AZTECS BASKETBALL CLUB - www.Aztecs-Basketball.co.uk

Joint Chairperson - 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 also serves on the Wessex Committee as Webmaster, and 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

Joint Chairperson - Nynke Goodman

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.

Kit & Equipment Secretary - Tony Critchley

A long-standing member who has served the club with distinction. Tony is another product of the Ranelagh basketball conveyor belt. Over the years he has chaired, coached and captained the club, winning a number of trophies. An experienced and capable referee, he acts as Officials Secretary on the Wessex Area committee.

Now working with Siemens Medical, his other passions include the Bracknell Bees Ice Hockey team, Liverpool FC, and in the summer he likes nothing better than the mellow sound of leather on willow (although preferably not when he's bowling!)

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 is now head of HR for 3M in this country, and somehow finds time 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.

First team coach - .

Coach Taylor shows how a proper pick is set, releasing "Magic" Crombie.

Lead Open Coach - Alex Taylor

Final draft currently with his publicist.

Alex Taylor as a junior international.

Aztec Cobras Coach, & Mr Fixit - Chris Giles.

Berkshire born and bred Chris is the eldest of 3 brothers who all play basketball at the club (Nick and Andrew) and the son of Mick and Carol Giles. Poor parents for having 3 lads!

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.

In 2003, Chris graduated from Loughborough, moved back to Berkshire & joined the Aztecs, playing for the Cobras in 2004 and 2005. Known for hitting the long three-pointer (80% of his points in 2004/5 season came from behind the arc) Chris has made a resolution for the new season - score some lay-ups!

Besides playing, Chris coaches in the Heat Junior development programme along with Pete Daines, and their Under-16s team was runner-up in the Central Venue League last season. Away from The Beautiful Game, Chris (like Nynke, above) 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.

Above - Aztecs Clubman 2006, Chris Giles

FAVES: Football Team: Reading FC and Arsenal

Music: Various – Anything from The Counting Crows to 50 Cent.

Relaxation - skiing & golf.

2005 Clubman of the Year, Graham Kirkpatrick.

Aztec Rage Coach and Court Bookings Officer - Graham Kirkpatrick

Graham was educated at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Reigate, Reigate Sixth Form College, and East Surrey College, Redhill.

For several seasons, Graham has carved out a niche as the tireless organiser of the Club's Annual Summer League bonanza. In addition, he is generally at the front of the queue to organise the Christmas Dinner and other club social events.

Description (his):  The ultimate NBA freak wannabe - the incredible height of Mugsy Bogues with the unbelievable physique of Charles Barkley, complemented with skills that can only be described as as an anagram of 'this' (Graham's modest words, not mine - ed.).

Favourite things:  Food, Drink, Basketball, and my family, especially my little boys - Kenyon and Zach.

Dislikes: Manchester United Football Club

Three best words to describe me:  Funny, Cuddly and understanding. ("Big hearted, Zany, and Committed" are 3 suitable alternative terms - Ed.)

Ladies Coach - Kerry Haynes.

Kerry has many years of experience coaching both male and female teams.

He coaches the Aztec Belles ladies team, and leads the ladies training sessions on Thursday evenings.

Rare archive footage of Coach Daines Jnr showing he has a left hand.

Pete was selected to the Wessex AllStar Squad in 2005, and was Aztecs Clubman 2006

Aztec Lemmings Team Secretary- Pete Daines.

AKA "Dainesy", Pete started playing basketball aged 10 under tuition from a very young Pete Scantlebury (yet to win the 1st of 150 England caps). Educated at Edgbarrow in Crowthorne and was the first pupil to score over 1,000 points for the school.

Pete captained the TV Tigers U15’s, played for the U17’s and then in 1994 the B-Team in National League Div 2. He also represented Berkshire for three seasons. University career was alcohol interrupted but the highlight was playing in front of 6,000 people (including Lennox Lewis) at the Docklands Arena. In 1997 he joined Lodden Valley Vultures. After seven successful seasons with the club he joined Aztecs in a big money signing "to play on the same side as my ageing brother, who probably only has a few years left in his legs" (I take no responsibility for the family consequences of this content - Ed.) He also joined Aztecs for the social scene and atmosphere.

Pete intends to play Wessex League for 2 more years before declaring for the NBA Draft….watch out LeBron!! In his spare time, Pete is a teacher at Yateley Manor School, and as an experienced training leader, he coaches the TV Tiger junior lads.

Career Honours:

Wessex Open Division 2 Winner, 2004-05
Karl Taylor Shield Runner-up, 2002-03
Berkshire Schools Cup Final Appearances, 1989-92
Berkshire Schools Cup Final MVP, 1989 & 1991
Led National League Division 2 in 3-point percentage, 1994-95 Favourites:

Basketball Team: TV Tigers, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks.
Basketball Player: His Airness Michael Jordan.
Football Team: Liverpool.
Music: Anything 80’s.

Aztec Belles Secretary - Kelly Shorey.

AKA Greyhound, Scorey, Milo.

Kels has spent most of her life outside England, having been brought up in Qatar from 18 months to 18 yrs - she was at Doha College until GCSEs. She has a degree in "Sports Studies and Exercise Science with Media and Popular Culture" from University College Northampton (surely the longest ever degree title? - ed.)

On court she is a pacey and fluent forward, who can change the course of a game with a barrage of fast breaks.

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.

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!