Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks | |
---|---|
Canon Medical Arena | |
Capacity | 2,500 |
Location | Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
Team colours | Navy, Yellow, Silver |
Main sponsor | B. Braun |
Head coach | Atiba Lyons |
Championships | 4 BBL Championship 2 BBL Playoffs 3 BBL Cup 2 BBL Trophy |
Website | Official website |
The Sheffield Sharks, currently known as "B.Braun Sheffield Sharks" for sponsorship reasons, are a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. The Sharks compete in the British Basketball League and play their home matches at Park Community Arena, which opened in 2023. They are one of the most successful teams in the history of British basketball and dominated domestic competitions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
History
Sheffield Forgers
The club was established in 1991 when the team, then called the Sheffield Forgers in reference to the city's history as a major
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 did not 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 as a new franchise to replace the withdrawing Guildford Kings.
Rebranding as the Sharks
The club was purchased by the
European leagues
In 1995, the
Sharks' adventure continued into Europe in the following season (1995–96) when they competed in the prestigious
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 playoff dreams were also shattered in the semifinals by eventual winners Birmingham Bullets, whom they lost to 68–82.
Golden Era
The Sharks again reached the BBL Cup final in 1996 and 1997, finishing second then third in the championship, and their next piece of silverware was the 1998 BBL Trophy. They claimed their second
Modern era
In the 2009–2010 season, Sheffield won the BBL Cup for the first time in six years beating the Cheshire Jets 89–86. During the 2010–2011 season, they successfully defended their cup victory by beating the Mersey Tigers 93–66 and also made it to the final of the playoffs but were beaten out by Mersey Tigers 79–74. In the 2012–2013 season, the Sharks won the BBL Trophy for the first time in 15 years beating the Leicester Riders 71–69. In the 2015–2016 season, Sheffield made it to the Play Off final for the first time in five years. This time however, for the first time in 12 years the Sharks in the final of the playoffs on 8 May 2016, beat Leicester Riders 84–77.[4]
Home arenas
- Sheffield Arena (1994–2004)
- Ponds Forge International Sports Centre (2004–2006)
- English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (2006–2019)
- Ponds Forge International Sports Centre (2019–2023)
- Canon Medical Arena(2023–present)
Season-by-season records
Season | Division | Tier | Regular Season | Post-Season | Trophy | Cup | Head Coach | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Win % | |||||||
Sheffield Forgers | ||||||||||||
1991–92 | NBL3
|
3 | 5th | 22 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 0.500 | ||||
1992–93 | NBL3
|
3 | 1st | 20 | 15 | 5 | 30 | 0.750 | ||||
1993–94 | NBL1
|
2 | 4th | 18 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 0.556 | ||||
Sheffield Sharks | ||||||||||||
1994–95 | BBL | 1 | 1st | 36 | 29 | 7 | 58 | 0.806 | Semi Final | Runner-Up | Winners, beating Thames Valley | Jim Brandon |
1995–96 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 36 | 30 | 6 | 60 | 0.833 | Semi Final | Semi Final | Runner-Up | Jim Brandon |
1996–97 | BBL | 1 | 3rd | 36 | 26 | 10 | 52 | 0.722 | Semi Final | Semi Final | Runner-Up | Jim Brandon |
1997–98 | BBL | 1 | 4th | 36 | 25 | 11 | 50 | 0.694 | Quarter Final | Winners, beating Towers | Quarter Final | Chris Finch |
1998–99 | BBL | 1 | 1st | 36 | 31 | 5 | 62 | 0.861 | Semi Final | Semi Final | Winners, beating Leopards
|
Chris Finch |
1999–00 | BBL N | 1 | 2nd | 36 | 29 | 7 | 58 | 0.806 | Quarter Final | Semi Final | Winners, beating Manchester | Chris Finch |
2000–01 | BBL N | 1 | 1st | 36 | 27 | 9 | 54 | 0.750 | Runner-Up | Semi Final | 1st Round | Chris Finch |
2001–02 | BBL N | 1 | 2nd | 32 | 21 | 11 | 42 | 0.656 | Runner-Up | Quarter Final | Semi Final | Chris Finch |
2002–03 | BBL | 1 | 1st | 40 | 33 | 7 | 66 | 0.825 | Semi Final | 1st Round | 1st Round | Chris Finch |
2003–04 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 36 | 26 | 10 | 52 | 0.722 | Winners, beating Chester
|
1st Round | Winners, beating Scottish
|
Peter Scantlebury |
2004–05 | BBL | 1 | 4th | 40 | 26 | 14 | 52 | 0.650 | Semi Final | 1st Round | Quarter Final | Peter Scantlebury |
2005–06 | BBL | 1 | 3rd | 40 | 26 | 14 | 52 | 0.650 | Semi Final | 1st Round | Quarter Final | Peter Scantlebury |
2006–07 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 36 | 28 | 8 | 56 | 0.778 | Semi Final | Semi Final | Semi Final | Peter Scantlebury |
2007–08 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 33 | 17 | 16 | 34 | 0.515 | Quarter Final | 1st Round | Quarter Final | Peter Scantlebury |
2008–09 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 33 | 16 | 17 | 32 | 0.485 | Quarter Final | 1st Round | Quarter Final | Atiba Lyons |
2009–10 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 36 | 30 | 6 | 60 | 0.833 | Semi Final | 1st Round | Winners, beating Cheshire
|
Atiba Lyons |
2010–11 | BBL | 1 | 3rd | 33 | 24 | 9 | 48 | 0.727 | Runner-Up | 1st Round | Winners, beating Mersey | Atiba Lyons |
2011–12 | BBL | 1 | 7th | 30 | 13 | 17 | 26 | 0.433 | Quarter Final | Semi Final | Quarter Final | Atiba Lyons |
2012–13 | BBL | 1 | 7th | 33 | 17 | 16 | 34 | 0.515 | Quarter Finals | Winners, beating Leicester | Semi Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2013–14 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 33 | 27 | 6 | 54 | 0.818 | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2014–15 | BBL | 1 | 7th | 36 | 19 | 17 | 38 | 0.528 | Semi Finals | Quarter Finals | Semi Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2015–16 | BBL | 1 | 3rd | 33 | 20 | 13 | 40 | 0.606 | Winners, beating Leicester | Semi Finals | Quarter Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2016–17 | BBL | 1 | 4th | 33 | 20 | 13 | 40 | 0.606 | Quarter Finals | 1st Round | Quarter Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2017–18 | BBL | 1 | 8th | 33 | 18 | 15 | 36 | 0.545 | Quarter Finals | Runner Up | Semi Finals | Atiba Lyons |
2018–19 | BBL | 1 | 6th | 33 | 17 | 16 | 34 | 0.515 | Semi Finals | 1st Round | 1st Round | Atiba Lyons |
2019–20 | BBL | 1 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Quarter Finals | Quarter Finals | Atiba Lyons | ||||||
2020–21 | BBL | 1 | 5th | 30 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 0.500 | Quarter-finals | 1st Round | Pool Stage | Atiba Lyons |
2021–22 | BBL | 1 | 2nd | 27 | 17 | 10 | 34 | 0.630 | Quarter-finals | 1st Round | Quarter-finals | Atiba Lyons |
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.
Trophies
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, 2003/04, & 2009/10, 2013/14 4
- BBL Northern Conference Runners Up: 1999/00, & 2001/02 2
Playoffs
- NBL Division 2 Play Off Winners: 1992/93 1
- BBL Play Off Winners: 2003/04, & 2015/16 (2)
- BBL Play Off Runners Up: 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11 (3)
Cup
- National Cup Winners: 1994/95, 1998/99, & 1999/00 3
- BBL Cup Winners: 2003/04, 2009/10 & 2010/11 3
- National Cup Runners Up: 1995/96, & 1996/97 2
Trophy
- BBL Trophy Winners: 1993/1994, 1997/1998, & 2012/13 3
- BBL Trophy Runners Up: 1994/95, 2017/18 2
Players
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate nationality.
|
Notable former players
Ownership
- Steve Shore
- Yuri Matischen
- Sarah Backovic
- Karen Child
- John Timms
- Atiba Lyons
See also
- Basketball in England
- British Basketball League
- Euroleague
- National Basketball League
- Sheffield Arena
References
- ^ "www.answers.com/topic/chrysalis-group-plc". Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ "www.sharks-bbraun.com/index.html". Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ "Sharks back in business". BBC News. 27 June 2001.
- ^ "Play-Off Final: Riders 77–84 Sharks". BBL.org.uk. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.