1983–84 National Basketball League season

The 1983–84 Wimpey Homes National Basketball League season was the twelfth season of the National Basketball League formed in the United Kingdom in 1972.[1]

1983–84 National Basketball League season
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams13
Roll of Honour
National League championsSolent Stars
  National League runners-upCrystal Palace
Play offs championsSolent Stars
  Play offs runners-upWarrington & Liverpool
National Cup championsSolent Stars
  National Cup runners-upLeicester

The league was sponsored by Wimpey Homes and Solent Stars achieved a clean sweep of National League, Play Offs and National Cup.[2] Teams played each other three times in the league during the season. The Channel 4 exposure had assisted in teams finding sponsors but a decision by the Independent Broadcasting Authority to ban shirt advertising suddenly jeopardised these sponsorships.

Team changes

There had been no plans by the English Basketball Association (EBBA) to allow any new teams into the first division and this upset the Fine Ceramics Bolton team that had won the second division the year before. No invite had been extended to either them or Liverpool who had finished bottom of the first division.[3] However it transpired that Bolton were eventually allowed to compete, a decision which then angered Liverpool but maintained a 13 team league. Liverpool then made the decision to merge with Warrington.
Remarkably 11 of the 13 clubs made a new coaching appointment. The appointments were Randy Haefner (Sunderland), Rick Taylor (Hemel Hempstead), Jim Guymon (Kingston), Jim Kelly (Solent), Bill Sheridan (Brighton), Bob Mitchell (Birmingham), Joel Furnari (Leicester), Joe Whelton (Liverpool/Warrington), Tom Becker (Manchester), Jack Lehane (Bracknell), and Craig Lynch (Bolton).

League standings

First Division
Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1Sperrings Solent Stars363243403226164
2Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics3625112973275050
3FSO Cars Warrington & Liverpool Vikings3624122967278948
4Bracknell Pirates3623133144303746
5Austin Rover Sunderland3623133243297346
6Planters Leicester3623132669278445*
7Manchester Giants3618183053312936
8Brighton Bears3617193089315234
9Davenports Birmingham3616203315336532
10Kingcraft Kingston3614223179319728
11Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead3612243355350824
12John Carr Doncaster366302992346412
13Fine Ceramics Bolton36135308836632

One point deducted*

Second Division

Bradford Mythbreakers, Brunel Uxbridge Ducks, Calderdale Explorers, Camden & Hampstead, Colchester, Gateshead, Merseyside Mustangs, Clayton Glass Newcastle, Ashfield Glass Nottingham, Plymouth Raiders, Portsmouth Buccaneers, Team Sandwell, Watford Royals

Wimpey Homes Play Offs

Semi-finals
venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 16, Wembley ArenaSolent StarsBracknell Pirates83-81
March 16, Wembley ArenaCrystal Palace SupersonicsLiverpool & Warrington Vikings68-71

Final
17 March 1984[4]
Solent Stars 70–64 Liverpool & Warrington Vikings
Pts: John Johnson, TJ Robinson, Mark Saiers, Karl Tatham, Tony Watson Pts: Will Brown (MVP) 18, Ed Bona, David Lloyd, Jeff Jones, Kevin Penny
Wembley Arena
Attendance: 9,000
Solent Coach Jim Kelly
Liv/Warr Coach Joe Whelton

Asda National Cup

Second round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
LSO Cars Liverpool & Warrington VikingsDavenports Birmingham92-85
GatesheadManchester Giants83-81
Blue Nun Crystal Palace SupersonicsBrighton Bears97-80
Ovaltine Hemel HempsteadBrunel Uxbridge Ducks85-71
Planters LeicesterJohn Carr Doncaster91-77
Sperrings Solent StarsWatford Royals119-82
Bradford MythbreakersAustin Rover Sunderland72-87
Bracknell PiratesKingcraft Kingston82-89

Quarter finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Planters LeicesterGateshead82-67
Austin Rover SunderlandLSO Cars Liverpool & Warrington Vikings73-68
Sperrings Solent StarsKingcraft Kingston124-79
Blue Nun Crystal Palace SupersonicsOvaltine Hemel Hempstead

Semi-finals
Leg Team 1 Team 2 Score
First LegSperrings Solent StarsBlue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics68-56
Second LegBlue Nun Crystal Palace SupersonicsSperrings Solent Stars73-69
First LegPlanters LeicesterAustin Rover Sunderland73-73
Second LegAustin Rover SunderlandPlanters Leicester69-70

Final
Live on Channel 4
09 January 1984[5]
Solent Stars 86–67 Planters Leicester
Pts: John Johnson 20, TJ Robinson 18, Mark Saiers (MVP) 17 Pts: Charles Payton 22, Ken Pemberton 18, Lonnie Legette 12, Steve O'Shea
Royal Albert Hall, London
Attendance: ?
Solent Coach Jim Kelly
Leicester Coach Joel Furnari

References
  1. Matthews & Morrison, Peter & Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  2. "Men's Senior League Winners". Basketball England.
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Rebuff for champions." Times [London, England] 22 Mar. 1983: 23". The Times Digital Archive.
  4. "Nicholas Harling. "Basketball: National Championship Play-Offs." Times [London, England] 19 Mar. 1984". The Times Digital Archive.
  5. "Nicholas Harling. "Basketball." Times [London, England] 10 Jan. 1984". The Times Digital Archive.

See also
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