Sheffield Sharks

Last updated

Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks.png
League BBL
Established1991;33 years ago (1991)
HistorySheffield Forgers
(1991–1994)
Sheffield Sharks
(1994–present)
Arena Canon Medical Arena
Capacity2,500
Location Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Team coloursNavy, Yellow, Silver
   
Main sponsor B. Braun
Head coach Atiba Lyons
Championships4 BBL Championship
2 BBL Playoffs
3 BBL Cup
2 BBL Trophy
Website Official website

The Sheffield Sharks, currently known as "B.Braun Sheffield Sharks" for sponsorship reasons, are a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. The Sharks compete in the British Basketball League and play their home matches at Park Community Arena, which opened in 2023. They are one of the most successful teams in the history of British basketball and dominated domestic competitions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Contents

History

Sheffield Forgers

The club was established in 1991 when the team, then called the Sheffield Forgers in reference to the city's history as a major steel producer, were admitted to National Basketball League Division 2. After two seasons competing in the division, with an overall 26–16 record, the Forgers were crowned Champions in 1993 and promoted to NBL Division 1.

The 1993–1994 season would prove to be another successful one for the Forgers having reached the National Trophy final where they beat Plymouth Raiders 62–60 on "home" territory at the Sheffield Arena. Their stay in the First Division did not last long, and although they finished in 4th position with a 10–8 record, the Forgers were admitted to the professional top-tier British Basketball League as a new franchise to replace the withdrawing Guildford Kings.

Rebranding as the Sharks

The club was purchased by the Chrysalis Group in 1994 and rebranded as Sheffield Sharks. On court, the team dominated the league in its rookie season, and with a 29–7 league record, marched on to take the BBL League Championship and National Cup with an incredible 89–66 victory in the final against Thames Valley Tigers. However the Tigers got their revenge over the Sharks with a nail-biting 74–69 win in the BBL Trophy final. The Sharks also missed out on the playoff final following a 72–84 loss to Worthing Bears in the Final Four, despite this the Sheffield team still enjoyed a phenomenal debut season.

European leagues

Former Sharks logo Sheffield Sharks logo.png
Former Sharks logo

In 1995, the 1995 McDonald's Championship came to London and the Sharks were entered as the host team, mixing with the elite of world basketball including the NBA's Houston Rockets, Spanish League giants Real Madrid and Bologna of the Italian League amongst others. Sheffield finished the series 0–2, following defeats to Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Sharks' adventure continued into Europe in the following season (1995–96) when they competed in the prestigious Euroleague. After knocking out Luxembourg-based team Residence Helmsange in the qualifying round, the Sharks were then eliminated in the first round by Real Madrid after a 57–67 defeat in Sheffield and a 75–78 defeat in Madrid. As a result of losing, Sheffield were then placed in the Third Round of the less glamorous European Cup, where they were subsequently knocked out by Belgian League club Oostende Basket, thus ending their European adventure.

On the domestic scene, the Sharks could not repeat the highs of their previous season, finishing as Runners-up in the League Championship (30–6) to London Towers, and losing the final of the National Cup 58–70 also to the dominating Towers. Their playoff dreams were also shattered in the semifinals by eventual winners Birmingham Bullets, whom they lost to 68–82.

Golden Era

The Sharks again reached the BBL Cup final in 1996 and 1997, finishing second then third in the championship, and their next piece of silverware was the 1998 BBL Trophy. They claimed their second BBL Cup and championship double in 1999, with Terrell Myers picked as League MVP, before successfully defending the Cup in 2000 after reaching their fifth Cup final in six years. It was during the most successful period of the clubs’ history that owners Chrysalis Group decided to sell off their majority stake. [1] [2] After running into off-court financial difficulties and on the brink of a wind-up order from the BBL, the franchise was acquired by Montgomery Leisure Services Ltd in 2001, [3] the same year that a first Play-off final appearance was secured in after topping the championship. However it was Leicester Riders who triumphed 84–75, and the Sharks were beaten again in the play-off final the following year, 93–82 by Cheshire Jets. The Sharks claimed their third Championship in five years in 2003 and although they failed to reach the play-off final, they got there the following year after a second-placed league finish. It was the Sharks' third playoff final in four years and a case of third time lucky as they beat Cheshire 86–74.

Modern era

Sharks players and support staff during a time-out in a game against the Leicester Sharks in May 2024 Sheffield Sharks - team and support staff.jpg
Sharks players and support staff during a time-out in a game against the Leicester Sharks in May 2024

In the 2009–2010 season, Sheffield won the BBL Cup for the first time in six years beating the Cheshire Jets 89–86. During the 2010–2011 season, they successfully defended their cup victory by beating the Mersey Tigers 93–66 and also made it to the final of the playoffs but were beaten out by Mersey Tigers 79–74. In the 2012–2013 season, the Sharks won the BBL Trophy for the first time in 15 years beating the Leicester Riders 71–69. In the 2015–2016 season, Sheffield made it to the Play Off final for the first time in five years. This time however, for the first time in 12 years the Sharks in the final of the playoffs on 8 May 2016, beat Leicester Riders 84–77. [4]

Home arenas

The Canon Medical Arena, home arena of the Sharks since 2023 Park Community Arena - south entrance.jpg
The Canon Medical Arena, home arena of the Sharks since 2023
Sheffield Arena (1994–2004)
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre (2004–2006)
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (2006–2019)
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre (2019–2023)
Canon Medical Arena (2023–present)

Season-by-season records

SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonTrophyCupHead Coach
FinishPlayedWinsLossesPointsWin %
Sheffield Forgers
1991–92 NBL3 35th221111220.500
1992–93 NBL3 31st20155300.750
1993–94 NBL1 24th18108200.556
Sheffield Sharks
1994–95 BBL 11st36297580.806Semi FinalRunner-UpWinners, beating Thames Valley Jim Brandon
1995–96 BBL 12nd36306600.833Semi FinalSemi FinalRunner-Up Jim Brandon
1996–97 BBL 13rd362610520.722Semi FinalSemi FinalRunner-Up Jim Brandon
1997–98 BBL 14th362511500.694Quarter FinalWinners, beating Towers Quarter Final Chris Finch
1998–99 BBL 11st36315620.861Semi FinalSemi FinalWinners, beating Leopards Chris Finch
1999–00 BBL N 12nd36297580.806Quarter FinalSemi FinalWinners, beating Manchester Chris Finch
2000–01 BBL N 11st36279540.750Runner-UpSemi Final1st Round Chris Finch
2001–02 BBL N 12nd322111420.656Runner-UpQuarter FinalSemi Final Chris Finch
2002–03 BBL 11st40337660.825Semi Final1st Round1st Round Chris Finch
2003–04 BBL 12nd362610520.722Winners, beating Chester 1st RoundWinners, beating Scottish Peter Scantlebury
2004–05 BBL 14th402614520.650Semi Final1st RoundQuarter Final Peter Scantlebury
2005–06 BBL 13rd402614520.650Semi Final1st RoundQuarter Final Peter Scantlebury
2006–07 BBL 12nd36288560.778Semi FinalSemi FinalSemi Final Peter Scantlebury
2007–08 BBL 16th331716340.515Quarter Final1st RoundQuarter Final Peter Scantlebury
2008–09 BBL 16th331617320.485Quarter Final1st RoundQuarter Final Atiba Lyons
2009–10 BBL 12nd36306600.833Semi Final1st RoundWinners, beating Cheshire Atiba Lyons
2010–11 BBL 13rd33249480.727Runner-Up1st RoundWinners, beating Mersey Atiba Lyons
2011–12 BBL 17th301317260.433Quarter FinalSemi FinalQuarter Final Atiba Lyons
2012–13 BBL 17th331716340.515Quarter FinalsWinners, beating Leicester Semi Finals Atiba Lyons
2013–14 BBL 12nd33276540.818Semi FinalsSemi FinalsSemi Finals Atiba Lyons
2014–15 BBL 17th361917380.528Semi FinalsQuarter FinalsSemi Finals Atiba Lyons
2015–16 BBL 13rd332013400.606Winners, beating Leicester Semi FinalsQuarter Finals Atiba Lyons
2016–17 BBL 14th332013400.606Quarter Finals1st RoundQuarter Finals Atiba Lyons
2017–18 BBL 18th331815360.545Quarter FinalsRunner UpSemi Finals Atiba Lyons
2018–19 BBL 16th331716340.515Semi Finals1st Round1st Round Atiba Lyons
2019–20 BBL 1Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemicQuarter FinalsQuarter Finals Atiba Lyons
2020–21 BBL 15th301515300.500Quarter-finals1st RoundPool Stage Atiba Lyons
2021–22 BBL 12nd271710340.630Quarter-finals1st RoundQuarter-finals Atiba Lyons

Notes:

Trophies

League

Playoffs

Cup

Trophy

Players

Current 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
0Flag of the United States.svg  USA PG Devearl Ramsey
1Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR G RJ Eytle-Rock
2Flag of the United States.svg  USA G Prentiss Nixon
3Flag of the United States.svg  USA F Malek Green
4Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR PG Nathaniel Montgomery
5Flag of the United States.svg  USA G Jalon Pipkins
7Flag of the United States.svg  USA F Kipper Nichols
8Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR G Hensy Sako
9Flag of Portugal.svg  POR G Jordan Ratinho
11Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR G Rodney Glasgow Jr.
21Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR F Marcus Delpeche
23Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR F Joe Mvuezolo
25Flag of the United States.svg  USA C Bennett Koch

Notable former players

Ownership

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "www.answers.com/topic/chrysalis-group-plc" . Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "www.sharks-bbraun.com/index.html" . Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Sharks back in business". BBC News. 27 June 2001.
  4. ↑ "Play-Off Final: Riders 77–84 Sharks". BBL.org.uk. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
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