Marjon nets new Plymouth Patriots partnership

Released: 13.01.23

Plymouth Marjon University and the Plymouth City Patriots Basketball Club have formed a new partnership. The University and Patriots will collaborate to improve the student basketball offer.

As the only professional basketball team in Devon and Cornwall, the City Patriots are helping to develop the basketball programme and clubs at the University with specialist training and strength and conditioning coaching. 

The Marjon men’s first and women’s British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league teams will be accessing Patriots-led training for up to six hours a week using facilities at the Marjon Sport and Health Centre.

The Plymouth City Patriots are part of the British Basketball League and will support the University in advancing its BUCS league progression whilst also engaging more students in the exciting sport.

Paul James, Patriots Head Coach and former professional basketball player said:

“We are extremely excited about this partnership and are looking forward to putting Marjon University firmly on the high-performance basketball map. We will create an atmosphere for an enhanced student learning experience where there will be an opportunity for playing students to thrive in addition to other students gaining hands on experience of a high-performance environment and culture. Students studying on sports and rehabilitation courses will have the opportunity to work with the professional team in areas such as strength and conditioning, sports therapy, sport analysis, sports psychology and sports nutrition, which will heighten their learning experience.”

Laurence Gully, Director of Sport and Physical Activity at Marjon, added:

“We are really proud to have agreed this partnership with Plymouth City Patriots and are pleased to have this mutually supportive relationship. This is an exciting time to be part of Basketball at all levels, and together we now have a clear pathway for participation and elite basketball in our city and region.”

The Marjon teams will access national league training and competitions under the Patriots team banner, expanding future opportunities for the Marjon players.

This leading partnership will improve the sports experience for students but will also provide placement opportunities for students across journalism, sports therapy, and coaching courses.

Plymouth Marjon University already has several partnerships with professional sports bodies across the city, including Plymouth Albion RFC and Plymouth Argyle, now proudly adding the City Patriots to this broad collection of official partners.

The University now has new kits featuring its partners across the varying teams. Through this new partnership, Marjon will be able to provide its students with a unique interaction with professional basketball.

Find out more about studying sport at Marjon here.