In just two days time, on Saturday 15th September, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre welcomes back FamFest, a charity event that celebrates the inseparable ties between basketball and music. FamFest has become renowned for it’s unique Old School v New School exhibition game, pitting some of the UK’s best ever players against a select team of elite U21s.
The two teams, nicknamed the Legends and the Challengers, do battle to the backdrop of classic old school beats with tons of on and off court competitions to keep fans engaged throughout.
This year’s Legends are littered with elite professional players past and present, including:
Ajou Deng
Sam Stiller
Junior Williams
Julius Joseph
Mike Martin
Errol Seaman
Tony Brown
Leon Bernard
Cory McGee
Ronnie Baker
Lee McCarthy
The Legends, wearing Red and Black, will be led by current London Lions Head Coach and Owner Vince Macaulay. Macaulay follows in the footsteps of Britain’s most successful coach ever – Kevin Cadle – who last year led the Legends to a nail-biting single point victory.
Last year’s team insist that the narrow result was a ‘pacing’ tactic to ‘keep the crowd entertained’.
Challenging for bragging rights are this year’s New School team, led for a second consecutive time by Surrey Heat Head Coach Creon Raftopoulos. Raftopoulos, assisted by James Vear who was recently appointed as Assistant Coach of the Dalhousie Tigers, came agonisingly close to victory last year and is keen to avenge that defeat. His roster, sponsored by the Luol Deng Foundation, includes:
Rowell Graham
Kenroy Wood
Leon Bennet Harris
Caylin Raftopoulos
Kalil Irving
Ryan Richards
Louis Annan
Legend Robertin
Final selections for both teams will be confirmed on Friday on the event’s Facebook account.
Organiser Luke Bowler believes FamFest is a pivotal event on the summer basketball calendar:
“The Old School v New School theme that is synonymous with FamFest gives long standing professional players a vehicle to give back to their community whilst teaching the next generation the importance of doing the same.”
Bowler also recognises that FamFest attracts a unique audience and is proud to challenge convention:
“Most basketball events on the summer calendar attract a basketball audience. FamFest attracts a family audience, many of whom have never seen a professional game. By keeping prices low and advertising in our local community, where we have a consistent presence delivering coaching services on a daily basis, we are able to give prospective fans a chance to sample the atmosphere of a live game in an intimate environment where they can interact with professional players.”
Tickets can be bought on the door from 12:30pm or in advance from http://www.famfest12.com/shop. Spectators with pre-booked tickets will benefit from faster entry. Tickets cost £5 for Adults, £4 for Children and £15 for a family of four. Doors open at 12:30pm and the main event tips off at 2pm.
Music and sound is presented by Family First Soundsystem and a varied menu of Carribean food will be available from the main restaurant, courtesy of Baxter Storey.
Pre-event ‘Leaders of the New School’ clinics
Young players between the ages of 5 and 16 can take to the hardwood hours before the action begins. Senior coaches will take players through a series of fundamental skills workshops and give kids the chance to interact with some of their role models. BBL professional Ishmael Fontaine, amongst a wealth of BBL stars, will be on hand to inspire the next generation. The first 50 campers will receive a limited edition FamFest t-shirt.
Camp places are free with a valid child ticket however places are limited. Avoid disappointment by booking online today.
This event is not to be missed! Make sure you get down there for what will be awesome vibes all day!
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Its healthy that competitions like this go on in U.k. especially in south London where playing basketball is limited. However there is so much basketball talent in London. I feel the same players year in year out are given the opportunity to play in exhibitions like this, while the pure talents of unknown individuals are hidden away . Give an open chance to other basketball players to exhibit thier talents in the only few public exhibition games. Always leave a fighting chance for opportunity to display or earn a spot no matter how charitable the event is. So many talents never get the limelight just because they are not part of “londons basketball community”. When all is said and done. I think it will be an interesting game to watch. this is basketball. No matter how established u may be. you can always be embarrassed on the court by a “regular-no league-player”.
Leo – this is Luke, the organiser. You’re absolutely right – we’ve been keen to open up opportunities for everyone to get involved and be given the chance to try out. This year we planned to hold talent IDs in the North and South – and that’s North and South of England, not North and South London. Unfortunately time was against us.
Rest assured next year we’ll be introducing exactly that.
We’d love to hear more opinions – let us know what you think.
Likewise we’re eternally grateful to Creon and LDF for their support. They take the selection process just as seriously and do their very best to remain objective. Both take a keen interest in youth basketball all year round. There are certainly some names, to be announced, you won’t have heard of…after Saturday, that might change ;-)
Ryan Richards can turn up to this event (yes I know it is for charity) but ask him to fight for a place to represent his country at the home olympics he spits his dummy and wants to change allegiances to Jamaica.