Established 1984 Website CheshirePhoenix.com Founded 1984 | Team colours Blue and White Head coach Robbie Peers | |
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History Ellesmere Port Jets1984–1988Chester Jets1988–2007Cheshire Jets2007–2012Cheshire Phoenix2012–present Profiles | ||
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The Cheshire Phoenix is a professional basketball team based in Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom. Founded in 1984, they are members of the British Basketball League and play their home games at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village. Under previous ownership, the team was known as Cheshire Jets, but due to financial difficulties the franchise was withdrawn from the League in November 2012 and was replaced by the Phoenix. From 1993 until 2015 the team was based in Chester, where they enjoyed their most success.
Contents
- Manchester giants v cheshire phoenix 11 12 16
- Manchester giants v cheshire phoenix bbl cup 9 10 16
- Origin
- Arena
- Home arenas
- Season by season records
- League
- Playoffs
- Trophy
- Cup
- Notable former players
- Retired numbers
- References
At the end of the 2014-2015 season, John Coffino left the team and was replaced by John Lavery, whose tenure came to an end in May 2016. Following the 2016/17 season, the Phoenix replaced John Lavery as head coach with former player and Irish National coach Colin O'Reilly. However, after a difficult start to the season, January 2017 saw the return of Robbie Peers as head coach some 13 years after his departure to the now-defunct London Towers.
Manchester giants v cheshire phoenix bbl cup 9 10 16
Origin
The team was first formed from the ruins of the Ellesmere Port team, the St Saviour's in 1984. The team was initially named after their sponsors 'Motocraft Centre Ellesmere Port'. However, after the loss of their sponsor, they renamed themselves Ellesmere Port Jets.
The Jets were admitted to NBL Division 2 in 1986 and finished last in their first season, with just a single victory. Edging up to seventh in 1987–88, they then changed their name to Cheshire Jets, though still continuing to play in Ellesmere Port. They continued a steady mid-table development until, in 1991, they won the divisional title despite suffering five defeats. The same year, the Jets moved up into the BBL joining in with Britain's elite basketball teams. Later however, the arena in Ellesmere Port became unsuitable, and so in 1993 the Jets were forced to move to Chester, and into the Northgate Arena. The move was reflected in another name change to the Chester Jets.
The real turning point for the Jets came in 1996, when the application of the Bosman ruling to basketball resulted in the departure of many of the top English players to European clubs, and the BBL changed its eligibility rule to entitle teams to use five non-national players.
Trans-Atlantic recruitment by coach and co-owner Mike Burton resulted in a team which finished fifth in the League table in 1997. Subsequent seasons have seen their best-ever performances in 2002 (Northern Conference Champions) and 2003 (3rd in the re-unified League), and a string of successes in the BBL trophy (4-times winners, from 2001 to 2004), culminating in the League Championship in 2005.
On 7 April 2007, prior to the Jets' season finale at home to Guildford Heat, an 81–102 defeat, club owner and head coach Mike Burton announced that he would be retiring from the franchise at the end of the 2006–07 season. Burton's announcement, after 19 years at the helm, raised serious doubts of the clubs' future, with mounting debts and lack of financial backing. Shortly after the announcement, fans formed a committee to help save the club and received the backing of players including former Jet James Hamilton. Following a sponsorship deal agreed during the summer of 2007 with local firm BiG Storage to save the club and preserve their future, the Jets was renamed as the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets to cover the wider demographic of Cheshire county in line with BiG Storage's market coverage. When BiG Storage terminated the sponsorship, the managing director of the company arranged a successor sponsor; Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The club was plunged into chaos in November 2012 when, after only 7 games into the season, the British Basketball League withdrew the club's franchise from owner Haydn Cook after he notified them that he was going to cancel the players contracts and cancelled all future fixtures.
A statement from the BBL said: "The BBL have withdrawn the Cheshire franchise from its operating company with immediate effect.
"The decision follows an urgent review of the franchise following notification from the club that they were unable to fulfil their fixture this weekend. The BBL is currently exploring a number of options to ensure the continuation of the franchise. It is anticipated there will be a further announcement in the coming days." (Cheshire Chronicle)
The club had until the end of November to find £50,000 to preserve its status in top-flight basketball. Local businesses were found to donate money and become sponsors, thus saving the club and fulfilling its fixture list as planned.
Arena
The Phoenix have secured anchor tenant status at the new Ellesmere Port Sports Leisure and Village which is due to open in 2015 and this will be their new home with a brand new 1400 seat arena.
Home arenas
Ellesmere Port Leisure Centre (1984–1993)Northgate Arena (1993–2015)Cheshire Oaks Arena (2015–present)Season-by-season records
Notes: From 1999 to 2002 the BBL operated a Conference system where Chester Jets competed in the Northern Conference.
Initially, the 2012-2013 season saw the franchise start the campaign as Cheshire Jets, until the franchise changed hands and the club was forced to rebrand. The supporters were given the opportunity to vote for the new club name, where "Cheshire Phoenix" was selected going forward.