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]
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
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 Arena | Solent Stars | Bracknell Pirates | 83-81 |
| March 16, Wembley Arena | Crystal Palace Supersonics | Liverpool & Warrington Vikings | 68-71 |
Final
| 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 ArenaAttendance: 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 Vikings | Davenports Birmingham | 92-85 |
| Gateshead | Manchester Giants | 83-81 |
| Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics | Brighton Bears | 97-80 |
| Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead | Brunel Uxbridge Ducks | 85-71 |
| Planters Leicester | John Carr Doncaster | 91-77 |
| Sperrings Solent Stars | Watford Royals | 119-82 |
| Bradford Mythbreakers | Austin Rover Sunderland | 72-87 |
| Bracknell Pirates | Kingcraft Kingston | 82-89 |
Quarter finals
| Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Score |
| Planters Leicester | Gateshead | 82-67 |
| Austin Rover Sunderland | LSO Cars Liverpool & Warrington Vikings | 73-68 |
| Sperrings Solent Stars | Kingcraft Kingston | 124-79 |
| Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics | Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead | |
Semi-finals
| Leg |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Score |
| First Leg | Sperrings Solent Stars | Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics | 68-56 |
| Second Leg | Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics | Sperrings Solent Stars | 73-69 |
| First Leg | Planters Leicester | Austin Rover Sunderland | 73-73 |
| Second Leg | Austin Rover Sunderland | Planters Leicester | 69-70 |
Final
| 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 |