IN 2011, Roger West from Kempsford decided it was time to call it a day on his coaching of Fairford Fury Basketball Club.

“I thought I was just too old to still be playing at 70,” he said.

Yet at the age of 77, Roger is back at the helm and more involved than ever.

Since the basketball coach at Farmor’s School went back to America, it is down to volunteers like him to keep the option open for young people in the area.

When they started again nine months ago, the club had just half a dozen coming along. Now about 15 to 16 people take part, with an age range between 16 and 26 years old.

“It’s quite encouraging that the turn-out keeps increasing,” said Roger.

“But it’s also a problem because people have to sit out.

“If we had more time we could probably fill the hall several times over.”

The club has the use of Fairford Sports Centre, within the grounds of Farmor’s School, for just one hour a week.

Roger has to say no to parents asking about having their eight or nine-year-old kids attend; they just can’t play against the older teens.

Despite the difficulties, Fairford Fury are still planning to join a league. To do so they will have to overcome the problem of what to do for home games, which normally need three to four hours of facility time.

Roger’s running of the club is part of his quest to encourage greater participation in the sport he loves.

“It does annoy me that every gym in the country has basketball nets, but they’re rarely used because it is not a mainstream sport here,” he said.

West feels that offering more activities for young people – which are often lacking in villages – is key for the health of the nation.

He has been involved in basketball all his life, including playing for London when he was 20. Although Roger says he is trying to edge himself into a less physical role now, he shows no sign of letting up.

“I must be one of the oldest players in the country,” he said.

And in the absence of someone else to take up the mantle, he may very well be so for some time yet.