AFTER a four-year absence, the Bathurst Goldminers are set to field a men's team in the Basketball New South Wales division one state competition, allowing several former Orange Eagles players left in limbo a chance to play.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Eagles' quest for a second season in the Spalding Waratah League's under 23 division was knocked back in December after they were unable to secure enough referees.
However, the Goldminers managed to find the numbers of whistle-blowers and players, jumping on several former Eagles and Lithgow Lazers players, with the latter also not lining up in 2020 either.
Four members of last season's Orange Eagles, all of them former Goldminers, will again represent Bathurst - Matt Chapman, Andrew Manios, Kobe Mansell and recently named NSW under 20s representative Zak Simons.
They will be joined by former Lazers Fletcher Swift and Michael Brooks.
It's a roster that excites captain-coach Chapman, who said the Goldminers won't just be making up the numbers.
We've had some ups and downs the last couple of years, so it's a massive boost for Bathurst, it's definitely something for the juniors to look up to again.
- Goldminers' captain-coach Matt Chapman
It was 2016 when Bathurst last fielded a senior men's team in the State League Basketball division one competition.
While that outfit had a host of talented players - names such as Matt Gray, Will Cranston-Lown, Kyle Simpson and Kieran Osborne - it ended up sixth in the eight-team competition.
Bathurst did try to make a return to men's State League last season, to no avail.
"We've got a stacked team, well we've got a good team on paper and we'll see how it all gels together, but I think we'll go together good," he said.
"We've also got a few juniors I've asked to be in the squad, they'll come along and we'll get them developed.
"All the competitions are named differently now since we last played, but what we are playing in is the same as before, it's basically div one State League."
Chapman is currently nursing an arm injury, but says his intent is to be captain-coach rather than just the mentor.
It's a role he has filled in the past and one he brings plenty of passion to.
"Bloody oath I'm a proud Goldminer, the only reason I went to Orange was because I wanted to play and that's where the opportunity was to play," he said.
While Chapman is excited about what the upcoming season will bring for the Goldminers men - the draw is yet to be finalised by Basketball NSW but play is expected to commence in late March - he feels it is also a huge boost for the association.
Chapman said the long-term goal is to see the Goldminers once again field teams in the women's division one competition as well as youth outfits for men and women to provide a junior pathway.
"We've had some ups and downs the last couple of years, so it's a massive boost for Bathurst, it's definitely something for the juniors to look up to again," he said.
"This is the start of building it all back up, down the track we can possibly have women's teams and youth league teams as well. That's definitely part of the bigger picture.
"The plan is to run the game nights really professionally and have a bit of entertainment and a couple of other things, it should be really good.
"It would be great to see us get support when we play our home games."
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...