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Calderdale Explorers

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Calderdale Explorers
LeagueNBL Division 3
Established1982
HistoryHalifax Hawks
1982-1983
Calderdale Explorers
1983-1992
Calderdale Explorers
2014–present
LocationHalifax, Yorkshire
Team coloursBlue and White
Team managerGlenn Hardaker
Head coachEugene Andrew
Websitecalderdaleexplorers.co.uk

The Calderdale Explorers are an English basketball club, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

The Explorers compete in English Basketball League Division 3 North. A previous incarnation of the club was a founding member of the British Basketball League, reaching the playoff semi-finals during the league's inaugural season in 1987-1988.

History

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The team was established as the Halifax Explorers in 1982, when they entered Division 2 of the National Basketball League. They changed their name to Calderdale after just one year, and in 1986 the club won promotion to Division 1, which was then the top tier of basketball in England.

In 1987, the Explorers joined 14 other teams from the National Basketball League (England) and Scottish National Basketball League to form the new British Basketball League. The Explorers were successful in the new top flight, finishing fifth in league competition and reaching the playoff semi-finals while also reaching the quarter-finals of the National Cup.[1] However, the club were forced to withdraw from the professional league after just one season, as they could not afford the court hire charge of just £14 at their North Bridge Leisure Centre venue. The club returned to competition in NBL Division 2 a year later in 1989, but ongoing financial issues meant the club soon folded in 1992, just a decade since they were founded.

The club was revived in 2014, initially as a junior club competing in local competitions. A senior National League team was added in March 2015, entering the National Development League for their first season before the league was rebranded as Division 4. A steady record for improvement culminated with winning the Division 4 (North) league title at the end of the 2017/2018 season, earning promotion to Division 3. The Explorers were coached in Division 3 by Peter Broderick, who played for the old club in the 1990s. [2]

Honours

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NBL Division 4 League Champions

  • 2018

Season-by-season records

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Season Division Tier Pos. Played Won Lost Points Win % Playoffs National Cup
Calderdale Explorers
1983-84 NBL D2 2 4th 24 16 8 32 0.667 1st round
1984-85 NBL D2 2 3rd 22 17 5 34 0.773 1st round
1985-86 NBL D2 2 1st 22 18 4 36 0.818 2nd round
1986-87 NBL D1 1 7th 24 10 14 20 0.417 Quarter-finals Semi-finals
1987-88 BBL 1 5th 28 20 8 40 0.714 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
1989-90 NBL D2 3 11th 20 3 17 6 0.150
1990-91 NBL D2 3 10th 22 7 15 14 0.318 2nd round
1991-92 NBL D2 3 11th 22 5 17 10 0.227
Calderdale Explorers
2015-16 Dev NW 5 5th 16 8 8 16 0.500 Did not qualify Did not compete
2016-17 D4 Nor 5 5th 18 11 7 22 0.611 Did not qualify 1st round
2017-18 D4 Nor 5 1st 21 19 2 38 0.905 Quarter-finals 3rd round
2018-19 D3 Nor 4 12th 22 2 20 4 0.091 Did not qualify Did not compete
2019-20 D3 Nor 4 4th 21 15 6 30 0.714 No playoffs Did not compete

References

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  1. ^ "BBL Competition History". BBL.org.uk.
  2. ^ "NBL League History". Basketball England.