London Towers
Encyclopedia
London Towers was a professional basketball
team based in London
, England
. They were one of the most successful and recognised British
sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the British Basketball League
(BBL) as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague
and EuroCup
. They contested a fierce rivalry with fellow London team Greater London Leopards for much of this spell. After several years of decline with financial difficulties and venue issues, owner Costi Zombanakis pulled the first team from the BBL in the summer of 2006, though the team continued in the regional English Basketball League
, the London Towers brand folded in 2009.
, the London
-based team entered NBL
Division 2 in 1984. By 1989 they finished eleventh, out of the eleven teams in the league and were due to be relegated. However, the Carlsberg League Division 1
was suffering a membership crisis at the time and was about to be reduced to just seven teams. With the newly built Docklands Arena
available as a possible venue not too far from the team's base, the Tower Hamlets franchise was admitted to country's top professional league as London's representatives, rebranded as London Docklands for the 1989-90 season.
saw them finish third in 1993. In 1994 they moved to Wembley Arena
, and it was there that they enjoyed their best seasons, winning five titles in two seasons, from 1995 to 1997.
, however all did not go to plan and the London team were shamed with a 1-9 record in Group E, finishing in last place. The Towers made another appearance in Europe in 2001 when they took part in the prestigious Euroleague
, but again the Towers collapsed with a 0-14 record, good enough only for 8th place in Group B.
and splitting games between the two arenas until in 1999 they moved full time to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
.
In 2005, the Towers launched a second team, London Towers II, in the English Basketball League
as a stepping-stone for their development players. In their first season in Division 3, the team finished runners-up.
, for a "one year break". As a result, the second team London Towers II continued to fly the flag, competing in the English Basketball League
Division 3 while still operating all of is youth and development teams. Such a step had also been taken in the past by both Manchester Giants
(see Manchester Magic
) and Derby Storm
(see Derby Trailblazers
) and neither has yet returned to the top league.
The deadline for entry into the 2009-2010 English Basketball League had closed and London Towers failed to submit a team, therefore there will be no senior men's London Towers team for the foreseeable future.
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 London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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...
. They were one of the most successful and recognised British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the 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....
(BBL) as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and EuroCup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
. They contested a fierce rivalry with fellow London team Greater London Leopards for much of this spell. After several years of decline with financial difficulties and venue issues, owner Costi Zombanakis pulled the first team from the BBL in the summer of 2006, though the team continued in the regional 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....
, the London Towers brand folded in 2009.
High risers
Established as Tower Hamlets, in the borough of the same nameLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
, the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based team entered NBL
National Basketball League (United Kingdom)
The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:...
Division 2 in 1984. By 1989 they finished eleventh, out of the eleven teams in the league and were due to be relegated. However, the Carlsberg League Division 1
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....
was suffering a membership crisis at the time and was about to be reduced to just seven teams. With the newly built Docklands Arena
London Arena
The London Arena was an indoor arena and exhibition centre, on the Isle of Dogs, in East London, England...
available as a possible venue not too far from the team's base, the Tower Hamlets franchise was admitted to country's top professional league as London's representatives, rebranded as London Docklands for the 1989-90 season.
On the move again
The following season the Docklands team left the giant arena as they, in common with other basketball teams at the time, struggled with the cost of a big arena rent. They returned "home" to Tower Hamlets and the Newham Leisure Centre, although their first two seasons yielded just three League victories.The Towers rise
It was 1991 when the franchise which came to sit astride British basketball finally gained its most well-known label. Renamed London Towers, but still playing at Newham the club's fortunes turned around in the 1991-92 season, as they finished fourth, and a move to the Sobell Sports Centre in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
saw them finish third in 1993. In 1994 they moved to Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, and it was there that they enjoyed their best seasons, winning five titles in two seasons, from 1995 to 1997.
Euro Trip
The 1997-98 season saw the Towers make the European debut appearance, competing in the EuroCupSaporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
, however all did not go to plan and the London team were shamed with a 1-9 record in Group E, finishing in last place. The Towers made another appearance in Europe in 2001 when they took part in the prestigious Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
, but again the Towers collapsed with a 0-14 record, good enough only for 8th place in Group B.
Moving in Together
Once more though, in 1998 the Towers home venue proved too expensive and the team moved out of Wembley, "merging" with fellow BBL team Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace Basketball
Crystal Palace was a basketball team competing in the British Basketball League , until they merged with the London Towers in 1998. They played in the Crystal Palace Sports Centre and were one of the forerunners of the league in the mid-1990s....
and splitting games between the two arenas until in 1999 they moved full time to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
.
In 2005, the Towers launched a second team, London Towers II, in the 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....
as a stepping-stone for their development players. In their first season in Division 3, the team finished runners-up.
The End
Plans for their own Arena, linking with their community and development work, had been rumoured for several years but in 2006, the London Towers first team pulled out of BBLBritish 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....
, for a "one year break". As a result, the second team London Towers II continued to fly the flag, competing in the 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 while still operating all of is youth and development teams. Such a step had also been taken in the past by both Manchester Giants
Manchester Giants
Manchester Giants was a team in the British Basketball League from 1990 to 2001.During its existence, the team won the Trophy in 1999 and the BBL Championship in 2000. The tenure of coach Nick Nurse, which included these two seasons, was the most successful period in the club's history...
(see Manchester Magic
Manchester Magic
Manchester Magic is an English basketball team from Manchester, competing in the English Basketball League, Division 3. They play their home games at the Amaechi Basketball Centre, which was funded by former NBA star John Amaechi....
) and Derby Storm
Derby Storm
Derby Storm was a former British Basketball League franchise from the city of Derby, Derbyshire. The team took the decision to sit out the 2002-03 season after failing to find a suitable venue for home games...
(see Derby Trailblazers
Derby Trailblazers
Derby Trailblazers is a semi-professional basketball team from Derby, who compete in the English Basketball League Men's Division 1. The team was founded in 2002 from the feeder club of Derby Storm, the professional outfit competing in the British Basketball League, who went out of business during...
) and neither has yet returned to the top league.
The deadline for entry into the 2009-2010 English Basketball League had closed and London Towers failed to submit a team, therefore there will be no senior men's London Towers team for the foreseeable future.
Home arenas
- London ArenaLondon ArenaThe London Arena was an indoor arena and exhibition centre, on the Isle of Dogs, in East London, England...
(1989-1991) - Newham Leisure Centre (1991-1992)
- Sobell Sports Centre (1992-1994)
- Wembley ArenaWembley ArenaWembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
(1994-1999) - split games between Crystal Palace from 1998. - Crystal Palace Sports Centre (1998-2007) - split games between Wembley Arena until 1999.
- Harris Sports Centre http://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/CentreDetails.asp?cat=33 (2007-2009)
Trophies
- 1995/96 League Champions, National Cup Winners, League Trophy Winners
- 1996/97 Championship Winners, League Trophy Winners
- 1998/99 Tournament of Champions Winners, Championship Winners
- 1999/00 Southern Conference Champions, League Trophy Winners
- 2000/01 Tournament of Champions Winners, Southern Conference Champions