The Derbyshire Arrows are an English basketball club based in Dronfield, Derbyshire. The Arrows play in National Basketball League Division 2 North, the third tier of British basketball. The club also have strong links with the city of Sheffield, having formerly been based at the University of Sheffield, and maintaining a partnership with the University's team.[1]

Derbyshire Arrows
LeagueNBL D2 North
Established1991; 33 years ago (1991)
HistoryDerbyshire Arrows
1991-2003
City of Sheffield Arrows
2003-2011
Derbyshire Arrows
2011-present
ArenaDronfield Sports Centre
LocationDronfield, Derbyshire
Head coachUnited Kingdom Matt Oakey
WebsiteArrowsBasketball.com

History

edit

Founded in 1991 to compete in local league competition, the Men's team joined the National Basketball League in 1998, starting in Division 3. The first couple of years in national competition saw mixed results, before changes at both club and league in 2000 ushered in a golden era for the club. First, former BBL talent Garnet Gayle joined as player/coach, closely followed by a restructure of the league which rebranded the third tier as Division 2. The Arrows then claimed the 2000/2001 league title without suffering a single defeat, earning promotion to Division 1 in the process. Further glories were to follow, taking back-to-back doubles of the league and playoff titles in 2001/2002 and 2002/2003. However, the club were denied a promotion to the NBL Conference as their home court did not meet the minimum standard required.[2]

To allow the club to advance further, they moved to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, rebranding as the City of Sheffield Arrows. The national league was also rebranded as the English Basketball League in 2003, and the new league structure saw the Arrows finally admitted to the top level of English competition, taking a place in the new EBL Division 1. Another league and playoff double was to follow in 2005, this time with the National Trophy added to the EBL Division One title and playoff titles.[3] Since winning their last title in 2005, the club have fallen from their peak, a gradual decline in results culminating in a last-place league finish in 2010 and relegation to Division 2. The drop to a more modest league saw the club return to their original Killamarsh home and reclaim their former name in 2011, and despite being ever-present in the end-of-season playoffs, the team have yet to return to Division 1.[4]

Honours

edit

NBL Division 1 League Champions

  • 2002, 2003

EBL Division 1 League Champions

  • 2005

NBL Division 1 Playoff Champions

  • 2002, 2003

EBL Division 1 Playoff Champions

  • 2005

NBL Division 2 League Champions

  • 2001

National Trophy Champions

  • 2005

Season-by-season records

edit
Season[2][5] Division Tier Pos Played Won Lost Points Playoffs National Cup National Trophy Patron's Cup National Shield
Derbyshire Arrows
1998-99 D3 Mid 5 7th 20 9 11 18 Quarter-Final 1st Round DNE DNE
1999-00 D3 Mid 5 11th 24 5 19 10 DNQ 3rd Round DNE DNE
2000-01 D2 4 1st 24 24 0 48 Runner-Up DNE DNE
2001-02 D1 3 1st 22 20 2 40 Winners Quarter-Final DNE DNE
2002-03 D1 3 1st 16 14 2 28 Winners Semi-Final DNE DNE
City of Sheffield Arrows
2003-04 D1 2 7th 22 10 12 20 Quarter-Final 1st Round Semi-Final DNE DNE
2004-05 D1 2 1st 22 21 1 42 Winners Runner-Up Winners DNE DNE
2005-06 D1 2 3rd 26 20 6 40 Semi-Final Semi-Final Runner-Up DNE DNE
2006-07 D1 2 7th 22 11 11 22 Quarter-Final Quarter-Final 1st Round DNE DNE
2007-08 D1 2 7th 18 8 10 16 Quarter-Final 2nd Round Semi-Final DNE DNE
2008-09 D1 2 4th 18 10 8 20 Semi-Final 2nd Round Semi-Final DNE DNE
2009-10 D1 2 12th 22 3 19 6 DNQ Quarter-Final 1st Round DNE DNE
2010-11 D2 3 10th 20 2 18 4 DNQ 3rd Round DNE 1st Round DNE
Derbyshire Arrows
2011-12 D2 3 6th 20 10 10 20 Semi-Final 2nd Round DNE Runner-Up DNE
2012-13 D2 3 4th 22 13 9 26 Quarter-Final 2nd Round DNE Semi-Final DNE
2013-14 D2 3 8th 20 9 11 18 Quarter-Final 2nd Round DNE 1st Round DNE
2014-15 D2 3 6th 22 12 10 24 Quarter-Final DNE DNE
2015-16 D2 3 8th 22 11 11 22 Quarter-Final DNE DNE
2016-17 D2 3 8th 22 8 14 16 DNE DNE
2017-18 D2 3 6th 22 9 13 18 Quarter-Final DNE DNE
2018-19 D2 3 9th 20 6 14 12 DNQ DNE DNE

Notes:

  • From 2000-2003 the NBL Conference operated as the second tier league, ahead of Division One.
  • In 2003 the NBL was replaced by the EBL, which reinstated Division One as the second tier.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Arrows Website, homepage". Arrows Website. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Sheffield Arrows History". pawprint75.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Eurobasket History Page". Eurobasket.com.
  4. ^ "League Table History". England Basketball. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  5. ^ "League Table History". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
edit