The club, which was established in 1997, is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

Dedicated to providing opportunities for all sections of the community, regardless of ability, background, gender or age, it is now based in Whalley Range at the Amaechi Basketball Centre.

The centre, built in 2002, boasts three courts, two of which can be turned into a show court with capacity for 1,000 people. It was named after British NBA star John Amaechi (pictured), who grew up in Stockport and learnt his basketball under Joe Forber, the club's co-founder.

John, who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz, was a key figure in the venue’s construction and eventually played there competitively for the Magic once his NBA career had come to an end.

The centre is also home to the Manchester Magic and Manchester Mystics. The Magic play all their home games here - from the senior men right down to their under-12s - while Mystics age-group matches are also held there.

The senior Mystics team are now based at the new National Basketball Performance Centre at Belle Vue after the club decided to hand over the WBBL franchise to the Eastlands Trust in 2016.

The centre has also hosted Great Britain game, the annual Haris Memorial Tournament, which attracts teams from around the world, as well as a number of community initiatives to create a lasting legacy for basketball in the city.

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Safeguarding

Greater Manchester Community Basketball takes safeguarding very seriously and reviews its safeguarding policy on a regular basis. Its coaches – National League and Community – are all DBS checked and have all read the charity's safeguarding guidelines. GMCB also has two Child Protection Officers - Gary Williams and Katy Rouse. Gary coaches National League basketball and is a manager of a local children's nursery, while Katy is a schoolteacher and a parent of boys who take part in National League and Community basketball at GMCB. Their contact details, as well as information about safeguarding at GMCB, are included in charity's recently updated safeguarding policy. To read it, click this link.

Philosophy

For the club to be successful at all levels, we expect our players, coaches, officials, parents and supporters to conduct themselves in a courteous and polite manner at all times. We also strive to:

• Provide basketball opportunities to everyone, regardless of gender, ability, race, religion and sexual orientation.
• Create conditions for players, coaches and officials to reach their full potential and develop as people.
• Use sport as a vehicle to instil good principles, values and disciplines in players, coaches and officials.
• Ensure all players, coaches, officials and supporters maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play.
• Further the ideals of teamwork, friendship and self-discipline.
• Create a sporting environment that will benefit the individual while always being aware that basketball is a team sport.
• Recognise the special relationship between players, parents and the club.
• Stress to coaches that leadership by example will always be superior to leadership by fear.
• Teach all players and coaches that giving of your best is a victory, regardless of the score, but giving less than your best is a failure, even if a victory is attained.
• Promote the concept of loyalty.
• And emphasise the importance of education to players of all ages.

Club Charter

We expect players, parents and coaches to represent the club with pride, respect and sportsmanship.

Players:

• Give total and absolute effort to the team at all times - in games, practices and supporting from the bench.
• Show respect towards team-mates, coaches, referees and opposition players.
• Conduct yourself in a respectful manner at all times and never do anything, on or off the floor, to bring discredit to the club.
• Appreciate that it is a privilege to be able to use Amaechi Basketball Centre. It should never be taken for granted.

Parents:

• Encourage the youngsters to give their very best at all times, play by the rules and never to cheat to gain an advantage.
• Refrain from adverse criticism of the players, the team and the coach. It rarely has a positive effect and can do significant damage.
• Appreciate that, in the main, coaches are volunteers and put a tremendous amount of time into the development of the players and the team.
• Be willing to volunteer for the many tasks required to enable the club to function in an efficient and professional way.
• Show respect for referees and table officials, upholding and maintaining the good reputation of the club.

Coaches:

• Be responsible for your own behaviour and that of the team, being professional and disciplined at all times.
• Lead by example and ensure that all team members play by the rules and respect the rights of others.
• Realise that improving the basketball skills of the players is secondary to the development of values and disciplines that will serve them for life.
• Ensure decisions put the interests of the youngsters first at all times.
• Be honest with the players at all times.
• Give players a fair and equal opportunity to find a role within the team.
• Never place winning over the safety and welfare of the players.
• Demonstrate your values and principles because good values attract good people.
• Form a relationship with parents that is mutually beneficial and from which the players can only benefit.
• Remember that school and family responsibilities should be respected.
• Make every team member feel valued.
• Avoid harsh, public criticism of the players because it rarely helps.

Staff

Joe and Maggie Forber

Joe and Maggie Forber were founder members of the club and have been instrumental in its success. Before moving to Amaechi Basketball Centre, they set up Trafford Basketball Centre in Sale. Both Joe and Maggie are former school teachers and their real interest is in helping youngsters to develop on and off the floor.

Graham Williams

A former British Colleges player, Graham is a co-founder of the club and still gives enormous amounts of his time to all parts of the programme, passing on his knowledge and experience to coaches and players alike. He also remains a member of the board of trustees.

Phil Gordos

Phil has joined the club as chief executive after more than 20 years as a sports journalist. He enjoyed a 16-year career with the BBC, where he covered some of the world's biggest sporting events, before becoming assistant editor for Sport Interactive. He has two boys in the Magic programme.

Freda Jones

Freda is a key member of the club and oversees administration as well as all major events, including the annual Haris Memorial Tournament. She knows basketball inside out and is married to Mystics coach Jeff Jones. She is also mother to James, Callum and Georgia, who have all come through the Magic and Mystics system.

Peter Paraskeva

Peter returned to the Manchester Magic and Mystics in the summer of 2015 after first joining the club as a 14-year-old. A former England U16 international, he is now the club’s Director of Boys' Coaching and also heads the EABL programme at Loreto Sixth Form College.

Toloe Bagheri Daneri

Toloe is our new Basketball Development Officer. A familiar face at the Magic, the former pro player from Iran will continue to coach the senior men's team alongside Paul Middleton as he looks to expand the reach and impact of our Community Programme.

Ollie Verbukas

Coach Ollie is the club's Director of Girls' Coaching. Born in Lithuania, he has vast experience working with players from the UK and abroad. He is also head coach of the WEABL programme at Loreto and took charge of the Wales U16 boys' team at the 2017 Fiba European Championships.

Tom Paraskeva

Tom coaches in our Loreto EABL, National League and Community programmes, with specific responsibility for our Magic U16 team, which doubles up as Trafford Magic U18s. A former Magic player, he also devotes a large amount of time to one-on-one coaching sessions.

Matt Roberts

Matt has been involved with the club since he was 11 years old, first as a player, before becoming a statistician at 17, which he is now considered one of the Country's best. Matt manages our website and social media platforms.