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SOLENT STARS |
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VENUE:
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FACILITIES: 1980s Leisure Centre, with standard cafe, bar and recreational facilities. |
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Solent were the first "manufactured" team; put together from scratch by millionaire owner Harry Smith in 1980, they won the (then) Division 2 with ease, and had a decade of success in the top flight, with three consecutive Cup wins, one League title and one play-off Championship.
Survived a bankruptcy scare in late '80s, when player TJ Robinson put together a rescue package, but forced to withdraw in 1990 for financial reasons.
Re-entered the (then) Division 3 in 1991, becoming the first team to win all three divisions as they won promotion at the first attempt.
After a moderate five years back in NBL 1, they were relegated to NBL 2 for the '97-'98 season, but bounced straight back with another title. With veterans Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish in the team they won the NBL 1 title in 1999, and became founder-members of the NBL Conference in 2000.
They run an excellent development programme throughout the age groups, and the U-18 Men, U-18 and U-16 Women and under-20 Men have all reached the Final Four of their respective competitions in recent years. Based on that development programme, Solent reintroduced a Women's National League team in 2003, and then entered a second men's team into the League (EBL 3 East) in 2004.
In 2007, Fleming Park Leisure Centre declined to continue to allow Solent to continue to play there, and the team withdrew from the EBL, pre-season, at the beginning of September.
2006-7 Men's Roster:
Names in red have departed, following the team's withdrawal from EBL 1, in 2007.
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PLAYER |
Height |
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| Rob BAWDEN | 2006 | |||
| Kay LAVAL | 2006. Solent Academy | |||
| Gavin FRECKLINGTON | Guard | 2006 | ||
| Darren MASON | Forward | 6' 9" | 2006 | |
| Earl MOORE | Guard/Forward | 6' 3" | 2006. Feather River College, Quincy, California and Nebraska Cranes (USBL) | |
| Ben STANLEY | Joined, Jan 06. | |||
| John WILKINS | 6' 8" | 2006 | ||
| Liam WYATT | From Solent II, 2006 | |||
| Sebastian ZWOLAK | 2006. Polish. | |||
| Antonio BRIGHT | Joined mid-November '06. To West Herts, 2007 - and on to Leopards | |||
| Clayton MILNER | From Solent II. To Portsmouth Pirates, 2007 | |||
| Nick O'HARABE | Re-signed, Jan. '07. To Derby, Oct. 07. | |||
| Ryan PAYNE | From Solent II. To Portsmouth Pirates, 2007 | |||
| Craig TEESDALE | From Solent II. To Portsmouth Pirates, 2007 | |||
| Kerry KIRBY | Coach | From USA, 2006 | ||
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LEAGUE RECORD: |
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EBL 3: |
2004-2005 |
P. 18 |
W. 16 |
L. 2 |
EBL3 (East) Champions, 2005 |
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HONOURS: |
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EBL 3 (East) Champions |
2004-2005 |
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EBL 3 Championship Finalists: |
2004-2005 |
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Solent entered a second team, into EBL Division 3 East, in 2004.
Won Division 3 (East), and reached Championship Final in first season. Offered promotion to EBL2, but declined.
Withdrew before start of 2006-7 season.
Roster, 2005-2006:
Names in bold have re-signed for new season.
Names in green are new signings.
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PLAYER |
Height |
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| Yaz Al-HAKIM | ||||
| Gary BEALE | Southampton | |||
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Alex BYRNE |
Point Guard |
6’ 2” |
Returns from Bognor, 2005 |
| CHUBB | ||||
| Carl DUKE | ||||
| Matt EVERITT | ||||
| Neil KELLY | ||||
| Marty PAGE | ||||
| Michael PEEL | Also with Solent I | |||
| Laurent ROSSI | ||||
| Lawrence ROWE | ||||
| Jonathan RUMSEY | From Solent I | |||
| SMITHSON | ||||
| Craig TEESDALE | From U-18 | |||
| John TITCOMBE | From U-18 | |||
| Chris WATSON | ||||
| Liam WYATT | ||||
| Chris GLOVER | 6' 2" |
From Solent I, 2004 |
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Duane LAIGHT |
Guard |
5' 10" |
From Solent I, 2004 |
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| Ian CHAMBERS | ||||
| Ian CRABB | ||||
| Jeremy DARIOS | ||||
| Trevor DONALDSON | ||||
| David MEAD | ||||
| Carl MOYSE | ||||
| Mick BYRNE |
Coach |
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