16188/9Malmesbury Monks basketball team are hoping divine intervention from a visiting Christian today will turn them into worldbeaters.
The services of Dip Donaldson were secured due to the obvious holy connection, and the fact he is also captain of the national league Coventry Crusaders and a 28-times capped England player just happens to be a fortunate coincidence.
A 30-strong group of basketball players formed Malmesbury Abbey's first basketball team a year ago. Known as the Monks, the squad will go through a two-hour coaching session tonight with their multi-skilled visitor.
The Rev Neill Archer, vicar of Malmesbury Abbey, said it was his idea to form a team.
He said: "We started our abbey basketball squad over a beer at last year's sausage festival. We play every fortnight, having a lot of fun, and sometimes remembering the rules.
"Dip Donaldson is joining us to help us improve, hopefully to show off his three-point shot. I believe the church should be fun and enjoyable and too often people seem to think in the church you can't have fun."
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