Hemel Storm
The Hemel Storm are a British semi-professional basketball club from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Founded in 2006, the Storm compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system, and play their home games at the Everyone Active Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre. The club had been based in several locations across Hertfordshire and north London before settling into their current, long-term home in 2010.
Hemel Storm | |
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League | NBL Division 1 |
Established | 2006 |
History | West Herts Warriors II 2006–2008 Watford Storm 2008–2009 Edmonton Storm 2009–2010 Hemel Storm 2010–present |
Arena | Hemel Leisure Centre |
Capacity | 600 |
Location | Hemel Hempstead |
Team colours | |
Main sponsor | Vanarama |
Head coach | Andrew Spinks |
Website | Official website |
The club has no formal links to the Hemel Hempstead Lakers, a basketball club formerly in the town which relocated to Milton Keynes in 1998. [1]
History
Originally formed in 2006 as a feeder club for the West Hertfordshire Warriors, the club finished in third place in EBL Division Four (Midlands/South) in their inaugural season, gaining immediate promotion to Division Three (South). Early in the following season, the parent team resigned from Division One due to financial difficulties, leaving the second team to carry on the name alone. The club continued to a fourth place finish despite the off-court upheavals.[2]
The newly independent club moved their home venue to the Westfield Sports Centre in Watford for the 2008-09 season, the move bringing the club a new name (Watford Storm) and another third place finish. However, problems with the Westfield venue led to the club playing in Edmonton by the end of the season, leading to another short-term move for the 2009-10 season, and a further name change to the Edmonton Storm. Finally, the club moved one final time to Hemel Hempstead ahead of the 2010-11 season, renaming themselves the Hemel Storm and bringing basketball back to the town after a 13-year absence.[2]
After settling into their new home, the club went from strength to strength. Over the following seasons, the Storm won the Patrons Cup in 2011, following up with a second placed finish in EBL Division Two in the 2011-12 season and successfully defending their Patrons Cup title. This gained the club promotion to EBL Division One for the 2012-13 season. The club's most high-profile triumph to date was to follow five years later, as the club claimed the National Cup for the first time after a 94-77 victory over Manchester Magic.[3]
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team, as has been defined under FIBA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIBA nationality.
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Notable former players
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
Criteria |
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
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Season-by-season records
Season | Division | Tier | Regular Season | Post-Season | National Cup | |||||||
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Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Win % | |||||||
West Herts Warriors II | ||||||||||||
2006-07 | D4 Mid | 5 | 3rd | 16 | 12 | 4 | 24 | 0.750 | Quarter Final | Did Not Compete | ||
2007-08 | D3 Sou | 4 | 4th | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 0.591 | Quarter Final | Did Not Compete | ||
Watford Storm | ||||||||||||
2008-09 | D3 Sou | 4 | 3rd | 24 | 18 | 6 | 36 | 0.750 | Quarter Final | 3rd Round | ||
Edmonton Storm | ||||||||||||
2009-10 | D2 | 3 | 4th | 20 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 0.650 | Semi Final | 2nd Round | ||
Hemel Storm | ||||||||||||
2010-11 | D2 | 3 | 5th | 20 | 12 | 8 | 24 | 0.600 | Quarter Final | 2nd Round | ||
2011-12 | D2 | 3 | 2nd | 20 | 16 | 4 | 32 | 0.800 | Quarter Final | Quarter Final | ||
2012-13 | D1 | 2 | 10th | 26 | 11 | 15 | 22 | 0.423 | Did Not Qualify | Quarter Final | ||
2013-14 | D1 | 2 | 3rd | 26 | 18 | 8 | 36 | 0.692 | Quarter Final | 3rd Round | ||
2014-15 | D1 | 2 | 10th | 24 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 0.375 | Did Not Qualify | 3rd Round | ||
2015-16 | D1 | 2 | 4th | 26 | 18 | 8 | 36 | 0.692 | Quarter Final | 3rd Round | ||
2016-17 | D1 | 2 | 8th | 26 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 0.500 | Quarter Final | 4th Round | ||
2017-18 | D1 | 2 | 7th | 24 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 0.500 | Runners-Up | Winners | ||
2018-19 | D1 | 2 | 9th | 26 | 11 | 15 | 22 | 0.423 | Did Not Qualify | Semi Finals | ||
2019-20 | D1 | 2 | 4th | 23 | 16 | 7 | 35 | 0.696 | No Playoffs | Quarter Finals | ||
Record in BBL competitions
Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020–21 | BBL Trophy | R1 | Cheshire Phoenix |
References
- "Hemel Storm, Club History". Hemel Storm Club Website.
- "Edmonton Storm move to Hemel Hempstead under new management". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- "National Cup Win". Basketball England.