Durham Wildcats
Encyclopedia
Durham Wildcats is a basketball
team based in County Durham
, England. Established in 2005, the club has enjoyed a rapid rise through the English Basketball League
system with three promotions in the past three seasons. As of 2011, Wildcats have been competing in the premier-level British Basketball League
as the competition's newest entrants.
In 2005 Wildcats were officially founded with a team that competed in the EBL Division 3 North
for four seasons.
In the first two seasons Wildcats played their home games at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in County Durham
. At the start of the 2007-2008 season the team moved to the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, which is located in southern Durham.
In the 2008-2009 season the Wildcats won a highly competitive, and close-fought, EBL Division 3 North, gaining promotion to EBL Division 2.
On February 28, 2010, they won their first national silverware beating Westminster Warriors in the Patrons Cup Final (96-70), that was held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
. They went on to win the League title with 18-2 wins gaining promotion to EBL Division 1. On April 25, 2010, they beat Team Northumbria (70-67) in the Play-Offs Final at the Amaechi Basketball Centre, completing the Division 2 Treble.
Wildcats' had a mixed 2010-2011 season in Division 1 and weren't able to emulate the success of the past few seasons. A mediocre 7-11 record gave them a 7th place finish as well as only making it to the 3rd Round of the National Cup and Quarter-finals of the post-season Play-offs.
After weeks of rumours, it was officially announced on May 26, 2011, that the Wildcats would be the latest addition to the British Basketball League
following the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder
.
Notes:
(www.bbl.org.uk).
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England. Established in 2005, the club has enjoyed a rapid rise through the English Basketball League
English Basketball League
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
system with three promotions in the past three seasons. As of 2011, Wildcats have been competing in the premier-level British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
as the competition's newest entrants.
Franchise history
In 2001 the merge of the Belmont Basketball Club and a group of U16 players from Belmont School resulted in a club that competed in the Durham County Local League playing with teams in the 1st and 3rd divisions.In 2005 Wildcats were officially founded with a team that competed in the EBL Division 3 North
English Basketball League
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
for four seasons.
In the first two seasons Wildcats played their home games at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. At the start of the 2007-2008 season the team moved to the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, which is located in southern Durham.
In the 2008-2009 season the Wildcats won a highly competitive, and close-fought, EBL Division 3 North, gaining promotion to EBL Division 2.
On February 28, 2010, they won their first national silverware beating Westminster Warriors in the Patrons Cup Final (96-70), that was held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
. They went on to win the League title with 18-2 wins gaining promotion to EBL Division 1. On April 25, 2010, they beat Team Northumbria (70-67) in the Play-Offs Final at the Amaechi Basketball Centre, completing the Division 2 Treble.
Wildcats' had a mixed 2010-2011 season in Division 1 and weren't able to emulate the success of the past few seasons. A mediocre 7-11 record gave them a 7th place finish as well as only making it to the 3rd Round of the National Cup and Quarter-finals of the post-season Play-offs.
After weeks of rumours, it was officially announced on May 26, 2011, that the Wildcats would be the latest addition to the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
following the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder
Worthing Thunder
Worthing Thunder is a basketball team from Worthing, England. Founded in 1999, until recently they competed in the top-tier British Basketball League, having previously having dominated the lower leagues in recent years, winning back-to-back English Basketball League Division One titles in 2006 and...
.
Home arenas
- Spennymoor Leisure Centre (2005-2007 and 2009)
- Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre (2007-present)
Season-by-season records
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pld. | W | L | Play Offs | National Shield | Patrons Cup | National Trophy | National Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Wildcats | ||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | EBL 3N English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
6th | 16 | 7 | 9 | DNQ | 2nd Round | n/a | n/a | 2nd Round |
| 2006–2007 | EBL 3N English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
4th | 20 | 13 | 7 | Quarter-final | 3rd Round | n/a | n/a | 3rd Round |
| 2007–2008 | EBL 3N English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
7th | 20 | 11 | 9 | DNQ | Quarter-final | n/a | n/a | 1st Round |
| 2008–2009 | EBL 3N English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
1st | 22 | 18 | 4 | Semi-final | 3rd Round | n/a | n/a | 2nd Round |
| 2009–2010 | EBL 2 English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
1st | 20 | 18 | 2 | Winners | n/a | Winners | n/a | Quarter-final |
| 2010–2011 | EBL 1 English Basketball League The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League.... |
7th | 18 | 7 | 11 | Quarter-final | n/a | n/a | 1st Round | 3rd Round |
| 2011–2012 | BBL British Basketball League The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy.... |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Notes:
- DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.
Trophies
- EBL Division 2English Basketball LeagueThe English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
:- Winners: 2009/10
- EBL Division 3 NorthEnglish Basketball LeagueThe English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
:- Winners: 2008/09
- EBL Division 2 Play-offsEnglish Basketball LeagueThe English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
:- Winners: 2009/10
- Patrons Cup:
- Winners: 2009/10
Current roster
The following information is established according to the official websites of the team (www.godurhamwildcats.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBLBritish Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
(www.bbl.org.uk).
External links
- Official Durham Wildcats website
- Durham Wildcats on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Durham Wildcats on EuroBasket.com