AZTECS BASKETBALL CLUB - Aztecs-Basketball.co.uk

Aztecs Club Chairman - Chris Giles.

Berkshire born and bred Chris is the eldest of 3 brothers who all play basketball at the club (Nick and Andrew). Chris’ basketball career started when aged 10 he watched a Tigers game against Milan at the John Nike Ice Rink. After that he was hooked and the following week went to a Tigers School of Basketball session and trained week in week out until he was 18 years old. During his time he progressed through the School of Basketball and played for every team up to Under-17s.

Chris' finest achievement whilst at the SOB was finishing fifth in the National Passarelle Finals when playing in the U-15 team.

Chris also played successful school basketball at Edgbarrow School when the local rivalry was with Easthampstead Park. Whilst at school, Chris also represented Berkshire Schools in 3 separate age groups (U-14s, U-15s and U-16s). On completing school, Chris moved to Loughborough Uni ….and you guessed it... more basketball, playing 2 seasons for the Loughborough 3rd team.

Besides playing, Chris has coached in the Heat Junior development programme along with Pete Daines, and their Under-16s team was runner-up in the Central Venue League. Away from The Beautiful Game, Chris (like Nynke) is a proper scientist, complete with white coat and microscope, and is also something of a linguist, being fluent in French, and can also manage some German, Dutch and Chinese.

Head of Ladies Basketball - Nynke Upfold

AKA (Minnie the) Nynx. After excelling at sports at Edgbarrow School (basketball and athletics, including the district Shot Putt championship) Nynke graduated from Loughborough Uni in Human Biology.

Since then has excelled on the basketball court, achieving one of her sporting ambitions – to represent the TV Tigers. (Only one season she says modestly. But hey-great achievement! Wish I could say the same-ed.)

On court, Nynke is the consummate all-rounder: equally at home popping in 3 pointers, play making, defending at the top or the base of a zone, or man-marking dangerous opponents. Her tremendous devotion to personal fitness is evidenced through her ability to playmake and defend hard all game without a break. A very team oriented member of the club with virtually 100% attendance at training sessions, but equally interested in promoting club social life. Winner of the 2008 Clubman award.

Off court, apart from dedicatedly pursuing excellence in fitness, Nynx has a white coat and does research into the inhalation of drugs. (So do a couple of other club members – Ed.) Hopelessly devoted to chocolate and champagne, & foot massages(!)

Pink & Purple are Nynke ’s colours, except when watching her beloved Reading FC, when obviously blue and white are the order of the day.

Ladies Coach and Court Bookings Sec - Andy Crombie.

Born in Dover, Andy first picked up a basketball aged 9 at Binfield COE Primary School, where Pete Scantlebury of the Tigers ran a session each week.  Following Aztec tradition he really caught basketball fever at Ranelagh where under Martin Hart's tuition, he won senior colours, captained the 1st team and won defensive player of the year and the Court Vision award in the 1995-96 season.

After Uni, Andy joined the club in Nov 2000, and awards since then include Cobras M.V.P. 2002-03, Cobras Player's Player of the Year 2003-04, Clubman Award 2004-05, Wessex Division 2 winner 2004-05 and Wessex Division 1 winner 2006-07. Andy has been on the Aztecs Committee for some years, where his energy and enthusiasm are infectious. He wears No. 32 after his hero Magic Johnson.

Workwise, Andy has recently moved to Basingstoke to work for BNP Paribas Lease Group as a Senior Risk Analyst.

Music: "The Boss" (Bruce Springsteen)
Sports Teams: Tottenham Hotspur and Los Angeles Lakers

Treasurer - Jeff Skinner

Another founder-member of the club who has served with distinction. Jeff was a member of the Ranelagh School team that reached the final of the National Schools Championship in 1973.

After University, Jeff qualified as an accountant, and has managed businesses in several locations for 3M, including a stint in Minnesota. He recently retired as Head of HR for 3M in this country, and continues to manage the club's finances.

Possessed of an unnaturally photographic memory, he can recall the full names of all Leeds United players since the war (presumably learned on those interminable journeys to and from Elland Road over the years). Other than football, he is also increasingly interested in golf.

Club Secretary - Jonny Skinner.

Final Draft with his Agent.

Hobbies: basketball, DIY, music - he plays a bit (badly- ed.) and confesses to liking the Beach Boys, Beatles, Beethoven and Bach - & Coldplay, Tom Petty, Oasis …Fave colours – Claret & Blue.

Vice Chairman and Webmaster - Fred Grayson

AKA: Philip (by his family) Mzee (in Kenya). Fred is a product of Ranelagh School - an all-rounder rather than a precocious talent, representing county junior teams in cricket & basketball, and captaining the Berks U18 hockey team. A founder-member of Aztecs, he made a career with Barclays, lured by the prospect of their rugby, football, basketball, tennis and cricket teams, all of which (used to) go on tour.

He switched to International Banking in 1989 and was to spend the early 90s in East Africa. In Nairobi he achieved the distinction of being the only white player in the Kenya National Basketball League (“I was of novelty rather than sporting value” he confesses: “White Men [really] Can’t Jump”) and he reached the National Cup Final (“the least important member of a long bench” is how he described himself). On return to England, he bought a crumbling pile in Finchampstead and patiently trotted the globe for Barclays International Corporate Finance until recently.

After several years in the hot seat as Chairman, he wants to take his basketball a little more slowly, and has moved over to allow a younger management team to take over!