Matt Donaldson has announced that he will be retiring from English basketball with the Bupa Crusaders at the end of this season.

Matt is the only original member along with Dip Donaldson, who was on the team in 1992 when the Crusaders first set up camp in Coventry. Matt Donaldson has been here seven out of the last eight years, playing basketball and working for the Crusader organisation.

In the course of his time with the Bupa Coventry Crusaders Matt has been asked to fill many roles. He has taught basketball at primary and secondary school level, developed basketball throughout the county of Warwickshire, working with boys and girls, coached National League boys teams, filled the role of Team Captain for the senior squad, been selected to the National Division One Men's All Star team four times, appointed Most Valuable Player at the Crusaders Wembley Championship Final in 1994, has rated as one of the top three scorers in Crusaders history, and has the record of being the top rebounder.

This past season he has also worked on the administrative side of the business, co-ordinating the school's coaching programme for the Crusader Foundation, and worked on securing sponsorship for the Crusaders Basketball team.

Along with Rick Solvason, the pair have coached thousands of children in Coventry and Warwickshire, and has probably introduced more children to basketball than any other pair of Americans to arrive in the UK.

Dip Donaldson, owner of Coventry Crusaders Basketball club said:

"My philosophy has always been to take the game of basketball to children. I see that as the main way ahead for the growth of basketball in England, and Matt and Rick have done an excellent job of doing that. They have set the standards high, and anyone who follows in their footsteps will be expected to maintain those standards."

Matt and Rick have been an integral part of the development of basketball in Coventry, and have contributed greatly to the Crusaders success in the past. Between them they have put in 13 years of basketball development work in Coventry and the surrounding area.

The foundation of the club has been laid, in part, by the two of them. The slabs have been filled for growth in basketball in this city. Whatever new player comes in the future will be able to build on the foundations which have already been laid. The club should be able to move from strength to strength because of the hard work that has already been put in.

The Crusaders organisation wish all the best for Rick and Matt as they move on, and they will always be remembered for the important part in the club's history which they have both played.
  

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