A BASKETBALL club is aiming to become one of the best in Lancashire after joining forces with a local school and one of Europe’s top teams.

Burnley Basketball Club has forged links with both Shuttleworth College and Benetton Treviso - one of the biggest clubs in Italy who produce NBA stars.

The club has moved its training sessions to Shuttle-worth this season - training three nights a week - and has also been holding coaching sessions with the school.

It still holds weekend training at St Peter’s Centre.

Coach Giulio Minozzi believes the extra coaching will give Burnley the edge on other clubs across the county.

“We are able to train more often and we believe that we will be able to produce very good players,” said Minozzi.

“We are training three times a week at Shuttleworth and I think that, long term, this arrangement will give Burnley the edge compared to other Lancashire teams.”

The club currently has a senior side playing in the Manchester and District League, a National League U16s side while its U14s and U12s teams play in the Central Venue League in Preston.

“The long term aim is to FROM PAGE XX create a hub for basketball at Shuttleworth, to produce players able to compete at national level,” said Minozzi.

And the coach said that players who show real promise could even spend time at Treviso after meeting officials from the Italian club while playing in a Masters tournament in Croatia.

“There was a team from Benetton Treviso in Croatia and because I can speak Italian I had a chat with their age group team manager.

“We have since corresponded via email and telephone and we are hoping to send some of kids, if they are talented enough, to Treviso as part of their development.”

Meanwhile, the club is always on the look out for new players, seniors men and ladies and boys and girls.

Anyone interested can attend training sessions (£2 fee) at Shuttlworth College on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (5-9pm) or at St Peter’s Centre on Saturdays from 2pm.

For further details contact Giulio Minozzi on 07899 795278 or log on to burnleybasketball.co.uk

TEAM PICTURE: Burnley’s senior team competing in the Manchester League. Back (l-r): Ashley Taggart, Tom McEvoy, Stuart Limon, Nigel Robinson, Dave Bolt and Jack Howard. Front (l-r):David, Jordan Green, Reggie Cesarion, Declan Ronson, Darren Bolt and Aivaras Kersys