A WHEELCHAIR basketball club that trains at a sports centre in Exeter is booming with three teams and 70 members.

Now the head coach of Exeter Otters wants the club to become as well known as Exeter City Football Club and Exeter Chiefs.

Jack Davey, who joined the club in 2010, has seen the Otters go from strength to strength in recent years, from struggling to field a team to competing in the second tier of the National League and running the first under-14 team in the South West.

The Club, which is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the UK, train at the Wonford Sports Centre in Exeter.

Jack told the BBC: "You've got big clubs within Exeter: the Exeter Chiefs and you've got Exeter (City) football and I really want it to be along that line essentially."

In an interview with the BBC, the 30-year-old said he prided himself on "building people not just players" and that membership had increased from just two in 2021 to about 70 currently.

He said: "There's a huge age range (from five to 74), but it really creates that family environment where people who wouldn't necessarily socialise together have the opportunity to do that through the power of sport.

"There was a need. I really wanted to ensure that the juniors had somewhere to go because, at the end of the day, they're going to be the future that keeps the club going."

Jack was born with a rare form of spina bifida, where his spine can’t support his body and he has no muscle in his left leg.

When Jack was born his parents were told that his chances of standing were slim and that he wouldn’t be able to walk or be fully independent. Today Jack owns his own house, has a job, a wife and runs a wheelchair basketball club.

He has also captained South West England, is on the GB pathway as a player and has picked up gold medals as a coach at regional and national level.