Newcastle Eagles

Newcastle Eagles
Main sponsor	Esh Group, Northumbria University, Northumbrian Water
League	BBL
Established	1976
History	EBAB Washington 1976-1977 Sunderland Saints 1977-1993 Sunderland Scorpions 1993-1995 Newcastle Comets 1995-1996 Newcastle Eagles 1996-present
Arena	Sport Central (Capacity: 3,000)
Location	Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Head coach	Fab Flournoy
Ownership	Paul Blake
Colours	Black and White
Website	Newcastle-Eagles.com
Uniforms
Home Away

Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city.^[1] Their traditional arch rivals are the Glasgow Rocks, but the 2011-12 season has seen the arrival of the Durham Wildcats located just 25 miles south of Newcastle.

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. Mediocre 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, ice 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. Performances remained consistent with the Eagles achieving regular top five league placings 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 led 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, after a miraculous overtime win against Guildford Heat, they won the BBL League Title.

At the start of the 2008-09 season they were strengthened by the signing of Trey Moore from Cheshire Jets. After an indifferent start, they embarked on a 17 match winning run to become the first team for nearly twenty years to retain the BBL title, finishing 8 points ahead of Everton Tigers. They also reached the Semi-Finals of the BBL Cup, losing narrowly to Everton Tigers on aggregate before gaining revenge by beating them home and away in the BBL Trophy Semi-Final. The Eagles beat Guildford Heat at The Spectrum in the Final. In the Play Offs they narrowly avoided an upset after seeing off Cheshire Jets 88-83 before beating Plymouth Raiders to form a match against Everton Tigers once again. Despite 30 points from ex-Eagles Richard Midgley, the Eagles held on for a 97-94 win, therefore winning the treble to cap off their most successful season since the clean sweep.

In the 2009-10 season the Eagles again retained the BBL title, finishing 2 points ahead of Sheffield Sharks. The league title actually came down to the last game of the season with Sheffield Sharks losing their last game of the season 97-95 to Worthing Thunder thanks to Evaldas Zabas' basket 4 seconds from the end. This completed the double for the Eagles who had won the BBL Trophy by beating 111-95 in the Final at The Spectrum. In the BBL Cup Eagles lost 64-61 in the Quarter Finals to Cheshire Jets and in the Play Offs Everton Tigers beat the Eagles 190-158 on aggregate in the two legged Semi-Final.

At the start of the 2010-2011 season it was announced that the Esh Group, along with partners Northumbria University and Northumbrian Water would be the new main sponsors of the Eagles..^[2] In the BBL Cup the Eagles were beaten 204-182 on aggregate by the Mersey Tigers in the Semi-Finals. Eagles had won the first leg at home 97-90 but lost the second leg away 114-85. It was the Mersey Tigers who would beat the Eagles in the Semi-Finals of the BBL Trophy also. After a rare first leg draw (82-82) away from home, the Eagles went down 77-74 at home.

Home arenas

Northumbria Centre, Washington (1976-1977)

Crowtree Leisure Centre (1977-1991)

Washington Leisure Centre (1991-1995)

Metro Radio Arena (1995-2010)

Sport Central (2010-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
2008–2009	BBL	1st	33	28	5	56	Winners	Winners	Runner-up
2009–2010	BBL	1st	36	31	5	62	Semi-final	Winners	Quarter-final
2010–2011	BBL	2nd	33	25	8	50	Semi-final	Semi Final	Semi Final
2011–2012	BBL	1st	5	5	0	10	-	-	-

Notes:

• 2011-2012 season still in progress
• From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Newcastle competed in the Northern Conference.
• DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.

Club Records

• 3 pts scored - Russ Saunders - 716
• Assists - TJ Walker - 1,473
• Blocked shots - Fabulous Flournoy - 267
• Defensive rebounds - Fabulous Flournoy - 1,183
• Field Goals scored - TJ Walker - 1,252
• Free Throws scored - Russ Saunders - 747
• Games Played - Andrew Bridge - 323
• Offensive Rebounds - Darius Defoe - 601
• Personal Fouls - Fabulous Flournoy - 882
• Points - Russ Saunders - 4,877
• Steals - Russ Saunders - 575
• Total Rebounds - Fabulous Flournoy - 1,688
• Turnovers - Fabulous Flournoy - 737

Trophies

League

• NBL Division Two Winners: 1977/78 1
• BBL Championship Winners: 2005/2006, 2007/2008, 2008/2009 & 2009/10 4
• BBL Championship Runners Up: 1990/91, 2004/05 & 2010/11 3

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 & 2008/09 4
• BBL Championship Play Off Runners Up: 1989/90, 1990/91 2

Trophy

• BBL Trophy Winners: 2004/05, 2005/06 & 2009/10 3
• 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 following information is 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).

Newcastle Eagles rosterv · G/F		6	UK !	Bridge, Andrew (C)	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
2.5 !G/F	7	UK !	James, Glen	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
1.5 !G	8	USA !	Gause, Paul	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
4.0 !F	10	USA ! UK !	Smith, Charles	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
4.0 !F	12	UK !	Madourie, Joel	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
5.5 !F/C	13	UK ! Dominica !	Defoe, Darius	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
4.0 !F	14	UK !	Wilson, Ross	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
1.5 !G	15	UK !	Morrison, Lamar	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
2.5 !G/F	20	USA ! UK !	Flournoy, Fabulous	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
4.0 !F	21	UK !	Thomson, Andrew	2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
1.5 !G	32	USA !	Chapman, Joe	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)

Head coach

• Fabulous Flournoy

Assistant coach(es)

• Dave Forrester

---

Legend

• (C) Team captain
• Injured

---

Roster • updated 2011-10-12

Notable former players

• Niki Arinze
• Olu Babalola
• Stedroy Baker
• Flinder Boyd
• Tony Dorsey
• Jeremy Hyatt
• Andrew Lasker
• Perry Lawson
• Steve Leven
• Richard Midgley
• Trey Moore
• Shawn Myers
• Kadiri Richard
• Peter Scantlebury
• Tom Sherlock
• Lynard Stewart
• Andrew Sullivan

Retired numbers

• 5 TJ Walker, G, 2000–2007

Hall of Fame

TBA

Staff

Player/Coach - Fab Flournoy

Assistant Coaches - Billy Spragg, Dave Forrester and Marc Steutel

External links

• Official Newcastle Eagles website
• Newcastle Eagles news from ChronicleLive

References

1. ^ "Sport Central is new nest for Newcastle Eagles - Northumbria University, Newcastle UK". Northumbria University. http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/browse/ne/uninews/SportCentralnewnest. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
2. ^ "Sky's the limit for Newcastle Eagles". Bdaily Business Network Northeast. http://bdaily.info/news/arts-and-culture/17-09-2010/skys-the-limit-for-newcastle-eagles/. Retrieved 20 March 2011.