Durham Wildcats

Last updated

Durham Wildcats
DurhamWildcatsLogo.png
League NBL D3 North
Established2005;19 years ago (2005)
HistoryDurham Wildcats
2005-2015
Reformed
2020-present
Arena Sport and Wellbeing Park
Location County Durham
Team coloursBlue and White

The Durham Wildcats are an English basketball club based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The original incarnation were members of the British Basketball League, the top-level competition in the United Kingdom, and played their home games at the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre. Established in 2005, the club enjoyed a rapid rise through the British basketball system with successive promotions, before applying to join the top-tier British Basketball League in 2011. The club completed four seasons in the BBL, but withdrew following the 2014-15 season. The newly reformed Wildcats re-entered the English Basketball League in 2020.

Contents

Franchise history

In 2001, the merger 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 founded the team that would begin life in the EBL Division 3 North. The Wildcats achieved their first promotion four years later, finishing top of a highly competitive EBL Division 3 North, and gaining promotion to EBL Division 2.

In 2010, the Wildcats won their first national silverware beating Westminster Warriors in the Patron's Cup final (96-70) at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. The club went on to win the league title with an 18-2 record, gaining promotion to EBL Division 1, and beat Team Northumbria (70-67) in the Playoff final at the Amaechi Basketball Centre to complete the Division 2 treble. The Wildcats had a mixed inaugural season in Division 1, unable to emulate the success of the previous few seasons. A 7-11 record gave them a 7th-place finish, as well as early exits in the National Cup and post-season Playoffs.

After weeks of rumours, it was officially announced that the Wildcats would enter the British Basketball League following the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder. [1]

After four seasons in the BBL, in July 2015 it was announced that the Wildcats would not be participating in the 2015-16 BBL season. The team had previously recruited players from Durham University, however following changes to visa regulations players called up to the team on international student visas were found to be ineligible to play. The team sought to re-structure and join the league at a later date. [2]

Home arenas

Spennymoor Leisure Centre (2005-2007 and 2009)
Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre (2007-2015)
Durham University Sport and Wellbeing Park (2020-present)

Season-by-season records

SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonTrophyCupHead coach
FinishPlayedWinsLossesPointsWin %
Durham Wildcats
2005–06 D3 Nor 46th1679140.438Did not qualify2nd round (NS)2nd round (NC)Dave Elderkin
2006–07 D3 Nor 44th20137260.650Quarter-finals3rd round (NS)3rd round (NC)Dave Elderkin
2007–08 D3 Nor 47th20119220.550Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (NS)1st round (NC)Dave Elderkin
2008–09 D3 Nor 41st22184360.818Semi-finals3rd round (NS)2nd round (NC)Dave Elderkin
2009–10 D2 31st20182360.900Winners, beating Northumbria Winners (PC)Quarter-finals (NC)Dave Elderkin
2010–11 D1 27th18711140.389Quarter-finals1st round (NT)3rd round (NC)Dave Elderkin
2011–12 BBL 111th3333060.090Did not qualify1st round (BT)1st round (BC)Dave Elderkin
2012–13 BBL 110th331026200.303Did not qualify1st round (BT)1st round (BC)Dave Elderkin
2013–14 BBL 18th331419280.424Quarter-finals, losing to Newcastle Eagles 1st round (BT)Quarter-finals (BC)Lee Davie
2014–15 BBL 112th36828160.286Did not qualify1st round (BT)1st round (BC)Lee Davie

Trophies

Players

Final roster

Note: Flags indicate national team, as has been defined under FIBA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIBA nationality.

No.PositionPlayer
6Flag of England.svg  ENG F Sam Chambers
8Flag of the United States.svg  USA F Kris Bennett
15Flag of England.svg  ENG PF Joel Madourie
10Flag of the United States.svg  USA PG Chris Jones
13Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO F Fran Urli
22Flag of Greece.svg  GRE G Panos Mayindombe
32Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR G Ralph Bucci
33Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR G David Buchberger
44Flag of the United States.svg  USA C John Puk

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References

  1. "Durham Wildcats join British Basketball League". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011.
  2. "Durham Wildcats withdraw from BBL for 2015-16". BBC Sport. 17 June 2015.