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Newcastle Eagles
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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.
Franchise history
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.
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Encyclopedia
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.
Franchise history
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.
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".
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.
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.
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 title. However, after a bust up with player/coach, Fab Flournoy he soon left to join the Everton Tigers. This meant there was no point guard 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. Fortunately, a miraculous overtime win against Guildford Heat, they won the BBL League title.
Home arenas
- [Northumbria Centre, Washington] (1976-1977)
- Crowtree Leisure Centre (1977-1991)
- Washington Leisure Centre (1991-1995)
- Metro Radio Arena (1995-present)
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.
Trophies
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
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
Trophy
- BBL Trophy Winners: 2004/05, & 2005/06 2
- BBL Trophy Runners Up: 2000/01, 2006/07, & 2007/08 3
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
Players
Current roster
The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team () and Britain's top professional league, the BBL ().
As of September 2008
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