Plymouth Raiders Coach Gary Stronach has announced that guard Allister Gall has re-signed for the team for the 2008/09 season. The Plymouth born player has been a key player in the Raiders rotation since entering the BBL.
6'3" Gall, had arguably his best season to date with the Raiders last season, and played a hugely important role as the team's sixth man. He was keen to re-sign with his home town team for next season, and again link up with Coach Gary Stronach and the rest of the returning players.
"It's great to have Allister back on the team again," said Raiders coach Gary Stronach. "He's really important to us, he's a great outside shooter but more than that, a real competitor. Allister had a great year for us last year, but I've told him I don't want him to be content with that. I want him to keep improving and contributing in a big way to the team's successes."
This will be Allister's 5th straight season after having graduated from Franklin Pierce College in the USA and playing a year professionally in Ireland. He made his debut for the Raiders in the BBL in October '04 against Milton Keynes.
"Allister is still only 28, but has achieved so much in basketball," added Stronach. "He's a great player to have on the team, because I know he'll do anything that I ask of him, and he'll do it with 100% commitment. He's probably one of the fittest players on the team already and I know he's looking forward to the new season coming around."
This is another signing that provides the Raiders with the much needed continuity sought by Coach Stronach. This season, along with a few new players, the majority of last year's successful team will return. The benefits of continuity were plain for everyone to see in 06/07 when Raiders squad from 05/06 returned en masse. "It was really important for us to get Allister back this year," said Raiders Chief Executive Dave Briggs. "Gary wants at least 2 players for each position, and Allister's one of the best and purest shooters in the league. I know he's as excited about the coming season as everyone else around the club is. Hopefully we can stay healthy and get our hands on some more silverware."
For more information contact:
Dave Briggs Chief Executive Plymouth Raiders
Email: dave@plymouthraiders.com
Tel: 01752 222205 Mobile: 07791 868320
About Plymouth Raiders Ltd
The Plymouth Raiders are one of the UK's premier basketball teams, and play in the British Basketball League (BBL). The league is made up with teams from London, Guildford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Worcester, Leicester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Glasgow. The Raiders began competing in English national league competitions in 1983, and were promoted to the BBL in 2004. Home games are played at the Plymouth Pavilions (www.plymouthpavilions.com), and the season typically runs from September to May each year. The Raiders also have 11 development teams (both male and female), 8 of which play national league basketball, and ages represented stretch from Under 10s to the Raiders reserve team and senior women's team. More information about the development teams can be found at www.raidersdevelopment.com. The Raidercoach Academy was started in 1997 and concentrates on coaching and developing educational skills in schools and the community throughout Devon and Cornwall. Each year, we reach in excess of 3,000 school children. The academy uses Raiders BBL players and coaches to promote not only the game of basketball, but initiatives such as a healthy lifestyle, anti bullying, anti racism, and anti drugs.
More information about the Plymouth Raiders can be found at http://www.plymouthraiders.com
