| Basketball Skegness |
Article Index for Basketball |
Website Links For Basketball |
Information AboutBasketball Skegness |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT BASKETBALL SKEGNESS | |
| english basketball teams | |
|
Skegness Basketball formely known as the Skegness Sealions are an English basketball team playing in the British Pro-Amateur League Upper Division, Lincolnshire Section. The team play at the Skegness Sports Centre and are coached by local school teacher Paul Cooke. THE 2006-2007 SEASON The season of 2006-2007 was probably one of the worst since the club was formed in early 1994. 'The Sealions' (as previously known) played in the Lockets Conference 3rd Division, Central West Section however a hapless season saw them finish 10th (last) in the league, with just three wins to their name all season. One of crumb of comfort the team could of took from the season was the fact they gained home victories over local rivals the Louth Yellow-Bellies and Louth United. The team also gained a surprise away win at eventual 3rd placed Hunstaton Hatters in the penultimate game of the season, with a 68-65 victory in Norfolk. These victories could not cover up the horrific season the club suffered. Skegness suffered heavy defeats to the Lincoln Tigers (twice, both at home), the Sleaford Tigers plus not to mention a home defeat to lower league side the Horncastle Trojans in a Lincolnshire Challenge Cup game on Christmas Eve of 2006. The final game of the campaign was against relegation threatened Basketball Hull. Hull needed to win by eight points or more to survive and send the Ipswich Ioians down. However Hull could only manage a 76-72 over time victory as they found themselves relegated with Skegness. The end-of-season woe was worsened by the news that after 161 games in charge, coach Tony Winter was leaving to spend more time with his family during weekends, when he would usually be coaching Skegness. Winter has coached Skegness since 2002, winning just twenty-seven of his 161 games in charge. BAD RECORDS Due to 2 consecutive poor seasons, Skegness had recorded some rather unwanted statistics.
All these poor records led some people to give Skegness the affectionate term of 'The worst team in English non-league basketball' HISTORY The 'Skegness Sealions' were formed in 1994 by then player, soon to be coach, Tony Winter. Skegness entered the Non-League 2nd Division, North-West Section in the 1994-1995 season. Skegness were then relegated in 1997, but were promoted back up to the 2nd Division, Lincolnshire region in 2001. Despite a solid 2001-2002 campaign, the Sealions were dropped down a division due to the re-structure of English non-league basketball in 2002. Skegness finished 7 out of 11 in the league, but with the bottom five being forced down a division, Skegness were then placed into the Conference 3rd Division, Central West Section. This relegation is something that Skegness have seemingly yet to recover from, having only won 15 games since their forced demotion. The Sealions dropped into the British Pro-Amateur Leagues finally in 2007, after five years of struggle. The British Pro-Amateur Leagues, are also known as 'basketball's answer to The Sunday League in soccer.' THE NAME CHANGE After the exit of long-serving coach Tony Winter in May 2007, new coach Paul Cooke decided to change the name of the Skegness Sealions, hoping to breathe a fresh new life into the club. He wanted a neutral, 'sensible' name, therefore opting for 'Skegness Basketball' The change will come into force for the club's debut season in the British Pro-Amateur League,Upper Division, Lincolnshire Section,starting in September 2007. THE FUTURE Skegness are now planning for the 2007-2008 season, hoping for a quick return to the non-league pyramid. Coach Paul Cooke is searching the schools of Skegness, hoping to find a new breed of youngsters that will join the club. On 21 May 2007 , Skegness Basketball confirmed they would be staying at the Skegness Sports Centre. For the 2007-2008 season, co-Pro-Am League team the MAT (Mablethorpe and Trusthorpe) Tykes will play at the Skegness Sports Centre as their home ground is being re-developed. |
|
|