Members of the legendary Harlem Globetrotters visited Odsal yesterday for the first time since the team played at the stadium more than 50 years ago.

Stars Flip Atkins and Blend Rodriguez showed off some of their amazing basketball skills to Bradford Bulls first team players and Tong High School pupils during the visit, ahead of the Globetrotters’ World of Fun tour later this year.

The team faced the United States Basketball Stars at the home of the Bulls in 1957 and the players were invited as part of the stadium’s Past Times Project.

Heritage officer Martin Bass said: “It’s excellent to have them back. They always give a good message to children and their ball-handling skills are amazing.”

New Yorker Mr Rodriguez, 33, who has travelled to 35 countries with the Globetrotters, said: “It feels great to come to different countries, especially here. We just love to entertain the fans. People know us everywhere.

“The first thing they do is smile, that makes us feel so special and touches our hearts. It’s important to become an ambassador of goodwill. We are not just professionals on the basketball court but we are professionals off the basketball court as well.”

At 22 Mr Atkins, who grew up in Chicago, is the Globetrotters’ youngest player.

He said: “I always wanted to be a role model and I always wanted to play basketball and entertain. With the Harlem Globetrotters you can do just that, put smiles on kids’ faces.”

The team originated in 1926 in Chicago and within a few years had played across America. In 1941 the infamous Reece “Goose” Tatum was signed, who introduced comedy moves and changed the direction of the team. By the end of the Second World War, the Globetrotters had played 30,000 games and went on to tour the world, breaking cultural and social barriers as well as basketball records.

e-mail: hannah.baker@telegraphandargus.co.uk