|
|
LONDON TOWERS |
| LEAGUE RECORD: | ||||||
| BBL/NBL1: | 1989-2006 | P. 587 | W. 365 | L. 222 | Champions 1996 | |
| Southern Conference Champions: 2000; 2001; 2002 | ||||||
| NBL Div. 1: | 1984-1989. | P. 100 | W. 45 | L. 55 | 3rd, 1987-1988 | |
| HONOURS: | |||
| BBL League Champions: | 1996 | ||
| BBL League runners-up: | 1997 | ||
| BBL Championship Winners: | 1997; 1999. | ||
| National Cup Winners: | 1996. | ||
| BBL Cup Finalists | 2006 | ||
| League Cup Winners: | 1996; 1997. | ||
| League Cup Finalists: | 2003. | ||
Tower Hamlets entered NBL Division 2 in 1984. In 1989 they finished eleventh, out of eleven, and were due to be relegated.
However, the BBL was suffering a membership crisis, and was about to be reduced to just seven teams. The newly built Docklands Arena in London was available, and the Tower hamlets franchise was admitted to the Premier League, as London Docklands.
The following season, however, the expensive Arena had been abandoned with the team playing at Newham Leisure Centre, and those first two seasons yielded just three League victories!
Renamed London Towers, but still playing at Newham, the club's fortunes turned in 1991-2, as they finished fourth, and a move to the Sobell Sports Centre in Islington saw them finish third in 1993.
In 1994 they moved to the Wembley Stadium Complex, and it was there that they enjoyed their best seasons, winning five titles in two seasons, from 1995 to 1997.
Wembley was proving very expensive, however, and in 1998 Towers "merged" with fellow BBL team Crystal Palace, enabling them to play some games at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Since 1999 they have played all their games at CPNSC.
Plans for their own Arena, linking with their community and development work, are now well advanced.
Pulled First Team out of BBL, for a "one year break" in 2006.
|
VENUE:
CRYSTAL PALACE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE,
Ledrington
Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19 2BL. From North: M1 to Junction 1, left on A406 then right onto A41 as far as Swiss Cottage. In one-way system go straight on, to Regents Park, then left onto A5205 as far as Camden. Follow A4200 (Camden High St.) past Euston Station; cross Euston Road onto A420. Cross Waterloo Bridge and follow A301 to Elephant & Castle; A3 then A23 through Brixton to Streatham. Turn left into Streatham Common and follow A214 through to Crystal Palace. From South: M23 then A23 towards Croydon. A232 to Croydon, and A212 to Crystal Palace. |
|
FACILITIES: Excellent setting within the grounds of the National Sports Centre. Bleacher seating on either side of the court - seating one side, wooden benches the other. Can become very humid, due to the swimming pool within the same air-space. As I remember (a few years ago now!) the bar is pretty good (if it's open), but there are few cafe facilities. However, you're spoilt for choice for eating and drinking outside the complex, in any of four directions! |
2005-6 Roster:
Names in red have departed.
| PLAYER | Height | |||
| 9 | Niki ARINZE | Forward | 6' 6" |
USA; ex-Eagles and Rocks. Signed Jan 05. |
| 13 | Sam BETTS | Guard | 6' 2" | Ex-Towers Junior. To Kent Crusaders, 2006. |
| 5 | Zayne GAWANUE | 6' 2" | ||
| Antonio HUDSON | Guard | 6' 4" | Joined Feb. 06. Ex-Louisiana State University | |
| 11 | Gareth LAWS | 6' 2" | From Plymouth 2005 | |
| Laurie LEWIS | ||||
| 20 | Jarome LONGVILLE | Forward | 6' 4" | To Towers II |
| 12 | Matthew LORD | 6' 3" | ||
| Michael NEW | Centre | 6' 9" |
Signed Jan '06 (for his eighth BBL club) from AS Golbey-Epinal in France. |
|
| 22 | Sullivan PHILLIPS | Guard/Forward | 6' 5" | Bermuda. Joined from Brighton, 2004. Re-joined Towers mid-Oct 05 |
| Terrance SIMMONS | Guard | 6' 3" | Signed January '06 | |
| 21 | Lynard STEWART | Forward | 6' 8" | U.S.A.; second season, after 3 seasons with Sheffield |
| 4 | Chez MARKS | Guard | 6' 3" | U.S.A.; Morehead State. Injured, released Feb 06 |
| Robert SARGEANT | Forward | 6' 7" | Tampa. Signed '05; released Jan '06 | |
| Lijah PERKINS | Forward | Joined '05, released Jan '06 | ||
| Quincy WADLEY | Guard | 6' 4" | Temple University, Philadelphia. Signed mid-October '05. Cut Xmas 05 | |
| Nate JOHNSON | Guard | 6' 4" | U.S.A.; Union Olimpija Ljubljana and Florida State. Released mid-October 05 | |
| Jerry WILLIAMS | Forward | 6' 5" | USA; from Rocks, 2004. Left Summer '05. Joined Bears Nov. '05 | |
| Robbie PEERS | Coach | Third season (to 2006) | ||
| Joe LOFTHOUSE | Ass. Coach | |||
|
|
| LEAGUE RECORD: | ||||||
| EBL3: | 2005-2007 | P. 32 | W. 24 | L. 8 | Runners-up, EBL3 South, 2006, 2007 | |
| HONOURS: | |||
| EBL3 Championship Final | 2007 | ||
| Runners-up, EBL3 South | 2006, 2007 | ||
| U-20 Cup Finalists: | 2002; 2005 | ||
|
VENUE:
CRYSTAL PALACE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE,
Ledrington
Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19 2BL. From North: M1 to Junction 1, left on A406 then right onto A41 as far as Swiss Cottage. In one-way system go straight on, to Regents Park, then left onto A5205 as far as Camden. Follow A4200 (Camden High St.) past Euston Station; cross Euston Road onto A420. Cross Waterloo Bridge and follow A301 to Elephant & Castle; A3 then A23 through Brixton to Streatham. Turn left into Streatham Common and follow A214 through to Crystal Palace. From South: M23 then A23 towards Croydon. A232 to Croydon, and A212 to Crystal Palace. |
Towers' second team entered EBL3 in 2005, moving up from the U20’s where they were National Cup Finalists. The Team competed well in the division and because of narrowly losing a game early in the season finished 2nd in the EBL3 (South East). When Towers I took their "sabbatical", the division 3 team effectively became the first team.
The club has a team at all age groups boys, girls, women’s and men playing County and National league, over the years the programme has produced many players for area, regional and National squads representing both England and Wales, competing in European Championships. Three Towers Juniors currently attend High school in the US, another plays for an academy team in Spain.
The club also runs a school of basketball at Crystal Palace, London Towers annual summer camp and other Basketball Events, as well as competing in Tournaments abroad. The club maintains close links with all local schools, sports centres and colleges.
2007-8 Roster:
Names in bold have signed or re-signed for new season.
Names in red have departed.
Names in green are new to the team.
| PLAYER | Height | |||
| 9 | Karolis STEPANAVICIUS | Forward | 6' 4" | Lithuanian. Ex-Towers U-18/U-20 |
| 14 | Armand ANEBO | Forward | 6' 4" | Ex-Towers U-18/U-20 |
| 11 | Avelino ANTONIO | Forward | 6' 3" | Ex-Towers U-18/U-20 |
| 8 | Ian BERRY | Guard | 6' 0" | From Brighton Bears U18’s, 2006 |
| 13 | Theo BLOSSOM (Capt.) | Forward | 6' 3" | |
| 24 | Max CURLE | Forward | 6' 2" | |
| 23 | Lee HARRIS | Forward | 6' 2" | |
| 6 | Joe LAWLOR | Forward | 6' 3" | Ex-Towers U-18/U-20 |
| 21 | Ben LAWMANN | Forward | 6' 5" | 2006 |
| 4 | Jarome LONGVILLE | Forward | 6' 4" | Ex-Towers U-20. From Towers I |
| 25 | Tijan MOHAMMED | Forward/Centre | 6' 7" | |
| 5 | Kola ODENIYI | Guard | 5' 11" | Ex-C Palace Jrs. Coached at London Utd; player/coach at Thames Valley Uni. 2006 |
| 26 | Raimondas PRANCKUS | Lithuanian. From Towers' U-18s, 2006 | ||
| 20 | Edwin SAAYENG | Guard | 5' 11" | |
| 10 | Seb SPRINGALL | Guard | 5' 10" | |
| 12 | Carl WILLIAMS | Forward | 6' 5" | Kingston Univ. 2006 |
| 15 | Tayo OGEDEGEBE | Forward | 6' 4" | 2006. To PAWs, 2007 |
| Gary LYTTLE | Coach | |||
| Warren BOBB | Ass Coach | |||