elderkin with his skills and work rate. “We knew he was good, and kept him under wraps to ensure no-one pinched him from under our noses” he says.
From Athens, Greece, comes point guard Apostolos-Daniel Apostolidis, a 22 year old post-graduate at Durham University studying Mathematical Science.
Answering to the nickname “Tolis” (much to the relief of match commentator Pete Jacques), he has been playing basketball since he was 5, and holds a British passport, through his English mother.
Coach Elderkin has been pleased with his play during practice sessions, and believes that he will add a further dimension to the Wildcats’ play, both on offence and in defence.
The three newcomers are joining well-established Wildcats’ favourites such as club captain Mark Elderkin, Durham University’s Basketball Development Officer, Stephen Jones, newly-capped Welsh International Anthony Trigg and the team’s “Mr Dependable”, Michael Davies.
“We have a core of players who are well versed in the way that we play” says coach Elderkin, “and they’ve already played a role in helping the debutants to fit into that system.
“Unfortunately we’ll be missing Paul Elderkin, Division 3 North 2009 player of the year, for the early part of the season, as he continues rehabilitation from the knee injury which hampered him for much of last season. The positive news, though, is that when he does come back into the team it will be like signing a new player.”
Regrettably, we’ll also be missing Italian Andrea Consolati, who has now finished at Durham University, but has returned to this country to begin a career, and has signed for another National League team.
With so many newcomers in the team, and players having other pre-season commitments, such as Trigg’s sessions with the Wales national team, this week has been the first time that the whole squad has been together at training. “We’re working hard already” says Elderkin, “and this weekend will show how far we’ve already come.