THE newly-formed Spartans Basketball team are all set to tip-off their first campaign this weekend.

Wyre Forest's newest side play home games at the LQ Arena, Windermere Way, Stourport, but will begin their season with a trip to neighbours Bromsgrove Blaze on Friday night. That will be quickly followed by the visit of Rugeley Raptors for their first home contest this Sunday (6.15pm kick-off)

Spartans, who train at Kidderminster Youth House, Bromsgrove Street, were formed in May when Wyre Forest Flames and Droitwich Spartans merged.

A host of sessions for youngsters in the region quickly snowballed and has now culminated in a men's flagship first team competing in the Division Two of the West Midlands League.

Teams of under-12s, under-15s and under-17s will also run alongside them. A club shop has also been opened and there are plans to run other age-group sides in the future.

Club chairman Matthew Coles said: "We held sessions for youngsters and were amazed at just how big the interest was. We had 24 kids come to the under-15 session and 30 to the under-17 and it has got bigger from there.

"Our main aim is to develop young talent in the area and give them a place to play.

"We now have a first team that these youngsters can work towards and hopefully they have an exciting season. Having the first team is really important to us.

"We have managed to get some very good players on board that play for bigger Saturday sides. We're really looking forward to it."