Hemel Storm are a British semi-professional basketball club from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Founded in 2006, the Storm compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system, and play their home games at the Everyone Active Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre. The club had been based in several locations across Hertfordshire and north London before settling into their current, long-term home in 2010.
Originally formed in 2006 as a feeder club for the West Hertfordshire Warriors, the club finished in third place in EBL Division Four (Midlands/South) in their inaugural season, gaining immediate promotion to Division Three (South). Early in the following season, the parent team resigned from Division One due to financial difficulties, leaving the second team to carry on the name alone. The club continued to a fourth place finish despite the off-court upheavals.[2]
The newly independent club moved their home venue to the Westfield Sports Centre in Watford for the 2008-09 season, the move bringing the club a new name (Watford Storm) and another third place finish. However, problems with the Westfield venue led to the club playing in Edmonton by the end of the season, leading to another short-term move for the 2009-10 season, and a further name change to the Edmonton Storm. Finally, the club moved one final time to Hemel Hempstead ahead of the 2010-11 season, renaming themselves the Hemel Storm and bringing basketball back to the town after a 13-year absence.[2]
After settling into their new home, the club went from strength to strength. Over the following seasons, the Storm won the Patrons Cup in 2011, following up with a second placed finish in EBL Division Two in the 2011-12 season and successfully defending their Patrons Cup title. This gained the club promotion to EBL Division One for the 2012-13 season. Five years later the club claimed the National Cup for the first time after a 94-77 victory over Manchester Magic.[3]
Undoubtedly their best season to date was 2022-23, becoming only the 2nd team in NBL History to win all 4 Trophies with an unbeaten record[4] of 40-0. The National Cup was the first trophy of the season secured with an 81-102 win over Derby Trailblazers on 22nd January 2023 in Manchester,[5] followed by the KitKing Trophy success against Worthing Thunder at Surrey Sports Park on 11th March 2023, winning 99-92.[6] The NBL Division 1 League Title was secured with a 107-77 win at Team Newcastle University on 25th March 2023[7] and the season wrapped up with the NBL Division 1 Playoff Final, beating Worthing Thunder in a close 69-63 victory in Manchester on 23rd April 2023.[8]
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Mark Clark
