Crystal Palace (basketball)

Crystal Palace was a basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (NBL) and then the British Basketball League (BBL), until they merged with the London Towers in 1998. They played in the Crystal Palace Sports Centre and were the most successful team in Britain throughout the seventies and early eighties.[1]

History

In 1966 the Old Suttonians basketball club was founded by several ex pupils of Sutton Grammar School including David Last and Terry Doherty who both performed the role of director of the club in future years.[2] In 1972 the club entered the new National League as Sutton basketball club and finished third of six teams. the following season they relocated to Crystal Palace and became the Sutton & Crystal Palace club. Success arrived quickly with a league and cup double the very next season.

In 1975 the club dropped the Sutton prefix and gained sponsorship from Cinzano which helped propel them into being the best club in Britain. The team would go on to complete three consecutive doubles of National League and National Cup.[3] The team became regarded as the pioneers of UK basketball and their early players included Jim Guymon, Martin Hall, Mark Saiers, Pete Jeremich and Paul Philp. An incredible treble ensued in the 79-80 season and other players to represent the club included players such as Dan Lloyd, Bob Roma, Paul Stimpson, Mick Bett and Alton Byrd, the latter considered the man who revolutionised basketball in Britain.[4] Further success followed and it was not until the advent of Channel 4 TV coverage and big spending football club takeovers that Palace lost their mantle as top club.
In September 1986 Crystal Palace and Brunel Uxbridge & Camden Ducks joined forces with fixtures being split between the Crystal Palace Sports Centre and Brunel University.[5] Immediate glory returned to the club when after finishing fourth in the league they went on to win the 1987 play Off's but after just one season the club ran into financial difficulty and were forced to sell many players and change their name back to just Crystal Palace.[6]

Following the completion of the 1988 season the club dropped out of the Carlsberg League into the National League before failing to compete for the first time in the 1990/91 season. A return to action came the following season when Crystal Palace lined up in the third division of the revamped Carlsberg League finishing runners up to another former basketball giant the Solent Stars.

The 1993–1994 season saw Budweiser sponsor tier 1 of the league which as a consequence meant the National League was restructured moving Palace into division one where they finished Runner-up to Coventry Crusaders. The following season Alton Byrd returned to the club as player/general manager kick starting a successful season as they won Division One.[7] The league win was repeated the following year because Palace had remained in the National League after their application to join the Budweiser League (tier 1) was rejected.

In 1996 a return to the top tier in for the first time since 1988 ensued. After two mediocre seasons the club merged with London Towers and the name Crystal Palace (the most successful UK basketball club in history at the time) ceased to exist.

Season-by-season records

Season Div. Pos Pld. W L Pts. Play-offs Trophy Cup
Sutton & Crystal Palace
1973–1974NBLWinners1413126N/AN/AWinners
1974–1975NBLRunner-up1816234N/AN/ARunner-up
Crystal Palace
1975–1976NBLWinners1817135N/AN/AWinners
1976–1977NBLWinners1818036N/AN/AWinners
1977–1978NBLWinners1818036N/AN/AWinners
1978–1979NBLRunner-up2016432WinnersN/ARunner-up
1979–1980NBLWinners2018036WinnersN/AWinners
1980–1981NBLRunner-up1816236Runner-upN/AWinners
1981–1982NBLWinners2220240WinnersN/AQuarter-finals
1982–1983NBLWinners2421342Runner-upN/ASemi-finals
1983–1984NBLRunner-up36251150Semi-finalsN/ASemi-finals
1984–1985Carlsberg League 110th place26101620DNQN/AQuarter-finals
1985–1986Carlsberg League 15th place28171133Third PlaceN/AFirst round
Brunel & Crystal Palace London
1986–1987Carlsberg League 14th place2417735WinnersN/AQuarter-finals
Crystal Palace
1987–1988Carlsberg League 115th place282264DNQGroup stageSecond round
1988–1989Carlsberg League 111th place202184DNQGroup stageQuarter-finals
1989–1990National League 13rd place Third placeN/ASecond round
1991–1992National League 32nd place2218436
1992–1993National League 23rd place2216632
1993–1994National League 1Runner-up1812624
1994–1995National League 1Winners2221142
1995–1996National League 1Winners2222044
1996–1997Budweiser League12th place3653110
1997–1998Budweiser League11th place3682816

Notable former players

References

  1. ↑ Matthews & Morrison, Peter & Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  2. ↑ "Nicholas Harling. "Good win in new home." Times [London, England] 7 Oct. 1986: 46". The Times Digital Archive.
  3. ↑ "Men's Senior League Winners". Basketball England.
  4. ↑ "Where are they now?". sfgate.com.
  5. ↑ ""Clubs join forces." Times [London, England] 4 Sept. 1986". The Times Digital Archive.
  6. ↑ "Julian Desborough. "Players sold as Palace battle for survival." Times [London, England] 9 Sept. 1987". The Times Digital Archive.
  7. ↑ ""Byrd moves to Palace." Times [London, England] 11 Aug. 1994". The Times Digital Archive.

See also

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