1984–85 National Basketball League season

The 1984–85 Carlsberg National Basketball League season was the thirteenth season of the National Basketball League formed in 1972.[1]
The league was sponsored by Carlsberg and the Kingston Kings completed a League & Cup double but Manchester United won the newly extended Play Off's.[2]

1984–85 National Basketball League season
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams14
Roll of Honour
National League championsKingston Kings
  National League runners-upManchester United
Play Off's championsManchester United
  Play Off's runners-upKingston Kings
National Cup championsKingston Kings
  National Cup runners-upManchester United

Team changes

The EBBA increased the first division to fourteen teams which resulted in a 26-match schedule which was warmly welcomed after the 36-match schedule of the previous season. Of the 13 existing teams, Brighton switched to Worthing and with new sponsors would be known as the Nissan Worthing Bears and Hemel Hempstead merged with the second division outfit Watford Royals to form Hemel & Watford Royals. The new fourteenth team was Telford Turbos who secured a new sponsor called Screen Stars.[3]

It was evident that as the season progressed many clubs had been spending beyond their means in recent years and were duly struggling to balance the books. The Solent Stars applied for voluntary liquidation in December 1984 despite leading the league and terminated the contract of their coach Jim Kelly and leading players to save money.
An extraordinary season continued in January 1985 when just a few days before the National Cup final Manchester United F.C. bought the FSO Cars Liverpool & Warrington club, renaming them for the final and relocating to Stretford.[4] The drama continued as Portsmouth F.C. attempted to takeover Solent Stars before a former Stars player TJ Robinson headed a consortium to save the club. Portsmouth F.C. then bought Telford Turbos (also in liquidation) and moved the team to Portsmouth.

Carlsberg League standings

First Division
Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1Kingcraft Kingston Kings262422930264048
2Manchester United +261972330207736
3Cottrills Manchester Giants261882377223536
4Solent Stars261792464230734
5Nissan Worthing Bears261792456232834
6Walkers Crisps Leicester2615112542245430
7Poundstretcher Hemel Watford Royals2615112390226130
8Bracknell Pirates2615112366245024
9Sunderland Maestros2612142410240524
10Blue Nun Crystal Palace Supersonics2612142378243324
11John Carr Doncaster Panthers2610162352244920
12Davenports Birmingham266202245245112
13Portsmouth +26125216625562
14Home Spare Bolton Bees26125242227822

Team changed name mid-season +[5]

Second Division
Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1McEwan Tyneside221841954166636
2Uxbridge Ducks221841804151936
3Calderdale Explorers221751955172634
4John Eld Derby Turbos221661907173032
5CAD Tower Hamlets221481786171228
6ANC Liverpool2212101780174624
7Swindon Rakers2210121768182120
8Glucodin Plymouth Raiders229131905189618
9Team Telecom Colchester227151786191114
10Camden & Hampstead225171757196910
11Team Wakefields Nottingham22319172920126
12Sandwell Mail22319162020436

Carlsberg playoffs

Quarter-finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Kingston KingsBracknell Pirates2-0
Manchester UnitedHemel Watford Royals2-0
Manchester GiantsLeicester1-2
Solent StarsWorthing Bears1-2

Semi-finals
venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 30, Wembley ArenaManchester UnitedWorthing Bears90-84
March 30, Wembley ArenaKingston KingsLeicester118-112

Third Place
venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 31, Wembley ArenaWorthing BearsLeicester99-89

Final
31 March 1985[6]
Manchester United 109–97 Kingston Kings
Pts: Colin Irish 47, Ed Bona 24, Will Brown 14 Pts: Steve Bontrager 28, Johnson 25, Clark 14, Doug Lloyd 12, Davis 10
Wembley Arena
Attendance: 9,000
Manchester Coach Joe Whelton
Kingston Coach Steve Bontrager

Kellogg's National Cup

Second round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Swindon RakersSperrings Solent Stars86-117
Cottrills Manchester GiantsSandwell Mail127-81
John Carr Doncaster PanthersTelford Turbos84-81
Crystal Palace SupersonicsCamden93-77
LSO Cars Warrington & LiverpoolMcEwan Tyneside84-70
Glucodin Plymouth RaidersNissan Worthing Bears89-108
Home Spare Bolton BeesWalkers Crisps Leicester105-116
Kingcraft Kingston KingsHemel Hempstead & Watford Royals85-84

Quarter-finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
LSO Cars Warrington & LiverpoolSperrings Solent Stars
Nissan Worthing BearsJohn Carr Doncaster Panthers78-80
Crystal Palace SupersonicsKingcraft Kingston Kings84-93
Cottrills Manchester GiantsWalkers Crisps Leicester105-98

Semi-finals
Leg Team 1 Team 2 Score
First LegLSO Cars Warrington & LiverpoolJohn Carr Doncaster Panthers82-80
Second LegJohn Carr Doncaster PanthersLSO Cars Warrington & Liverpool78-95
First LegCottrills Manchester GiantsKingcraft Kingston Kings97-98
Second LegKingcraft Kingston KingsCottrills Manchester Giants107-93

Final
Live on Channel 4
6 January 1985[7]
Kingston Kings 103–98 aet Manchester United
Pts: Steve Bontrager 37, Martin Clark 26, Danny Davis 16, Doug Lloyd 12, Andy Innell Pts: Colin Irish 28, Ed Bona 28, Will Brown 17, David Lloyd 14, Kevin Penny
Royal Albert Hall, London
Attendance: ?
Kingston Coach Steve Bontrager
Manchester Coach Joe Whelton

References
  1. Matthews & Morrison, Peter & Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  2. "Men's Senior League Winners". Basketball England.
  3. Nicholas Harling (6 November 1984). "Basketball". The Times. London.
  4. Nicholas Harling (4 January 1985). "Basketball". The Times. London.
  5. Carlsberg National Championship Finals 1985 programme, P.44
  6. Nicholas Harling (1 April 1985). "Basketball". The Times. London.
  7. Nicholas Harling (8 January 1985). "Basketball". The Times. London.

See also
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