Special K Visits Falkirk

Sony Centre Fury Headcoach John Bunyan met up with former Solripe US basketball star Bobby Special K Kinzer , when the American star of the 80"s was at the Inchyra Grange Grangemouth for a book signing. There has been praise across the basketball community for Bobby's - " The Other Side of the Hoop " where Special K describes his European basketball experience , focussing particularly with his time in Falkirk, playing in front of 5,000 fans at Coasters Arena. In those days Scottish basketball had a huge following, broadcast on mainstream TV and crowds that rivalled the local football team. Coasters brought a showbiz glitz to the game and Solripe had one of the two best teams in Scotland with Kinzer the floor general. Bobby praised the Fury Headcoach for his work in founding Fury basketball club in 1992 and continuing to provide opportunities for players to not only play in Scotland but throughout the world. Bobby also met Fury JW MVP of the Scottish Cup Finals of 2024 Daisy Lawson, who received one of the Special Endeavour Awards at Fury's Awards Night in 2025 for her work not just on court but off court coaching young players.

Also present was Fury's US star Javon Daniels who found he grew up in the same area of the US as the Solripe star. Former Solripe and Fury star - Steve Hoffman was also part of the Falkirk club's connection. Scotland International Hoffman, a 3pt shooting legend played for both Solripe in the 80's and for Fury winning Scottish National titles ( Cup & League ) with both Falkirk clubs. Bobby met many fans of the Solripe era and former teammates like Grant Mitchell , another player who incredibly played for both Solripe and Fury. While Solripe never won the Scottish Division 1 title ( they were Scottish Cup winners), Fury Headcoach John Bunyan brought the League trophy along to the event and Special K shared in Fury's recent 8th time of winning the title and being Scottish Champions. The first title won by Fury in season 2000-2001 was with Hoffman in the team and Bunyan the Coach and another Special K in that line -up - GB and Olympic star Kieran Achara as a 17yr old !

The meeting between the two Falkirk forces of Scottish basketball was truly a great occasion.