HISTORY:

Mansfield Express entered the League in 1998, in NBL Division 3, and within two seasons they had risen to second place and won the Championship (beating League champions Doncaster in a two-leg final).

"Promoted" to Division 2, they found themselves still in the third-ranked NBL Division, due to the introduction of the NBL Conference, but although they then finished seventh, the expansion of the Conference and Division 1 saw them promoted, along with seven other teams. That season they also reinforced their credentials as "cup" specialists, reaching the Final of the inaugural Men's Shield competition.

The following season, 2001-2, they finished sixth (albeit in a nine team league), but decided that the time had come to regroup, and, joining forces with West Nottingham College, they chose to drop down a division, into what now became EBL Division 3 (North).

The move proved successful, with a fourth place finish in 2004, and when Coventry made a late move from EBL2 to 1, to replace Plymouth who had moved into the BBL, Mansfield were the obvious choice to move back up to take their place.

An excellent first season back in EBL2 culminated in a highest-ever finish of second place, though they declined to apply for promotion to EBL1.

The following year brought another second place finish, and success in the Championship Final - but it also brought the demise of Mansfield Leisure Centre (demolished in the interest of "progress" ... and Tesco). The Express thus again declined promotion, while they spent a season "on the road", playing mainly at Jesse Boot Arena in Nottingham.

With coach Chris Squire opting to concentrate on coaching the second team, and with virtually the whole squad departing, the Express had to rebuild, and though they were boosted by recruits from the defunct Nottingham Knights, they finished 11th, and were relegated to EBL3.

During the 2007 close-season the club was taken over by Luna Group Ventures Limited, and renamed Luna Mansfield Stars. [External article].

The new owners planned to build the new Leisure centre in Mansfield, but when plans for this fell through, late in 2007, they withdrew their backing for the basketball team, which was thus forced to withdraw from EBL in January '08, in mid-season.

ALL-TIME COMPETITION RECORD

2007-8 Roster:

Names in bold have re-signed for new season.

Names in green are new signings.

Names in red have departed.