Derby Storm was a former British Basketball League (BBL) franchise from the city of Derby, Derbyshire. The team decided to sit out the 2002–03 season after failing to find a suitable venue for home games. Despite early efforts for a new arena, the franchise never returned to playing action.
| Derby Storm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | British Basketball League |
| Established | 1984 |
| Folded | 2002 |
| History | Derby Turbos 1984–1985 Derby Rams 1985–1991 Derby Bucks 1991–1995 Derby Storm 1995–2002 |
| Location | Derby, Derbyshire |
| Ownership | Mike Horton |
Founded in 1984 as the Derby Turbos later changed to Derby Rams in 1985. (which NBA head coach Nick Nurse was a player/coach), the team was a founder member of the franchise-based professional BBL when it was set up in 1987. Another name change took place in 1991, becoming the Derby Bucks, and in 1993 the franchise withdrew from the BBL due to financial problems, but was "rescued" and allowed to re-enter before the new season began.
Future Toronto Raptors coach and NBA championship winner Nick Nurse coached here in 1990.
The team became known as the Derby Storm in 1995 and was the first British basketball club to own their own venue, the Thunderdome a.k.a. Storm Arena, which was in fact a converted factory. The compact arena was definitely one of the most characteristic venues in the League, and often the subject of many jokes from rival fans.
Storm were given permission to "sit out" the 2002–03 season, to generate finance and find an alternative venue,[1] but having not returned since, the franchise membership with the BBL has lapsed. Basketball remained in the city however as fans took it upon themselves to take control of Storm's reserve team and reform them as Derby Trailblazers. The Blazers adopted one of Storm's former homes, the Moorways Centre, as their home venue.
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | Division | Tier | Regular Season | Post-Season | BBL Trophy | National Cup | Head Coach | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Win % | |||||||
| Derby Turbos | ||||||||||||
| 1984–85 | NBL D2 | 2 | 4th | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | 0.727 | Chris Squire | |||
| Derby Rams | ||||||||||||
| 1985–86 | NBL D2 | 2 | 2nd | 22 | 18 | 4 | 36 | 0.818 | Chris Squire | |||
| 1986–87 | NBL D1 | 1 | 13th | 24 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 0.167 | Did not qualify | 2nd round (NC) | David Lloyd | |
| 1987–88 | BBL | 1 | 13th | 28 | 4 | 24 | 8 | 0.142 | Did not qualify | Pool Stage (BT) | 2nd round (NC) | Clarence Wiggins |
| 1988–89 | BBL | 1 | 10th | 20 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 0.150 | Did not qualify | Quarter-finals (BT) | Quarter-finals (NC) | Clarence Wiggins |
| 1989–90 | BBL | 1 | 5th | 28 | 10 | 18 | 20 | 0.357 | Did not qualify | Pool Stage (BT) | Semi-finals (NC) | Ron Whitehead |
| 1990–91 | BBL | 1 | 5th | 24 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 0.500 | Quarter-finals | Pool Stage (BT) | 1st round (NC) | Nick Nurse |
| Derby Bucks | ||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | BBL | 1 | 5th | 30 | 18 | 12 | 36 | 0.600 | Quarter-finals | Pool Stage (BT) | Quarter-finals (NC) | Terry Manghum |
| 1992–93 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 33 | 14 | 19 | 28 | 0.424 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals (BT) | Quarter-finals (NC) | Terry Manghum |
| 1993–94 | BBL | 1 | 8th | 36 | 17 | 19 | 34 | 0.473 | Quarter-finals | Pool Stage (BT) | 3rd round (NC) | Terry Manghum |
| 1994–95 | BBL | 1 | 9th | 36 | 10 | 26 | 20 | 0.278 | Did not qualify | Pool Stage (BT) | 4th round (NC) | Greg Gurr |
| Derby Storm | ||||||||||||
| 1995–96 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 36 | 21 | 15 | 42 | 0.583 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals (BT) | 4th round (NC) | Jeff Jones |
| 1996–97 | BBL | 1 | 9th | 36 | 14 | 22 | 28 | 0.389 | Did not qualify | Pool Stage (BT) | 4th round (NC) | Jeff Jones |
| 1998–99 | BBL | 1 | 7th | 36 | 16 | 20 | 32 | 0.444 | Quarter-finals | Pool Stage (BT) | 4th round (NC) | Steve Tucker |
| 1998–99 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 36 | 21 | 15 | 42 | 0.583 | Quarter-finals | Runners-up, losing to Manchester (BT) | Quarter-finals (NC) | Bob Donewald Jr. |
| 1999–00 | BBL NC | 1 | 5th | 36 | 17 | 19 | 34 | 0.472 | Did not qualify | Quarter-finals (BT) | 4th round (NC) | Martin Ford |
| 2000–01 | BBL NC | 1 | 6th | 36 | 6 | 30 | 12 | 0.166 | Did not qualify | Quarter-finals (BT) | Quarter-finals (NC) | Kevin Wall |
| 2001–02 | BBL NC | 1 | 6th | 32 | 3 | 29 | 6 | 0.094 | Did not qualify | Pool Stage (BT) | 4th round (NC) | John Spezia |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ BBC (9 July 2002). "Derby Storm on hold". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2002.