Sheffield Sharks

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Sheffield Sharks

League	British Basketball League
Founded	1991
Team History	Sheffield Forgers 1991-1994 Sheffield Sharks 1994-present
Arena	EIS Sheffield
City	Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Team Colours	Yellow, Blue, White
Ownership	Montgomery Leisure Services
Head Coach	Peter Scantlebury

The Sheffield Sharks is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. The Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield.

1 Franchise history
2 Home arenas
3 Season-by-season records
4 Trophies
5 Players
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Franchise history

[edit] "Forging" history

The franchise was established in 1991 when the team, then called the Sheffield Forgers in reference to the city's history as a major steel producer, were admitted to National Basketball League Division 2. After two seasons competing in the division, with an overall 26-16 record, the Forgers were crowned Champions in 1993 and promoted to NBL Division 1.

The 1993-1994 season would prove to be another successful one for the Forgers having reached the National Trophy final where they beat Plymouth Raiders 62-60 on "home" territory at the Sheffield Arena. Their stay in the First Division didn't last long, and although they finished in 4th position with a 10-8 record, the Forgers were admitted to the professional top-tier British Basketball League to replace the withdrawing Guildford Kings.

[edit] Sharks swim with the "bog boys"

Renamed as Sheffield Sharks, the team dominated the league in its rookie season, and with a 29-7 league record, marched on to take the BBL League Championship and National Cup with an incredible 89-66 victory in the final against Thames Valley Tigers. However the Tigers got their revenge over the Sharks with a nailbiting 74-69 win in the BBL Trophy final. The Sharks also missed out on the Play-off final following a 72-84 loss to Worthing Bears in the Final Four, despite this the Sheffield team still enjoyed a phenomenal debut season.

[edit] Taking a bite at Europe

Sharks' adventure continued into Europe in the following season (1995-96) when they competed in the prestigious Euroleague. After knocking out Luxembourg team Residence Helmsange in the Qualifying round, the Sharks were then eliminated in the First Round by Spanish giants Real Madrid after a 57-67 defeat in Sheffield and a 75-78 defeat in Madrid. As a result of losing, Sheffield were then placed in the Third Round of the less glamourous European Cup, where they were subsequently knocked out by Belgian club Oostende Basket, thus ending their European adventure.

On the domestic scene, the Sharks could not repeat the highs of their previous season, finishing as Runners-up in the League Championship (30-6) to London Towers, and losing the final of the National Cup 58-70 also to the dominating Towers. Their Play-off dreams were also shattered in the Semi-final's by eventual winners Birmingham Bullets, whom they lost to 68-82.

[edit] Home arenas

Sheffield Arena (1994-2002)

Ponds Forge (2002-2006)

English Institute of Sport - Sheffield (2006-present)

[edit] Season-by-season records

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pld.	W	L	Pts.	Play Offs	Trophy	Cup
1991-1992	NBL 3	5th	22	11	11	22	-	-	-
1992-1993	NBL 3	1st	20	15	5	30	-	-	-
1993-1994	NBL 1	4th	18	10	8	20	-	-	-
1994-1995	BBL	1st	36	29	7	58	Semi-final	Runner-up	Winners
1995-1996	BBL	2nd	36	30	6	60	Semi-final	Semi-final	Runner-up
1996-1997	BBL	3rd	36	26	10	52	Semi-final	Semi-final	Runner-up
1997-1998	BBL	4th	36	25	11	50	Quarter-final	Winners	Quarter-final
1998-1999	BBL	1st	36	31	5	62	Semi-final	Semi-final	Winners
1999-2000	BBL N	2nd	36	29	7	58	Quarter-final	Semi-final	Winners
2000-2001	BBL N	1st	36	27	9	54	Runner-up	Semi-final	1st Round
2001-2002	BBL N	2nd	32	21	11	42	Runner-up	Quarter-final	Semi-final
2002-2003	BBL	1st	40	33	7	66	Semi-final	1st Round	1st Round
2003-2004	BBL	2nd	36	26	10	52	Winners	1st Round	Winners
2004-2005	BBL	4th	40	26	14	52	Semi-final	1st Round	Quarter-final
2005-2006	BBL	3rd	40	26	14	52	Semi-final	1st Round	Quarter-final
2006-2007	BBL	-	-	-	-	-	N/A	Semi-final	Semi-final

Notes:

Until 1993 Division Three operated as the third tier league, behind Division Two and Division One (the BBL).
In 1993 the NBL restructured Division Two as Division One, operating as the second tier league.
From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Sheffield competed in the Northern Conference.

[edit] Trophies

[edit] League

NBL Division 2 Winners: 1992/93 1
BBL Winners: 1994/95, 1998/99, & 2002/03 3
BBL Northern Conference Winners: 2000/01 1
BBL Runners Up: 1995/96, 1996/97, & 2003/04 3
BBL Northern Conference Runners Up: 1999/00, & 2001/02 2

[edit] Playoffs

NBL Division 2 Play Off Winners: 1992/93 1
BBL Play Off Winners: 2003/04 1
BBL Play Off Runners Up: 2000/01, & 2001/02 2

[edit] Trophy

National Trophy Winners: 1993/94 1
BBL Trophy Winners: 1997/98 1
BBL Trophy Runners Up: 1994/95 1

[edit] Cup

National Cup Winners: 1994/95, 1998/99, & 1999/00 3
BBL Cup Winners: 2003/04 1
National Cup Runners Up: 1995/96, & 1996/97 2

[edit] Players

[edit] Current roster

The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team (www.sheffieldsharks.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).

As of October 28, 2006

7	Blake Shelton	Guard
8	Jeff Bonds	Forward
9	Paul Ihonor	Guard
10	Jermaine Gonsalves	Guard
11	Leonid Okorie	Forward
12	Lekan Popoola	Guard
14	Todd Cauthorn	Forward/Centre
15	Eddie Cage	Centre
22	Atiba Lyons	Guard/Forward
23	Joel Burns	Guard