Boy, 13, finally given his wish of basketball court

A BASKETBALL court has been officially unveiled in Henley.

The town council organised the new facility at Makins recreation ground, off Greys Road, at the suggestion of a boy who plays the sport.

George Allen, 13, of Oakford Court, told the council in 2021 that young people like him had to travel 30 minutes to their nearest basketball club in Reading to play.

He asked for a basketball hoop to be integrated into a multi-use games area and the council agreed.

The area was resurfaced and basketball line markings were painted in March.

George and his mother Stephanie were special guests at the opening ceremony on Friday, which was attended by Mayor Rory Hunt, town councillor Gill Dodds and town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward.

The event included a coaching session for children run by Jay Garcia, head coach at the Magic Hoops basketball academy in Reading.

George is set to have his own plaque installed to recognise his achievement. The Gillotts School pupil said: “I’m really happy and feel so proud.

“The main reason I asked for the basketball court was because I was going to a club but it was half an hour away so every time I wanted to play we had to drive.

“I had this idea of ‘why not try to make a basketball court where I live?’

“I’m very happy that it’s finally open after three years after I started this. I was 11 then and I’m nearly 14 now.

“I’ll have a plaque, so everyone knows that it was me who did this, which is very nice.

“If I was going to add anything to the basketball court it would probably be some floodlights so you could come down here and play at night when it’s a lot more peaceful.”

Mrs Allen, 44, said: “Since George was six, he’s had quite an entrepreneurial brain and thought of opening different businesses and then this came to mind. We contacted lots of local people like the parks manager and the council. It went from there really.

“He’s so glad to introduce people to sport and get people off their screens and out exercising.

“It’s so good to see young people being heard and he loves it.”

Mr Jacklin-Edward said: “We wanted to say thank-you for all the work that George put in and coming to us with the initial request.

“This is providing a basketball facility which anybody can use at any time of year, free of charge, so kids don’t have to travel to play.

“It meets the official Basketball England specification for a three-on-three court with all the right lines as well.”

He said the court was originally laid last summer but it quickly faced developer drainage issues which needed to be fixed and this work was hampered by poor weather.

The basketball court cost about £18,000.