English Basketball League
| English Basketball League | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country/ Countries |
 England Wales |
| Most recent champion(s) | Worthing Thunder |
| Official website | EB.co.uk |
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional basketball league in the United Kingdom, but centred mainly around England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the fully professional British Basketball League.
The EBL was established in 2003 by England Basketball to replace the former National Basketball League, and currently operates several men's and women's leagues in the British basketball pyramid, which is headed by Division 1. This is effectively seen as the second tier of men's basketball in the United Kingdom, along with the less celebrated Scottish Basketball League.
There are numerous leagues underneath the division 1 men's and women's leagues. Currently there are a total of four men's national leagues and two women's national leagues. The division 4 men and 2 women are regionalised.
Beneath the men and women's national leagues is a huge junior structure for both male and female with leagues for under 18s, 16s, 15s, 14s, 13s. The England Basketball website contains all the relevant information
There is no promotion and relegation between the EBL and the British Basketball League, which operates a franchise system. Many teams have in recent years made the step from EBL to the BBL, looking for greater competition and more exposure. The league started with 13 teams for the 2006-07 season, with only one side likely to be relegated at the end of the season.
- Worcester Wolves successful application to the first-tier BBL in the summer of 2006
- London United also move from EBL1 to BBL
- Kingston Wildcats withdraw from EBL1
- Nottingham Knights who were relegated to EBL2 are reinstated in EBL1
- Northampton Neptunes who finished third in EBL2 are given late entry into EBL1;
- West Herts Warriors, are promoted to EBL1 as champions of EBL2.
In September 2006 EBL Division 1 reverted back down to twelve teams when Nottingham Knights pulled out.
Teams
Men's Division 1
Men's Division 1 team line-up for the 2007-08 season.
- Bristol Flyers (Promoted from D2)
- Coventry Crusaders
- Derby Trailblazers (Promoted from D2)
- London Leopards
- Manchester Magic
- Reading Rockets
- Sheffield Arrows
- Taunton Tigers (Promoted from D2)
- West Anglia Fury
- Worthing Thunder (2006-07 Champions)
NOTE: Solent Stars withdrew prior to the season opening due to venue issues. Whilst West Herts Warriors withdrew due to financial problems at the club.
Women's Division 1
Women's Division 1 team line-up for the 2007-08 season.
- London Heathrow Acers
- London Towers
- Manchester Mystics
- Nottingham Wildcats
- Rhondda Rebels
- Sheffield Hatters (2006-07 Champions)
- Sevenoaks Suns
- Solent Suns
- Team Northumbria
- UWIC Stealers
Doncaster Panthers will move down to Division 2 North.
Other Club's Websites
- Bristol Storm Basketball Club
- Derby Trailblazers
- Kent Crusaders
- Kingston Wildcats
- Leicester Warriors
- Sheffield Saints
- Tamar Valley Cannons
- Taunton Tigers
- Team Northumbria
Regions
England is then divided into the following regions
- Teesside Basketball
- Sussex
- Herts Basketball Association
- Suffolk Basketball Association
- Yorkshire Basketball
- North East Basketball
- West Midlands Basketball League
Season-by-season records
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/07 (EBL Division 1) | |||||||||
| 1 | Worthing Thunder | 22 | 21 | 1 | 42 | ||||
| 2 | Reading Rockets | 22 | 19 | 3 | 38 | ||||
| 3 | Manchester Magic | 22 | 17 | 5 | 34 | ||||
| 4 | London Leopards | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | ||||
| 5 | PAWS London Capitals | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | ||||
| 6 | West Herts Warriors | 22 | 11 | 11 | 22 | ||||
| 7 | Sheffield Arrows | 22 | 11 | 11 | 22 | ||||
| 8 | Solent Stars | 22 | 7 | 15 | 14 | ||||
| 9 | Coventry Crusaders | 22 | 6 | 16 | 12 | ||||
| 10 | Kings Lynn Fury | 22 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||||
| 11 | Tees Valley Mohawks | 22 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||||
| 12 | Northampton Neptunes | 22 | 4 | 18 | 8 | ||||
| 2005/06 (EBL Division 1) | |||||||||
| 1 | Worthing Thunder | 26 | 23 | 3 | 46 | ||||
| 2 | Reading Rockets | 26 | 22 | 6 | 44 | ||||
| 3 | Sheffield Arrows | 26 | 20 | 6 | 40 | ||||
| 4 | Manchester Magic | 26 | 19 | 7 | 38 | ||||
| 5 | Worcester Wolves | 26 | 17 | 9 | 34 | ||||
| 6 | Essex & Herts Leopards | 26 | 17 | 9 | 34 | ||||
| 7 | London United | 26 | 14 | 12 | 28 | ||||
| 8 | Coventry Crusaders | 26 | 14 | 12 | 28 | ||||
| 9 | Kingston Wildcats | 26 | 11 | 15 | 22 | ||||
| 10 | Teesside Mohawks | 26 | 8 | 18 | 16 | ||||
| 11 | PAWS London Capitals | 26 | 6 | 20 | 12 | ||||
| 12 | Solent Stars | 26 | 4 | 22 | 8 | ||||
| 13 | Kings Lynn Fury | 26 | 4 | 22 | 8 | ||||
| 14 | Nottingham Knights | 26 | 3 | 23 | 6 | ||||
| 2004/05 (EBL Division 1) | |||||||||
| 1 | Sheffield Arrows | 22 | 21 | 1 | 42 | ||||
| 2 | London United | 22 | 18 | 4 | 36 | ||||
| 3 | Reading Rockets | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | ||||
| 4 | Worcester Wolves | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | ||||
| 5 | Worthing Thunder | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | ||||
| 6 | Manchester Magic | 22 | 12 | 10 | 24 | ||||
| 7 | Teesside Mohawks | 22 | 10 | 12 | 20 | ||||
| 8 | Essex & Herts Leopards | 22 | 9 | 13 | 18 | ||||
| 9 | London Capitals | 22 | 7 | 15 | 14 | ||||
| 10 | Solent Stars | 22 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||||
| 11 | Kingston Wildcats | 22 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||||
| 12 | Coventry Crusaders | 22 | 3 | 19 | 6 | ||||
| 2003/04 (EBL Division 1) | |||||||||
| 1 | Plymouth Raiders | 22 | 20 | 2 | 40 | ||||
| 2 | Reading Rockets | 22 | 17 | 5 | 34 | ||||
| 3 | Teesside Mohawks | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | ||||
| 4 | Manchester Magic | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | ||||
| 5 | Worthing Thunder | 22 | 15 | 7 | 30 | ||||
| 6 | London United | 22 | 11 | 11 | 22 | ||||
| 7 | Sheffield Arrows | 22 | 10 | 12 | 20 | ||||
| 8 | Ware Rebels | 22 | 9 | 13 | 18 | ||||
| 9 | Sutton Pumas | 22 | 7 | 15 | 14 | ||||
| 10 | Solent Stars | 22 | 4 | 18 | 8 | ||||
| 11 | Kingston Wildcats | 22 | 4 | 18 | 8 | ||||
| 12 | Team Bath Romans | 22 | 3 | 19 | 6 | ||||
See also
- Basketball in England
- England national basketball team
- Great Britain national basketball team
- Volvo Cars Emergency Brake Light
External link
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