Newcastle Eagles
| Newcastle Eagles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| League | BBL | ||
| Established | 1976 | ||
| History |
EPAB Washington 1976–1977 Sunderland Sunblest 1977-80 Sunderland Saints 1980-1983 Austin Rover Sunderland 1983-1984 Sunderland Maestros 1984-1985 Sunderland 1985-1986 Sunderland 76ers 1986-1990 Sunderland Saints 1990–1993 Sunderland Scorpions 1993–1995 Newcastle Comets 1995–1996 Newcastle Eagles 1996–present |
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| Arena |
Metro Radio Arena (Capacity: 6,500) 1995–2010 Sport Central (Capacity: 3,000) 2010–present |
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| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear | ||
| Team colours | Black and White | ||
| Main sponsor | Esh Group, Northumbria University, Northumbrian Water | ||
| Head coach |
  Fab Flournoy
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| Ownership |
Paul Blake
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| Website | Newcastle-Eagles.com | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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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.
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 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.
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