Newcastle Eagles

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Newcastle Eagles
Main Sponsor	Northern Rock
League	British Basketball League
Established	1976
History	EBAB Washington 1976-1977 Sunderland Saints 1977-1993 Sunderland Scorpions 1993-1995 Newcastle Comets 1995-1996 Newcastle Eagles 1996-present
Arena	Metro Radio Arena (Capacity: 6,500)
Location	Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Head Coach	Fab Flournoy
Ownership	Paul Blake
Colours	Black and White
Website	Newcastle-Eagles.com
Uniforms
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Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Since 1995 they have played all home games at the 6,500 capacity Metro Radio Arena in the city, currently the largest-capacity venue in the BBL. Their traditional arch rivals are the Scottish Rocks.

Contents 1 Franchise history 1.1 Early days 1.2 Building on the early 1980s 1.3 New name, New arena 1.4 The "Clean sweep" 1.5 Recent Times 2 Home arenas 3 Season-by-season records 4 Trophies 4.1 League 4.2 Playoffs 4.3 Trophy 4.4 Cup 5 Players 5.1 Current roster 5.2 Notable former players 5.3 Retired numbers 6 Staff 7 External links

[edit] Franchise history

[edit] Early days

Originally a Wearside team playing at the Northumbria Centre Washington, the club played under the name EPAB (after sponsors Executive and Professional Assurance Brokers) Washington and then, although still playing at their original home in Washington, EPAB Sunderland throughout the 1970s. After admission into the NBL Division 2 in 1976, the team made gradual progress and had eventually achieved promotion to the first division by the 1980s. By now the team were playing at the Crowtree Leisure Centre in the centre of Sunderland and had gained a sponsorship deal with a major national company. After another name change, to Sunblest Sunderland, the team won their first major silverware, the championship, in 1981. In a major surprise at the time, Sunderland beat league champions Team Fiat Birmingham in the semi-final and then the league runners-up Crystal Palace in the final. Further success followed in the following season as once more they reached the Championship final, only for Crystal Palace to enact revenge. In 1983 Sunderland finished runners up in the British Basketball League; their highest-ever league position at the time.

[edit] Building on the early 1980s

After this period, however, performances faltered. Mediocore performances and mid-table finishes indicated that the side were struggling. The new decade brought with it optimism as the club reached their first-ever National Cup final in 1990 eventually losing to Kingston; although they would win it the following year. Also in 1990, the club finished third in the League and regained a place in the Championship Finals. Once more, however, this success remained short-lived and the side began to struggle as their finances became ever more erratic. After a number of disappointing seasons owner Dave Elderkin controversially re-located the team from Sunderland to Newcastle and the team became the "Newcastle Comets".

[edit] New name, New arena

Sir John Hall, then chairman of Newcastle United FC bought the team shortly after their arrival in Newcastle; adding them to his Newcastle Sporting Group of the city's football, hockey and rugby teams. Hall's Sporting Club group was a relative failure and Ken Nottage and Paul Blake became the club's new owners. The final name change, from the Comets to the Eagles, took place in 1996. Since then the Eagles have steadily grown whilst remaining at their arena; many major basketball clubs began to move from their arenas from the 1980s onwards. Performances remained consistent as the Eagles kept achieved regular top five league positions from 1998 onwards.

[edit] The "Clean sweep"

The 2005-06 season proved to be the most successful in their history when, under the guidance of player/coach Fabulous Flournoy, the club achieved a "clean sweep" of trophies, including the BBL Cup, BBL Trophy and Championship "double".

In addition, Flournoy picked up the BBL Coach of the Year and former Villanova Wildcat, Andrew Sullivan, was voted BBL Player of the Year. Flournoy, Sullivan and Andrew Bridge were also members of the bronze medal winning England team in the 2006 Commonwealth Games during March 2006.

[edit] Recent Times

At the start of the 2007-08 season it was announced that Nike and Northern Rock were to sponsor the eagles, bringing in more money to the club. Also, the signing of Richard Midgley gave great hope that the eagles could challenge Guildford Heat to regain the BBL League tittle. Howvever, after a bust up with player/coach, Fab Flournoy he soon left to join the Everton Tigers. This meant there was no point gaurd and this lead to the signing of Bryan Defares who could not settle in England and he too left. Finally, at the third attempt, Steve Leven (former NBA prospect)was signed despite his bad boy reputation. After defeat in the BBL Cup, then later defeat in the BBL Trophy final the eagles were in danger of having a poor season. Fortunatly, a miraculous overtime win against Guildford Heat, they won the BBL League title.

[edit] Home arenas

[Northumbria Centre, Washington] [1] (1976-1977)

Crowtree Leisure Centre (1977-1991)

Washington Leisure Centre (1991-1995)

Metro Radio Arena (1995-present)

[edit] Season-by-season records

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pld.	W	L	Pts.	Play Offs	Trophy	Cup
Sunderland Saints
1987-1988	BBL	12th	28	8	20	16	DNQ	1st Round	Quarter-final
1988-1989	BBL	6th	20	12	8	24	Quarter-final	1st Round	1st Round
1989-1990	BBL	3rd	28	20	8	40	Runner-up	Semi-final	Runner-up
1990-1991	BBL	2nd	24	18	6	36	Runner-up	1st Round	Winners
1991-1992	BBL	10th	30	3	27	12	DNQ	1st Round	3rd Round
1992-1993	BBL	11th	33	6	27	12	DNQ	1st Round	3rd Round
Sunderland Scorpions
1993-1994	BBL	10th	36	13	23	26	DNQ	1st Round	Quarter-final
1994-1995	BBL	13th	36	4	32	8	DNQ	1st Round	4th Round
Newcastle Comets
1995-1996	BBL	10th	36	11	25	12	DNQ	Quarter-final	4th Round
Newcastle Eagles
1996-1997	BBL	7th	36	21	15	42	Quarter-final	1st Round	Semi-final
1997-1998	BBL	3rd	36	25	11	50	Quarter-final	Semi-final	4th Round
1998-1999	BBL	5th	36	21	15	42	Quarter-final	Quarter-final	Semi-final
1999-2000	BBL N	6th	36	10	26	10	DNQ	Quarter-final	1st Round
2000-2001	BBL N	3rd	36	20	16	40	1st Round	Runner-up	Quarter-final
2001-2002	BBL N	3rd	32	17	15	34	Quarter-final	Quarter-final	Quarter-final
2002-2003	BBL	5th	40	25	15	50	Semi-final	Semi-final	Quarter-final
2003-2004	BBL	6th	36	18	18	36	Quarter-final	1st Round	Quarter-final
2004-2005	BBL	2nd	40	31	9	62	Winners	Winners	Quarter-final
2005-2006	BBL	1st	40	30	10	60	Winners	Winners	Winners
2006-2007	BBL	3rd	36	25	11	50	Winners	Runner-up	Semi-final
2007-2008	BBL	1st	33	29	4	58	4th	Runner-up	Runner-up

Notes:

• From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Newcastle competed in the Northern Conference.
• DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.

[edit] Trophies

[edit] League

• NBL Division Two Winners: 1977/78 1
• BBL Championship Winners: 2005/06 & 2007/2008 2
• BBL Championship Runners Up: 1990/91 & 2004/05 2

[edit] Playoffs

• NBL Division One Play Off Winners: 1980/81, & 1982/83 2
• NBL Division One Play Off Runners Up: 1981/82 1
• BBL Championship Play Off Winners: 2004/05, 2005/06, & 2006/07 3
• BBL Championship Play Off Runners Up: 1989/90, 1990/91 2

[edit] Trophy

• BBL Trophy Winners: 2004/05, & 2005/06 2
• BBL Trophy Runners Up: 2000/01, 2006/07, & 2007/08 3

[edit] Cup

• National Cup Winners: 1990/91 1
• National Cup Runners Up: 1989/90 1
• BBL Cup Winners: 2005/06 1
• BBL Cup Runners Up: 2007/08 1

[edit] Players

[edit] Current roster

The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team (www.newcastle-eagles.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).

As of February 1, 2008

4		Jeremy Hyatt	Guard/Forward
6		Andrew Bridge	Guard
7		Steve Leven	Shooting Guard
8		Aaron Neilson	Guard
9		Sam Attah	Guard/Forward
10		Charles Smith	Forward
11		Brian McCotter	Guard
12		Olu Babalola	Forward
13		Darius Defoe	Forward/Centre
14		Will Spragg	Guard
15		Lynard Stewart	Forward/Centre
20		Fab Flournoy	Guard/Forward

[edit] Notable former players

• Tony Dorsey
• Richard Midgley
• Andrew Sullivan

[edit] Retired numbers

• 5 TJ Walker, G, 2000-2007

[edit] Staff

Player/Coach - Fab Flournoy

Assistant Coach - Billy Spragg

[edit] External links

• Official Newcastle Eagles website
• Newcastle Eagles news from ChronicleLive

British Basketball League 2007-08 v • d • e
Birmingham Panthers | Cheshire Jets | Everton Tigers | Guildford Heat | Leicester Riders | London Capital | Milton Keynes Lions | Newcastle Eagles | Plymouth Raiders | Scottish Rocks | Sheffield Sharks | Worcester Wolves Inactive team: London United | Future team: Brighton Cougars