Calderdale Explorers
| Calderdale Explorers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| League | NBL Division 4 | ||
| Established | 1982 | ||
| History |
Halifax Explorers 1982-1983 Calderdale Explorers 1983-1992 Calderdale Explorers 2014–present | ||
| Location | Halifax, Yorkshire | ||
| Team colours | Blue and White | ||
| Team manager | Glenn Hardaker | ||
| Head coach | Jim Fry | ||
| Website | calderdaleexplorers.co.uk | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Calderdale Explorers are a basketball club based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, which currently competes in the English Basketball League Division 4 (North). A previous incarnation of the club was a founding member of the British Basketball League, reaching the playoff semi-finals during the league's inaugural season in 1987/1988.[1]
Club history
The team was established as the Halifax Explorers in 1982, when they entered Division 2 of the National Basketball League. They changed their name to Calderdale after just one year, and in 1986 the club won promotion to Division 1, which was then the top tier of basketball in England.
In 1987, the Explorers joined 14 other teams from the National Basketball League (England) and Scottish National Basketball League to form the new British Basketball League. The Explorers were successful in the new top flight, finishing fifth in league competition and reaching the playoff semi-finals while also reaching the quarter-finals of the National Cup.[2] However, the club were forced to withdraw from the professional league after just one season, as they could not afford the court hire charge of just £14 at their North Bridge Leisure Centre venue. The club returned to competition in NBL Division 2 a year later in 1989, but ongoing financial issues meant the club soon folded in 1992, just a decade since they were founded.
The club was revived in 2014, initially as a junior club competing in local competitions. A senior National League team was added in March 2015, entering the National Development League for their first season before the league was rebranded as Division 4. A steady record for improvement culminated with winning the Division 4 (North) league title at the end of the 2017/2018 season, earning promotion to Division 3.[3]
Club honours
NBL Division 4 League Champions
- 2018
Season-by-season records
| Season | Division | Tier | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Win % | League | Playoffs | National Cup | National Trophy | Patrons Cup | National Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calderdale Explorers | |||||||||||||
| 2015/16 | NBL D-League (North-West) | V | 16 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 0.500 | 5th | DNQ | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 1st Round |
| 2016/17 | NBL Division 4 (North) | V | 18 | 11 | 7 | 22 | 0.611 | 5th | DNQ | 1st Round | DNE | DNE | 4th Round |
| 2017/18 | NBL Division 4 (North) | V | 21 | 19 | 2 | 38 | 0.905 | 1st | 3rd Round | DNE | DNE | 3rd Round | |
References
- ↑ "BBL 1987/1988 season".
- ↑ "BBL Competition History". BBL.org.uk.
- ↑ "NBL League History". Basketball England.