A BASKETBALL-MAD father who named his youngest son after a famous player, won a chance for them to meet the Harlem Globetrotters.

Errol Lewis, from Fartown, took his sons Zach, 15, and Kobe, eight, to Manchester to meet the exhibition basketball team and learn a few tricks.

Errol, 45, a service delivery supervisor for First buses in Huddersfield, won the trip through work.

Errol, who has worked for First for more than 23 years and started his career as a bus driver – is a huge basketball and Globetrotters fan.

He said: “As a child I watched the Globetrotters on World of Sport on Saturday afternoons – they inspired me to take up basketball.

“I played at senior high level for Huddersfield and have done a bit of coaching. I am still a big follower of the game – in fact I named my second son after LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

“Meeting the Globetrotters was a real thrill.”

Errol said Zach, who goes to Rastrick High School and Kobe, who is at Fixby Junior and Infant School, were really excited to meet the basketball stars.

The father-of-two, whose wife Sam works for Kirklees Council, said: “My eldest used to play and he’s definitely wanting to get back into it and do something now.

“My youngest plays – we have a basketball net outside our house and we shoot hoops together.”

The Globetrotters were in Manchester ahead of their performance at the MEN Arena and arrived in the city courtesy of Greyhound, a coach service owned by FirstGroup.

Staff at Greyhound and First – which is also owned by FirstGroup – were given the opportunity to win tickets to watch the Globetrotters court-side and meet the players after the performance.

And given that the Globetrotters are known for their height, the company gave the prizes to the tallest and shortest members of staff to enter.

At 6ft2in Errol was the tallest winner, with Karen Lynch from Leeds at 4ft10 winning the prize for the shortest employee.

Globetrotter ‘Big Easy’ Lofton, said: “It was great to be in Manchester – we’ve heard great things about the City and United rivalry and a lot about the music scene as well. It’s a shame we can’t stay longer but with nine venues in nine days and some 1,600 miles to cover, we will be back on Greyhound first thing tomorrow.

“We ride with Greyhound on our US tours, so the Greyhound UK coach makes us feel at home.”