Kingston Wildcats

(Redirected from Chessington Wildcats)

Kingston Wildcats School of Basketball is a community basketball development club originating from Kingston that compete in the Surrey League and Basketball England National League. The club acts as "school of basketball" for players in the Royal Borough of Kingston and Surrey with teams for players between the ages of 8 and 16. The club also runs a senior men's team and its practices and home fixtures take place at Chessington School.

Kingston Wildcats School of Basketball
LeagueSurrey League, Basketball England National League
Established1983
HistoryTolworth Reckers
1983-1992
Chessington Wildcats
1993-1998
Kingston Wildcats
1998-present
ArenaChessington Sports Centre (Capacity: 200)
LocationKingston upon Thames, Chessington
Team coloursRoyal blue, white    
OwnershipMembers Club

History

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The team was founded in 1983 and played as Tolworth Reckers in the Surrey League until 1994 when as Chessington Wildcats they moved up to the regional NBL Division Three South. In 1996 they were promoted to the national NBL Division 2.

The team changed their name to Kingston Wildcats in an attempt to improve its profile in 1998 and this coupled with some shrewd recruiting culminated in winning the Division Two Play off final at Wembley beating the highly fancied Manchester Magic. An automatic place in Division One was initially denied due to the capacity at Chessington Sports Centre being below the 500 stipulated for the division.

In 2000 to take their place in Division One they moved to Tolworth Recreation Centre. TRC had hosted top flight basketball in the 70's and 80's when Kingston Kings were one of the best teams in the country, however a large investment by both Kingston Council and Kingston Wildcats was required to get the centre's equipment up to the required standard.

The club withdrew from the EBL prior to the 2006/07 season due to financial problems, and returned to the Surrey League. In 2007/08 the club entered the National Founders Cup, getting to the final where they lost by one point to London Lithuanians. In 2008/09 a win against King's Lynn Ironwolf in the final of same competition gave the club their second trophy on the national stage. In 2009/10 an injury depleted team lost in the final once again to London Lithuanians this time by one point. In 2010/11 Kingston reached the final again, but lost 79 -70 to London Rocco's Raiders.

Season-by-season National League records

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Season Division Position Played Won Lost Points Play Offs National
Trophy
National
Cup
Kingston Wildcats
2005–2006 EBL Div1 9th 26 11 15 22 DNQ DNQ
2004–2005 EBL Div1 11th 22 5 17 10 DNQ 1st round
2003–2004 EBL Div1 11th 22 4 17 8 DNQ 1st round 2nd round
2002–2003 NBL Conf 6th 22 11 11 22 1st round 1st round
2001–2002 NBL Conf 4th 18 11 7 22 1st round 1st round
2000–2001 NBL Div1 6th 18 6 12 12 2nd round Q-F's
1999–2000 NBL Div2 3rd 24 17 7 34 Winners
1998–1999 NBL Div2 6th 26 16 10 32 1st round
Chessington Wildcats
1997–1998 NBL Div2 12th 24 5 19 10 DNQ
1996–1997 NBL Div2 11th 26 7 19 14 DNQ
1995–1996 NBL Div3 South 2nd 16 14 2 28 1st round
1994–1995 NBL Div3 South 4th 18 12 6 214
  • DNQ denotes Did not qualify.

National Founders Cup

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The Founders Cup is a national cup competition for clubs not playing in the national leagues. We first entered as Chessington Wildcats whilst in a regional league in 1994. There was then a long break while we were in the full national league. In 2007 Steve Rich and Mark Bottiglia organised a return to this competition. Coached by Phil Gunner the team made four finals in a row from 2008 to 2011.

Season Stage Reached Against Score Venue
2010–2011 Final London Roccos Raiders 70 - 79 Medway Park
2009–2010 Final London Lithuanians 60 - 61 Edmonton Green
2008–2009 Winners King's Lynn Ironwolf 77 - 65 Derby
2007–2008 Final Lithuanians 82 - 83 Derby
1995–1996 Final Menwith Hill (USAF) 152 - 169 Two Legs
1994–1995 Quarter-Final Warley N/A Chessington

Trojans Wildcats Trophy

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In 2009 club president Steve Burnett instigated the Trojans Wildcats Trophy. This was to become an annual game between Kingston Wildcats and Tile Hill Trojans from the Warwickshire League. The 2009 game was played at Warwick University, moving to Chessington Sports Centre in 2010. The series which is currently sponsored by Alto Clothing Ltd, now alternates between Surrey and Warwickshire venues.

Year Location Winners Score MVP
2011 Tile Hill Tile Hill Trojans 80 - 86 Matt Jenner
2010 Chessington Kingston Wildcats 87 - 69 Carl Plunkett
2009 Warwick University Kingston Wildcats 77 - 71 Wes Chantler
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