Doug Mcglaughlin Williams                                        Davis Bowen In Action

Flyers Announce new signings

Big Tall Order Bristol Academy Flyers, Bristol’s first professional basketball team have announced their first 2 new signings ahead of the 2009/10 season.

The Flyers who compete in England Basketball’s Senior National League Division I begin the new season with a pre season friendly against the Team USA Select team on Thursday September the 17^th. Flyers who currently play in the 500 seat WISE Arena have been buoyed by the fact that on October the 24^th the Arena will unveil 600 additional seats installed ready for the new season making the venue a 1,000 seat Arena for game days. Flyers averaged crowds of 400 plus spectators last year and this season will see the home court Capacity grow ahead of the new season.

Flyers will be hoping to fill the arena with a flurry of new signings ahead of the season. Flyers can now confirm that their two American imports have signed contracts and have received work permits. The 2 players will fly in to join the team on Friday September 11^th.

Doug Mclaughlin Williams a 6”8 guard joins the flyers after a stand out college career at NCAA Division I Appalachian State University, he comes with professional experience having played with Sheffield last year where he was selected for the Leagues All star starting 5. “Doug brings the team added experience and at 6”8 he adds some more height at the guard position, Doug is a proven scorer who will be a valuable asset to the club this season” Quotes Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas.

Also joining Williams will be 6”9 Centre Davis Bowen, who like William’s was a part of Appalachian State University programme. Bowen has just graduated and this will be his first professional contract but he will bring some more size to the Flyers team as they look forward to the new season. “Davis is a big guy and brings the team some added size in the front court; he can play both power forward and Centre and he comes with some very good references and his game tapes show he will be a physical presence on the boards” Comments Kapoulas.

This will be a very exciting year for the Flyers as they look to push for silverware after 2 years of finishing in the top 4 of the division. Flyers have assembled an excellent squad ahead of the current season and although they have lost 4 players from last year the team for this season is possibly the strongest ever established.

Leaving the Flyers this year are Tyrone Treasure, Richard Loftman. Mak Sule and team Captain Gareth Till.

Loftman and Treasure have both left to study at American Universities on Basketball Scholarships. Mak Sule has left to attend the 22feet Academy in France which prepares players for American Universities and professional careers. Team Captain Gareth Till leaves the Senior men’s squad after a long career with the Flyers. Till who joined former Bristol team the Bombers in 2000 after a glittering career with the Plymouth Raiders also played for Team Bath and joined the first Flyers team when they moved to Filton College’s WISE campus in 2005. Till led the team to 2 successive promotions and has helped cement the Flyers as one of the country’s top teams. Till is not walking away completely as he will bring his experience to the Flyers II team in National League Division III helping to develop the young players in the Filton College Academy.

Flyers first game will see the team face the USA select team on Thursday September the 17^th at 7.30pm at the WISE Arena. The USA select team which is full of College and University players from Division I and II NCAA programmes will see the a tough test for the new Flyers team.

Tickets will be available on the door priced at £4 for Adults, £2 for Under 16’s and Concessions or a family ticket for £8 for a family of 4 (2 Adults and 2 Children)

For more information please contact Danny James by email danny.james@filton.ac.uk or telephone: 07747487914