A SQUAD of South African netball players are in for a week to remember when they visit the borough later this month.

The Under-17 and Under-19 teams from Paarl High School, Cape Town roll into the country on Sunday, December 14 and YWCA (Juniors) Bury have been selected by the All England Netball Club to provide the opposition.

Paarl are currently league champions at both Under-17 and Under-19 in their region of South Africa and will provide stiff opposition for the local club when they face one another in an Evening of Netball at the Castle Leisure Centre on Monday, December 15.

YWCA Bury are laying on a full programme of events for the tourists with the help of local businesses and organisations.

They will be greeted at the Bolholt Country Park Hotel on Sunday, December 14, where they will stay for the duration of their trip.

On Monday Megabowl at Pilsworth have agreed a discounted rate for a morning's bowling and use of their facilities.

Then, in the afternoon it's over the road to the Warner Brothers Cinema where more tickets have been donated.

At Castle Leisure Centre a High Five netball tournament for local junior schools is scheduled for late afternoon and evening.

The Mayor and Mayoress will be introduced to the visitors and will present the tourists with a commemorative plate as well as individual pen sets.

And for the climax of the event at 6.45pm and 8pm two matches will be played between Paarl and the YMCA Bury Under-17 and Under-19 teams. The match ball has been kindly donated by Greater Manchester Police.

Their final morning in Bury, before they leave for Cardiff, will take in a stroll around the town centre then a full guided tour of Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.