Derby Storm Explained

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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

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.

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 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

SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonBBL TrophyNational CupHead Coach
FinishPlayedWinsLossesPointsWin %
Derby Turbos
1984–85NBL D224th22166320.727Chris Squire
Derby Rams
1985–86NBL D222nd22184360.818Chris Squire
1986–87NBL D1113th2442080.167Did not qualify2nd round (NC)David Lloyd
1987–88BBL113th2842480.142Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)2nd round (NC)Clarence Wiggins
1988–89BBL110th2031760.150Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Clarence Wiggins
1989–90BBL15th281018200.357Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)Semi-finals (NC)Ron Whitehead
1990–91BBL15th241212240.500Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)1st round (NC)Nick Nurse
Derby Bucks
1991–92BBL15th301812360.600Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Terry Manghum
1992–93BBL16th331419280.424Quarter-finalsSemi-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Terry Manghum
1993–94BBL18th361719340.473Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)3rd round (NC)Terry Manghum
1994–95BBL19th361026200.278Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Greg Gurr
Derby Storm
1995–96BBL16th362115420.583Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals (BT)4th round (NC)Jeff Jones
1996–97BBL19th361422280.389Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Jeff Jones
1998–99BBL17th361620320.444Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Steve Tucker
1998–99BBL16th362115420.583Quarter-finalsRunners-up, losing to Manchester (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Bob Donewald Jr.
1999–00BBL NC15th361719340.472Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)4th round (NC)Martin Ford
2000–01BBL NC16th36630120.166Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Kevin Wall
2001–02BBL NC16th3232960.094Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)John Spezia

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BBC . Derby Storm on hold . 2002-07-09 . bbc.co.uk . 2002-07-09.