Birmingham Athletics
Encyclopedia
Birmingham Athletics, formerly called and often still referred to as Aston Athletics, is a basketball
team based in Birmingham
, England
.
The club was founded in 2004, as Aston Athletics, to play at the Aston Events Centre
, which had just been vacated by Birmingham Bullets
. Starting out in English Basketball League
Division 3 West, they enjoyed excellent rookie season which saw them lift the Men's Shield and finish second in the league, but only on countback in games against winners Plymouth Raiders II
. They also reached the semi-finals of the EBL3 Play-offs. and promotion to EBL Division 2 followed.
The team relocated, from Aston Events Centre to Birmingham Sports Centre in 2006, and, following the demise of Birmingham Bullets, the club changed its name to Birmingham Athletics to reflect its status as the only National League team representing the city.
Athletics currently compete in the EBL Division 2, which is the third-tier league, though they have previously stated their desire to turn professional with a move into the British Basketball Association
for the 2007-08 season. The club announced their application to the proposed professional, set to rival the long-established British Basketball League
, on 19 February, 2007, following on from fellow Midlands
team Coventry Crusaders
, to become only the second team to join the new league.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The club was founded in 2004, as Aston Athletics, to play at the Aston Events Centre
Aston Events Centre
The Aston Events Centre is an indoor sports and event venue, located in Birmingham, England.Formerly called Aston Villa Leisure Centre, the venue is situated adjacent to Villa Park football stadium, home of Aston Villa F.C...
, which had just been vacated by Birmingham Bullets
Birmingham Bullets
The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
. Starting out in English Basketball League
English Basketball League
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
Division 3 West, they enjoyed excellent rookie season which saw them lift the Men's Shield and finish second in the league, but only on countback in games against winners Plymouth Raiders II
Plymouth Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders, officially called UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders for sponsorship reasons, is South-west England's leading basketball team. Based in the city of Plymouth, they play their home games at the Pavilions arena and have competed in the top-tier British Basketball League since 2004...
. They also reached the semi-finals of the EBL3 Play-offs. and promotion to EBL Division 2 followed.
The team relocated, from Aston Events Centre to Birmingham Sports Centre in 2006, and, following the demise of Birmingham Bullets, the club changed its name to Birmingham Athletics to reflect its status as the only National League team representing the city.
Athletics currently compete in the EBL Division 2, which is the third-tier league, though they have previously stated their desire to turn professional with a move into the British Basketball Association
British Basketball Association
The British Basketball Association, or BBA for short, is a proposed professional basketball league in the United Kingdom.The league is backed by a group of American and UK investors and advisers, some of which include former NBA players A. C. Green and John Amaechi, technology entrepreneur Ken...
for the 2007-08 season. The club announced their application to the proposed professional, set to rival the long-established British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
, on 19 February, 2007, following on from fellow Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
team Coventry Crusaders
Coventry Crusaders
The Coventry Crusaders is a Coventry-based basketball team competing in Division 1 of the English Basketball League. They play their home games at the Coventry Sports Centre, alternatively at the North Solihull Sports Centre, and the junior teams play at the Coventry Sports Centre...
, to become only the second team to join the new league.