AJ Jackson PLY - Grade 3 Coach.
Head Coach + Senior Player (Ex- Paralympian)
Age:
50
Classification:
4
Disability:
Chronic knee and back problems
Do you train with another team?
Not currently
What is your role at the club?
Head coach, Chairperson , Senior Player, Volunteer
Why do you like wheelchair basketball? And why did you start playing the sport?
I feel free when I play Wheelchair Basketball - I had to retire from hockey and sports on foot due to knee and back problems and the first time I got in a chair to play I just loved it. It challenges me every time I play, I can forget about everything else when I play and just enjoy the physicality and fun.
Why did you decide to join Cheshire Phoenix Wheelchair basketball club?
I used to help to run Celtic Warriors which was the name of the club before Phoenix - I started playing for them when they were a club called Chester Rockets in 1997 and then we moved onto become Chester Jets before we moved to Wrexham to become Warriors. I started Phoenix in 2015 when we partnered with Cheshire Phoenix Pro Club.
Do you have a favourite wheelchair basketball player? If so, who and why?
Patrick Anderson - his skills are amazing, and I am inspired by his work ethic
Do you have a future goal for the sport such as going Elite, becoming a coach etc...?
I want to carry on playing as long as I can, but I also want to continue Coaching and train more coaches and Activators.
What hobbies do you have?
Reading, going to the gym, watching films and playing on my playstation !
Do you go to college or university and if so, what do you or did you study?
I studied PE and Sports Science at Chester University and am currently studying for the Masters in Counselling back at Chester Uni.
Do you have any cool qualifications in anything?
I am part way to becoming a qualified Counsellor and I am a mental health first aider for Adults and Young People. I am also qualified to Level 2 in British Sign Language and am studying for Level 3
Tell me one fact about yourself
I competed for the GB Women's Wheelchair Basketball team at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games
Let's have some fun
What is your Dream meal comprising a starter, a main and a dessert?
Prawn Cocktail, Roast Chicken dinner and Profiteroles with Chocolate sauce !
Favourite type of music?
Rock
If you were going to name your basketball, what would you call it and why?
Patrick after my favourite player!
Quick fire questions
Which one is your favourite?
Tea ✓ or Coffee
Sweet ✓ or Savoury
Coke or ✓Diet Coke
Summer ✓or Winter
This is for the committee/ volunteers...
What makes you want to help the club out? And what do you enjoy most about being at the club?
I love being part of the Phoenix Committee and Coaching team - I like to use my skills to help to develop the club so that everyone gets what they want from it
Are you part of another sport or volunteer anywhere else?
I am a Bereavement Team Volunteer at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester. I am currently on Counselling placement and help run Bereavement support groups.
What is your goal for your role and Cheshire Phoenix?
The goal for Phoenix is to do more of what we already do - even bigger and better, I would love to see us have a junior team and get a Women's team back up and running again as well as the senior team. The goal for me is to keep playing and coaching and having fun
Follow me on Social Media
