Brentwood is in the grip of cup final fever as its own London Leopards prepare for the country's big basketball showdown.

The Leopards are competing in basketball's NTL Cup - the sport's equivalent of football's FA Cup.

The match is at the Sheffield Arena on January 7 - and the Leopards are confident of their chances.

They clinched their final spot after a dramatic win against the London Towers.

And now the Leopards are calling on the residents of Brentwood and the rest of Essex to back their campaign to take the top trophy.

Inspirational Leopards Coach Bob Donewald is looking forward to the game on Sunday January 7, which will see his team pitted against his old club the Leicester Riders in front of a buzzing crowd of 7,000 basketball fans.

He said: "I feel the Leopards will be representing the whole of Brentwood and Essex when we march up to Sheffield to watch us play in what is basketball's major cup final.

"Our success reflects positively not only on this club, but everyone who has been supporting us and hopefully even more people will get behind us now we are into a national final.

"Because of our success we have been attracting a lot of new fans and with all the coverage from Sky and the BBC the atmosphere and support we are getting at our games is tremendous.

"I hope we can take that atmosphere up to Sheffield with us."

The final should be a thrilling spectacle and if the game has half the drama of the semi final, which finished 84-82, it will be a memorable match.

After the semi-final, which was screened on the BBC's Sunday Grandstand, the Leopards enjoyed record gates for their following game.

The club is hoping that many fans will make the journey up to Sheffield to support their team.

The Leopards have been into the NTL final twice before, winning once and losing on the other occasion.

This is the first time since the Leopards moved to the Brentwood Centre that the club has reached the final.

Bob Donewald promised to bring silverware to the town and is determined to keep his word.

He said: "From the beginning of this competition I have said that anyone who faces the Leopards in the cup will have to play hard and well to beat us.

"We have our eyes fixed on the cup and if Leicester want it they will have to come through us first.

"Our crowds have been amazing throughout this competition and the players are looking forward to the fans getting behind them one more time."

The London Leopards are running coaches to the Sheffield Arena for the big game. Coach tickets cost £7. Match tickets range from £5 to £11.

To book your tickets call the Leopards on 01277 230231.

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