Manchester Basketball’s latest stop in their European campaign took them to the north of Iceland for a once-in-a-lifetime trip near the Arctic Circle.

“This has been one of my favourite experiences—”. My interview with Manchester Basketball's homegrown star, Kaiyem Cleary, was interrupted as the team bus came to a halt.

“If you get out here, you can see the Northern Lights,” said the coach driver, who escorted the team on their four-hour journey from Reykjavik to the north coast of Iceland.

They filtered out of the bus to see the sky painted green with broad brush strokes. We were a long way from Manchester.

The town of Sauðárkrókur was at the end of a long, winding road through Iceland’s mountainous highway. In many ways, the town with a population of 2,600 people felt like the edge of the earth.

Manchester were there for their second road game in their European North Basketball League campaign, which sees them play in Croatia, Norway, Belgium, and Iceland.

Playing in the competition allows the club to bring Manchester Basketball to all of Europe. And this was the furthest corner of the continent, with a population of 2,600 people just 50 miles from the Arctic Circle.

European competition is putting Manchester Basketball on the map

“This is such a great opportunity for basketball in Britain,” said Cleary, back in the warm comfort of the coach after gazing at the Northern Lights. The local hero revealed how the prospect of playing European basketball in his home city brought one of British basketball’s greatest talents back home.

It would have previously been unfeasible for a player of Cleary’s talent and ambitions to dedicate the second year of his professional career to Manchester. Cleary made his name abroad in the American collegiate system, feeling he must take his talents stateside to make a career for himself.

He grew up in Gorton, just around the corner from Manchester Basketball’s home arena, and now he’s back with a clear goal in mind: Grow basketball in his home city on the European stage.

He explained: “For European teams to be able to come and play in Manchester, in my home city, it’s a great opportunity for basketball, for the culture, to show we’re serious about this.

“We’re taking leaps for the culture of basketball, we’re investing the time, and getting that recognition as a city and as a country. To be able to play, compete, and win, which is the biggest thing, in these leagues is a huge statement.”

‍

How European basketball has allowed Manchester to recruit elite talent

European basketball hasn’t just brought Cleary to Manchester. Playing in the ENBL has enabled the club to compete with teams across the continent in their attempts to sign talent from around the world.

Head Coach Matthew Otten is well-acquainted with what European basketball can do for a club, having coached in Europe with Dutch side Donar Groningen. He said the ENBL has changed the game for Manchester’s ability to attract top talent.

“For recruitment, it’s huge,” said the American-Dutch coach, who was appointed in Manchester this summer.

“The first thing you get asked when you talk to an agent is, ‘Are you playing in European competition?’ Because it’s interesting for a player. In fact, sometimes you don’t have the budget for a certain player, but if you add that we’re playing in European competition, then it’s interesting for the player and the agent.”

This became immediately apparent when speaking to the Americans on the roster.

“As soon as I saw the opportunity, I jumped on it,” said American rookie Max Jones, speaking about how the chance to play European basketball influenced his decision to sign.

“I made sure to stay focused on where I can play basketball overseas in Europe. That’s always been a dream to play basketball on different levels.”

Those sentiments were shared with his teammate, Pjay Smith, who was a highly sought-after American who graduated from college last season. He had a host of offers for his services and chose Manchester Basketball.  

“It’s a great opportunity for me to go out there and try to play at the highest level,” Smith explained when asked why he chose Manchester. “That’s what made me want to play at a high level overseas.”

“A lot of people don’t experience travel like this. I’m in Iceland, right? I would have never thought I’d be in Iceland. I’ve been to Switzerland and Manchester, and it’s an awesome experience.”

‍

Over half of an Icelandic town came out to watch Manchester Basketball

When Manchester arrived in Sauðárkrókur, they were met with eager anticipation. Manchester United flags hung from the windows of the adjacent school, and young children were keen to meet players from the iconic sporting city.

According to the locals, over half of the town came out to see Tindastoll take on Manchester. English football tops were dotted around the crowd as a show of respect for their visitors, but Tindastoll were not there to simply take part in this fixture. They had become accustomed to winning over the last decade.

Tindastoll is an unassuming underdog located around 50 miles from the Arctic Circle, but it has carved out its place among Europe’s elite outfits. They have made five domestic finals in the last 10 years, winning their first title in 2023, and are the only Icelandic side playing in Europe this season.

Come game time, this peaceful, Viking-settled town comes alive in support of its team. It was quickly apparent that Manchester were playing in Tindastoll’s coliseum. The constant beating of drums and creative chanting from the crowd soundtracked the event.

Fans beared down from the rafters above, which surrounded the gym, and the stands were packed at the side of the court.

Manchester nearly secured victory in this environment. The game was fiercely fought, and the visitors had three shots to take the lead with less than a minute remaining. Ultimately, Tindastoll dug deep to survive the scare, but the sides were each other’s equals on the night.

And after the final buzzer, the welcoming smiles returned, and mutual respect was exchanged from one rising basketball nation to another.