Cheshire Jets: Phil Brandreth seizes his chance to make an impact

Nov 17 2011 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

PHIL Brandreth believes this could well be the year he makes his mark on the BBL.

The 26-year-old from Whitby in Ellesmere Port has been involved with the Cheshire Jets since attending their summer camps as a youngster and recently, with Shawn Myers injured, Jets head coach John Lavery has turned to the versatile forward to mix things up.

On Sunday he came on to huge applause and made a noticeable difference to the Jets defensively as the Leicester Riders attempted to press home their advantage in the second half.

And a fast break lay-up score drew a huge applause from the packed Northgate Arena.

Afterwards Lavery admitted this could be Brandreth’s year, but the local lad said he simply wanted the team to do well.

“I’m just doing what the coach tells me to do,” he said. “He puts me in to play hard defence, guard the shooter, don’t turn the ball over, shoot the open shot.

“I feel this could be my breakout year but I would rather the team win and the professionals do their bit for us to win and get some more income and fans coming to the game.

“But I’m going to take every chance I get, I don’t want anyone on the bench taking my minutes so I’ll just keep working hard.”

Having spent the last few years struggling for game-time, Brandreth almost moved to Sefton Stars in the National League during the off-season.

But the move fell through and the player admitted he was pleased.

“I am glad Sefton fell through,” he said. “I just wanted to get a little chance out there and I think I’ve got it now, I’ve had a little chance, we’ll see what happens when Shawn Myers comes back.

“I just need to make sure that I’m the next man in the rotation.

“My commitment has been rewarded. It’s not just a case of warming the bench every week for the Jets, it’s eight hours a week practising you put in and the extra gym time and doing it for free.

“It’s not a waste of my time, some people think it is but I just have to take my chance and prove them wrong.

“I’d like to think coach has me in mind for the Eagles game. It would be nice to see how I match up to one of their British guys like Andrew Bridge.”