Permanent home for basketball would be a 'dream'

That is newly-appointed Guernsey Basketball Association president Pete Beausire’s reaction to plans for a full-size indoor sports hall at the new post-16 campus, from which netball would benefit to a similar degree.

Both have long been reliant on Beau Sejour and school halls, but the States and Guernsey Sports Commission alike have highlighted a range of issues with existing facilities in the island.

Beausire now hopes that these plans will be successfully delivered.

‘If they build it, it will be fantastic – I’m very enthusiastic about that,’ he said.

‘Domestically, we would have a permanent home and we do not have to be reliant on booking in and around other sports. At Beau Sejour, we have to work around corporate functions, five-a-side football, and people who want to play badminton with their friends, for example.

‘Being able to have a permanent home is obviously a dream.’

Existing facilities are not capable of supporting the specifications required for National League matches, but this development would open up an exciting possibility for Guernsey basketball.

Guernsey men and women alike have previously contested the National League but had to play their home games on UK soil due to not having a suitable venue here.

Beausire highlighted the possibility of returning to that level, now with genuine home games, should they have the opportunity.

Overall, he is thankful for basketball’s consideration in the plans, which will benefit both training and competition, also including bleachers so larger crowds of spectators can get their fix.

‘If they pull it off and we are delivered what was promised, it’s a game changer for basketball in Guernsey, 100%. It would give the next generation of players the opportunity,’ he added.

Sports Commission performance director Jeremy Frith confirmed that there was an intention for the new hall to serve as a home for both basketball and netball.

Frith, who now also fills a performance director post for Guernsey Netball, hopes to see facilities that continue to meet needs for many years down the road.

‘When we build something like that, we’ve got to be cognisant of the fact that it needs to meet the needs of today but actually it’s going to be where our children and our grandchildren also experience their education and their community sport as well,’ he said.