Plymouth Raiders Basketball: A History
Contents
The Plymouth Raiders are a professional basketball team based in Plymouth, England. The Raiders compete in the British Basketball League (BBL), and play their home games at the Plymouth Pavilions.
The Raiders were founded in 1986, and have won the BBL Championship four times (in 2000, 2002, 2011 and 2012). The team has also won the BBL Cup three times (in 2001, 2008 and 2010).
Plymouth Raiders: A History
The Plymouth Raiders are a professional Basketball team based in Plymouth, England. They compete in the British Basketball league (BBL) and play their home games at the Pavilions Plymouth.
The club was formed in 1986 as the Plymouth Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detectives. The team was renamed the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1988 and then the Plymouth Alcoves in 1991. In 1992, they became known as the Plymouth Raiders and have been known by that name ever since.
The Raiders have won two BBL Championships (in 2002 and 2014) and four BBL Cups (in 2001, 2008, 2012, and 2013). They have also qualified for the European-wide TOP16 competition five times (in 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2014).
Plymouth Raiders are one of the most successful basketball teams in British history.
The Early Years
Plymouth Raiders Basketball Club was founded in 1986, and originally played in the English Basketball League Division Three. The club quickly rose through the ranks, winning promotion to Division Two in their first season, and then to Division One the following year. The club continued to enjoy success in the Lower Divisions of the English basketball scene winning the Division Two title in 1989-90, and then securing promotion to the top-flight British basketball league (BBL) in 1992.
The club made an immediate impact in the BBL, finishing in third place in their debut season, and then reaching the semifinals of the playoffs in 1993-94. However, despite their early success, the Raiders were never able to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the BBL, and by the late 1990s they had slipped down to the lower half of the league table.
The 2000s saw a period of financial instability for Plymouth Raiders, as they struggled to keep up with the rising costs of running a professional basketball team This eventually led to their relegation back to Division One in 2006.
The First Season
In the fall of 1971, the Plymouth Raiders took the court for their first season as a part of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA was a Professional Basketball league that was founded in 1967. It was later absorbed by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976. The Raiders were one of eleven teams that made up the ABA’s Eastern Division.
TheRaiders finished their first season with a record of 33 wins and 47 losses. Their first game was a loss to the New York Nets who would go on to win the ABA Championship that season. The Raiders’ first win came against the Kentucky Colonels another team that would find success in the ABA. The Raiders would go on to lose their next six games before finally getting back into the win column against the Memphis Tams.
The Raiders had some bright moments during their inaugural season, but they ultimately failed to make the playoffs. They did, however, lay the foundation for what would eventually become a successful franchise.
The First Playoff Appearance
In the 1985-86 season, the Plymouth Raiders made their first playoff appearance in franchise history. The team finished the regular season with a record of 38-22, good for second place in the conference. In the playoffs, the Raiders defeated the Reading Bullets in the first round, but lost to the eventual champions, the Kingston Kings, in the second round.
The First Championship
Plymouth Raiders Basketball Club was founded in 1986 and is based in Plymouth, England. The club has been successful throughout its history, winning numerous championships and trophies. The Raiders first won the English Basketball League (EBL) in the 1993/1994 season, defeating the Derby Storm in the final. This was the start of an incredible run of success for the Raiders, as they would go on to win the EBL championship a further six times in the next eleven years.
The Move to the BBL
In May 2002, the club was admitted to the British Basketball League (BBL) after a successful application, becoming only the second Devon-based Basketball Club to join the league, after the Devon Hurricanes.
The Second Championship
In 2002, the Plymouth Raiders won their second English Basketball League (EBL) championship, led by Head Coach John D. Shields. The team had previously won the EBL championship in 1999.
The present day
Plymouth Raiders are a professional Basketball team based in Plymouth, Devon, England. They compete in the British Basketball League (BBL), and play their home games at the Plymouth Pavilions.
The franchise was established in 1986 as the London Towers, and moved to Plymouth in 1991. The team has won one league title (in 2002–03), two BBL Cup titles (in 2004 and 2008) and three BBL Trophy titles (in 2006, 2009 and 2011).
In the summer of 2012, the Raiders signed a two-year sponsorship deal with fast food chain McDonald’s. In August 2013, it was announced that the team would be known as the McDonald’s Sheffield Sharks for the 2013–14 season onwards, as part of a new sponsorship deal with Sheffield-based solicitors Forster Dean.
The future
What does the future hold for the Plymouth Raiders?
The Plymouth Raiders are a professional basketball team based in Plymouth, England. The Raiders compete in the British basketball league (BBL), and play their home games at the Plymouth Pavilions.
Founded in 1986, the Raiders are one of the oldest teams in the BBL. The team has won two BBL Championships (in 2002 and 2014), and four BBL Trophy titles (in 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2015). The Raiders have also competed in European-wide competitions, such as the FIBA EuroCup Challenge (now known as the FIBA Europe Cup) and the FIBA Saporta Cup.
The future looks bright for the Plymouth Raiders. With a strong history and tradition, and a dedicated fan base, the Raiders are poised for continued success in the British Basketball League
Plymouth Raiders: A legacy
The Plymouth Raiders are a professional basketball team based in Plymouth, England. The Raiders compete in the British basketball league (BBL), the top tier of basketball in the United Kingdom The team was founded in 1986 and plays its Home Games at the Plymouth Pavilions.
The Raiders are one of the most successful teams in British Basketball History having won six BBL Championships, five BBL Play-Offs, three BBL Cups and one BBL Trophy. The team has also achieved success in European competitions, winning the FIBA EuroChallenge in 2013 and reaching the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Cup in 2015.
The Plymouth Raiders have a long and proud history, dating back to 1986 when the team was founded. Since then, the Raiders have established themselves as one of the most successful teams in British Basketball winning six BBL Championships, five BBL Play-Offs, three BBL Cups and one BBL Trophy. The team has also tasted success in European competitions, winning the FIBA EuroChallenge in 2013 and reaching the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Cup in 2015.