English Basketball League
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| No. of teams | 100 senior, over 300 junior |
| Country |  England |
| Continent |  FIBA Europe (Europe) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Essex Leopards |
| Level on pyramid | 2-5 |
| Domestic cup(s) | National Cup |
| Official website | englandbasketball.co.uk |
The English Basketball League (EBL) is a men's basketball league in England, covering professional, semi-professional, and amateur levels of the game. This is effectively seen as the second tier of men's basketball in the United Kingdom, along with the less celebrated Scottish Men's National League.
The EBL was established in 2003 by England Basketball to replace the former National Basketball League, and currently operates several men's leagues in a four-tiered pyramid structure, as well as the English Women's Basketball League. The senior leagues are supported by a junior structure for both male and female players, with leagues for under-18s, under-16s and under-14s.[1]
The leagues operated by the EBL form the second, third, fourth and fifth levels of men's competition in England, with the highest level consisting of the professional British Basketball League. There is no promotion and relegation between the EBL and the British Basketball League, which operates a franchise system. Despite this, several teams have applied to make the step from EBL to the BBL in recent years, looking for greater competition and more exposure.
Contents
Senior Competitions
English Basketball League - The men's competition is headed by a 14-team Division 1, followed by a 12-team Division 2, both of which are open to clubs from across England. Below this, Division 3 is operated as two regional 12-team conferences, divided into North and South groups. All other teams affiliated with the EBL compete in the National Basketball Development League, which is divided based on the number of clubs applying for membership each year.
The Playoffs - The top eight teams in each division compete for the season's final showdown and silverware. The top four teams have home advantage against the lower placed sides in the quarter-final (1st v 8th, 2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th & 4th v 5th). In Division 1, the semi-finals and final are held at a neutral venue in a Final Fours weekend. The lower divisions have only the final at a neutral venue.
National Cup - Open to all EBL teams and played on a straight knockout format at club venues with the final being held at a neutral venue. The 2014/2015 finals were staged at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, and saw Manchester Magic take the trophy 76-58 against the Reading Rockets.
National Trophy - Also known as the EBL Trophy, this is played for by all men's Division 1 teams. The teams play a round-robin competition followed by knock-out rounds. The Manchester Magic won the 2014/2015 tournament, taking the final 88-48 in against Leicester Warriors at Leeds Beckett University Arena.
Patrons Cup - The Patrons' Cup is played for by all men's Division 2 teams on a similar basis to the EBL Trophy. Lancashire Spinners took the 2014/2015 Cup, beating London Lituanica 118-86 at Leeds Beckett University Arena.
National Shield - Open to all men's teams in EBL Divisions 3 & 4 and run on a straight knock-out format with the final held at a neutral venue. The 2014/2015 final took place at Leeds Beckett University Arena and saw Team Newcastle University top Liverpool 68-59.
National Founders Cup - A round-robin competition organised on a national basis specifically for non-EBL clubs, i.e. amateur clubs who have not entered the national leagues. The 2014/2015 final took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, and saw Kent Crusaders III claim the title 80-64 against the Oxford Brookes Devils.[2]
Teams
Men's Division 1
Men's Division 1 team line-up for the 2015–2016 season.[3]
| Team | Home Venue | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford Dragons | Bradford College | 200 | |
| Derby Trailblazers | Noel-Baker School | 500 | |
| Essex Leopards | Brentwood Centre | 1,200 | 2014/2015 League Champions |
| Hemel Storm | Sportspace | 800 | |
| Kent Crusaders | Medway Park | 300 | 2014/2015 Playoff Champions |
| Lancashire Spinners | Castle Leisure Centre | 500 | Promoted from Division 2, 2014/2015 Patrons Cup Champions |
| Leicester Warriors | Braunstone Leisure Centre | 400 | |
| London Lituanica | Newvic Colege | 300 | Promoted from Division 2 |
| Manchester Magic | Amaechi Basketball Centre | 1,000 | 2014/2015 National Cup & National Trophy Champions |
| Reading Rockets | Rivermead Leisure Complex | 600 | |
| Team Northumbria | Sport Central | 3,000 | |
| Tees Valley Mohawks | Middlesbrough Sports Village | 300 | |
| Westminster Warriors | Capital City Academy | 300 | |
| Worthing Thunder | Worthing Leisure Centre | 600 |
Men's Division 2
Men's Division 2 team line-up for the 2015–2016 season.
| Team | Home Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brixton Topcats | Brixton Recreation Centre | |
| Derbyshire Arrows | Killamarsh Sports Centre | |
| East London All-Stars | UEL Sportsdock | Relegated from Division 1 |
| Eastside Eagles London | Leyton Sixth Form College | |
| Ipswich | Copleston High School | |
| Liverpool | Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College | Promoted from Division 3 (North) |
| London Greenhouse Pioneers | Academy Sport Westminster | |
| London Westside | Kensington Leisure Centre | |
| Loughborough Student Riders | Loughborough University | |
| Nottingham Hoods | Nottingham Wildcats Arena | Promoted from Division 3 (North) |
| Solent Kestrels | Barton Peveril College | Promoted from Division 3 (South) |
| Worcester Wolves II | Worcester Arena |
Men's Division 3
Men's Division 3 team line-up for the 2015–2016 season.
| North | South | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Home Venue | Team | Home Venue |
| Birmingham Mets | Birmingham Metropolitan College | Barking Abbey Crusaders | Barking Abbey Academy |
| City of Sheffield Saints | EIS Sheffield | Barking & Dagenham Thunder | Barking College |
| Derby Trailblazers II | Noel-Baker School | Brentwood Fire | Shenfield Sports Centre |
| Doncaster Danum Eagles | Danum Academy | Brunel Ducks | University of Brunel |
| Leeds Force Academy | Allerton High School | London United | Harefield Academy |
| Mansfield Giants | Oak Tree Leisure Centre | Loughborough Student Riders II | Loughborough University |
| Myerscough College | Myerscough College | Middlesex LTBC | University of Brunel |
| Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights | NULC Academy of Sport | Northants Thunder | Northampton School for Girls |
| Sefton Stars | Fernhill Road Sports Centre | Oxford Brookes University | Oxford Brookes University |
| Team Birmingham | BVSC Building | Plymouth Raiders II | City College Plymouth |
| Team Newcastle University | Tyne Metropolitan College | Team Solent Suns | St Mary's Leisure Centre |
| Tees Valley Mohawks II | Olympia Building, University of Teesside | Thames Valley Cavaliers | Haybrook College |
Men's Development Leagues
Men's Development League team line-up for the 2015–2016 season.
Other club's websites
See also
External links
References
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English Basketball League |
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