Bolton Paralympian Harry Brown admits he still has still mixed emotions after helping the GB men’s wheelchair basket ball team to silver in Paris.

After being part of the squad that picked up bronze previously in the games in Rio and Tokyo, the 30-year-old acknowledges silver is a step up - especially as part of the first men’s team since 1996 to make the final.

But the narrow 73-69 defeat at the Bercy Arena is still raw for the Yorkshireman who now calls Bolton home as the gold medal slipped through their grasp.

Talking to The Bolton News, Brown from Morris Green, said: “It is mixed emotions at the moment.

“We were all sat in the changing room afterwards, not crying our eyes out but feeling like we wanted to.

“We should celebrate because we have a silver medal from the Paralympics and not many people can say that.

“Give it a couple of months and hopefully it will become a proud moment to look back on.

“It was weird as we went back out onto the court for the podiums and obviously America is in the middle and we are on one side with Germany on the other and they both look ecstatic.

“We were better than Germany, but because they won their bronze-medal match that morning they were on more of a high than us.

“We have to remember it is the first time in 28 years I think we have made a final at the Games so we are moving in the right direction.”

Despite the disappointment of losing, Brown admits it was overall a successful games but admits outside of competing, time is very limited with such and intense programme.

He went on: “It is weird for us a basketballers because we compete from day one and two right to the end.

“So two days in we had played one game and getting back to GB house and there were already eight medals in the bag for the GB squad.

“The atmosphere was amazing - all the staff were brilliant.

“But we were advised not to go to the opening ceremony as we had a game at 10am next day and it would have been late back in the early hours from that.

“One guy went as the flag bearer, but he was straight back early as well. He did say it was the most amazing thing he had ever done.

“But I have been to three Paralympic Games and not seen an opening or closing ceremony.

“As nice at it is, I am there to play basketball primarily.”

Playing basketball is what the likeable star does best, having taken up sport at an early age despite meningitis as a child meaning he has been without both legs since a very early age, getting his first wheelchair aged just two.

But unlike many of his GB team-mates, Brown is currently without a club and searching for a new one.

In the meantime, he is spreading the gospel with public appearances in the town, recently taking his medal to Dawson's Academy of Dance & Stage, on Great Moor Street, to meet very excited dancers and teachers.

And he wants to continue encouragement for others to get involved in Para sport and hopes the opportunities on these shores will increase.

He went on: “I am trying to find a club team.

“For elite competitions, most players would play abroad in Spain, Germany or Italy.

“Their clubs are more established run through links with football clubs etc.

“We have tried to get a league going properly over here but it has just not happened.

“If we could find a way to get the sport out there, I think there is a market for it.

“It is getting that first person to get hold of the idea and run with it that is difficult.

“There is still a high quality here with all the GB ex-players still playing.

“I am from Halifax but my wife, Courtney, is from Bolton so we moved across for schooling for our two little kids - Lilly-Mae and Harrison Junior - it just made more sense.

“We were based in Sheffield for a while with a centralised programme where everyone would come and train four or five times a week then head back off home.

“It kind of disbanded as it was just one central place and not easy for everyone to get to for say people from London to head up three or four times a week to train.

“We now have places all over people can go to in the likes of Loughborough and London.

“Being close to Manchester now and the airport means I can get around and train with people more as well.