Sheffield Sabres (basketball)
Encyclopedia
The Sheffield Sabres is an English
basketball
team from Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
competing in the English Basketball League
, Division 3 (North). They play their home games at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield
along with the Sheffield Arrows
and British Basketball League
team Sheffield Sharks
.
The Sabres entered NBL Division 2 North in 2001, effectively as a "spin off" second team for Sheffield Sharks.
The team initially struggled, finishing bottom of the division twice. With close links to Hallam University, they had problems fitting in matches near the start and end of terms, and during busy periods such as exams.
Failed to complete all their matches in both their first and third seasons, and in 2003-4 they also forfeited no less than five games through late cancellation, thus playing only 15 of their 22 scheduled matches.
2004-5 proved much better for the Sabres, with a completed schedule and a fifth-place finish in Div 3 North, and they built on this the following season as the Junior Sharks became an integral part of the tie-up between the clubs. This enabled younger players to gain experience at Senior level, with several of the Juniors regularly playing for the Sabres.
This policy paid dividends in 2006, with a third-placed finish, and an appearance in the Division 3 Championship Final, and they have continued to remain highly competitive, finishing third again in 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
basketball
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 from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
competing in 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....
, Division 3 (North). They play their home games at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield
English Institute of Sport - Sheffield
The English Institute of Sport is a multi-sport facility in Sheffield, England. The facility designed by was opened in December 2003 at a cost of £24 million. Its main feature is a 200 m indoor track but it also hosts several other sporting arenas as well as a large gym and extensive sports...
along with the Sheffield Arrows
City of Sheffield Arrows
The City of Sheffield Arrows, or just Sheffield Arrows for short, is a basketball team from Sheffield, South Yorkshire with their first team competing in the English Basketball League, Division 1....
and 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....
team Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
.
The Sabres entered NBL Division 2 North in 2001, effectively as a "spin off" second team for Sheffield Sharks.
The team initially struggled, finishing bottom of the division twice. With close links to Hallam University, they had problems fitting in matches near the start and end of terms, and during busy periods such as exams.
Failed to complete all their matches in both their first and third seasons, and in 2003-4 they also forfeited no less than five games through late cancellation, thus playing only 15 of their 22 scheduled matches.
2004-5 proved much better for the Sabres, with a completed schedule and a fifth-place finish in Div 3 North, and they built on this the following season as the Junior Sharks became an integral part of the tie-up between the clubs. This enabled younger players to gain experience at Senior level, with several of the Juniors regularly playing for the Sabres.
This policy paid dividends in 2006, with a third-placed finish, and an appearance in the Division 3 Championship Final, and they have continued to remain highly competitive, finishing third again in 2010.