Newcastle Eagles

Updated on Dec 18, 2023

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League BBL Team colours Black and White Arena/Stadium Sport Central Founded 1976		Established 1976 Website Newcastle-Eagles.com Head coach Fabulous Flournoy Ownership Paul Blake

History EPAB Washington1976–1977Sunderland Sunblest1977-80Sunderland Saints1980-1983Austin Rover Sunderland1983-1984Sunderland Maestros1984-1985Sunderland1985-1986Sunderland 76ers1986-1990Sunderland Saints1990–1993Sunderland Scorpions1993–1995Newcastle Comets1995–1996Newcastle Eagles1996–present Main sponsor Esh Group, Northumbria University, Northumbrian Water Location Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom Profiles Twitter Facebook

Newcastle eagles vs manchester giants 30 09 2016

Newcastle Eagles (for sponsorship purposes Esh Group Eagles Newcastle) is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Holding the franchise for Tyne & Wear, they are the most successful team in the league's history. Since 2010, the Eagles have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city. Their traditional arch rivals are the Glasgow Rocks. However in recent years a rivalry with the Leicester Riders has also developed.

Newcastle eagles vs london lions 14 10 2016

New name, New arena

Sir John Hall, then chairman of Newcastle United FC bought the team shortly after their arrival in Newcastle; adding them to his Newcastle Sporting Group of the city's football, ice hockey and rugby teams. Hall's Sporting Club group was considered by most observers to be a relative failure and upon its dissolution, Ken Nottage and Paul Blake became the Eagles' new owners. The final name change, from the Comets to the Eagles, took place in 1996. Performances remained consistent with the club achieving regular top five league placings from 1998 onwards.

The "Clean sweep" of 2005–06

The 2005–06 season proved to be the most successful in their history so far when, under the guidance of player/coach Fabulous Flournoy, the club achieved a "clean sweep" of trophies, including the BBL Cup, BBL Trophy and Championship "double".

In addition, Flournoy picked up the BBL Coach of the Year and former Villanova Wildcat, Andrew Sullivan, was voted BBL Player of the Year. Flournoy, Sullivan and Andrew Bridge were also members of the bronze medal winning England team in the 2006 Commonwealth Games during March 2006.

Recent Times

At the start of the 2007–08 season it was announced that Nike and Northern Rock were to sponsor the Eagles, bringing in more money to the club. Also, the signing of Richard Midgley gave great hope that the eagles could challenge Guildford Heat to regain the BBL League title. However, after a bust up with player/coach, Fab Flournoy he soon left to join the Everton Tigers. This meant there was no point guard and this led to the signing of Bryan Defares who could not settle in England and he too left. Finally, at the third attempt, Steve Leven (former NBA prospect) was signed despite his bad boy reputation. After defeat in the BBL Cup, then later defeat in the BBL Trophy Final the Eagles were in danger of having a poor season. Fortunately, after a miraculous overtime win against Guildford Heat, they won the BBL League Title.

At the start of the 2008–09 season they were strengthened by the signing of Trey Moore from Cheshire Jets. After an indifferent start, they embarked on a 17 match winning run to become the first team for nearly two decades to retain the BBL title, finishing 8 points ahead of Everton Tigers. They also reached the Semi-Finals of the BBL Cup, losing narrowly to Everton Tigers on aggregate before gaining revenge by beating them home and away in the BBL Trophy Semi-Final. The Eagles beat Guildford Heat at The Spectrum in the Final. In the Play Offs they narrowly avoided an upset after seeing off Cheshire Jets 88–83 before beating Plymouth Raiders to form a match against Everton Tigers once again. Despite 30 points from ex-Eagles Richard Midgley, the Eagles held on for a 97–94 win, therefore winning the treble to cap off their most successful season since the clean sweep.

In the 2009–10 season the Eagles again retained the BBL title, finishing 2 points ahead of Sheffield Sharks. The league title actually came down to the last game of the season with Sheffield Sharks losing their last game of the season 97–95 to Worthing Thunder thanks to Evaldas Zabas' basket 4 seconds from the end. This completed the double for the Eagles who had won the BBL Trophy by beating 111–95 in the Final at The Spectrum. In the BBL Cup Eagles lost 64–61 in the Quarter Finals to Cheshire Jets and in the Play Offs Everton Tigers beat the Eagles 190–158 on aggregate in the two legged Semi-Final.

At the start of the 2010–2011 season it was announced that the Esh Group, along with partners Northumbria University and Northumbrian Water would be the new main sponsors of the Eagles. In the BBL Cup the Eagles were beaten 204–182 on aggregate by the Mersey Tigers in the Semi-Finals. Eagles had won the first leg at home 97–90 but lost the second leg away 114–85. It was the Mersey Tigers who would beat the Eagles in the Semi-Finals of the BBL Trophy also. After a rare first leg draw (82–82) away from home, the Eagles went down 77–74 at home.

The "Clean sweeps"

The club repeated the feat of 2005–06 by winning all of the trophies on offer in a season for a second time 2011–12. The previous season was the first time since 2003–04 that they had failed to win a trophy. They lost 7 league games, 3 less than in 2005–06, although this time around they were only required to play 30 games, 10 less than in 2005–06. They clinched the clean sweep with a victory over Leicester in the play off final on 12 May. And their hat-trick of sweeps was completed in 2014–15 with all four major prizes.

Home arenas

Metro Radio Arena (1995–2010)Sport Central (2010–Present)Courtside – 54East Stand – 368West Stand – 793South Stand – 835North Stand – 835

Club Records

Accurate as of 7 October 2014 (Includes BBL Championship games only)

3 pts scored – Russ Saunders 716

Assists – Fabulous Flournoy – 1,528

Blocked shots – Fabulous Flournoy – 320

Defensive rebounds – Fabulous Flournoy – 1,497

Field Goals scored – Charles Smith – 1,621

Free Throws scored – Charles Smith – 761

Games Played – Fabulous Flournoy – 393

Offensive Rebounds – Darius Defoe – 894

Personal Fouls – Fabulous Flournoy – 1,075

Points – Charles Smith – 5,897

Steals – Fabulous Flournoy – 605

Total Rebounds – Fabulous Flournoy – 2,139

Turnovers – Fabulous Flournoy – 910

League

BBL Championship Winners: 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15 7

BBL Championship Runners Up: 1990–91, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2015-16 5

Playoffs

BBL Championship Play Off Winners: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15 6

BBL Championship Play Off Runners Up: 1989–90, 1990–91, 2012–13, 2013–14 4

Trophy

BBL Trophy Winners: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2014–15 6

BBL Trophy Runners Up: 2000–01, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2015-16 4

Cup

BBL Cup Winners: 1990–91, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015-16 5

BBL Cup Runners Up: 1989–90, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14 4

Current roster

The following information is established according to the official websites of the team (www.newcastle-eagles.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).