Doncaster Panthers

The Doncaster Panthers Basketball Club was established in 1954 by Morris Wordsworth and played out of Balby High School Gym in their formative years, then at various centres in Doncaster. Initially the team participated in an Anglo-American League based in a hanger on Doncaster Airport (where The Dome Leisure Centre is now) and the Sheffield and District League. In 1957, the Doncaster and District Basketball Association was formed with a League comprising seven teams.

In 1960, the Panthers participated in an International Basketball Tournament in Dublin. In 1961 and 1964, the Panthers played exhibition matches against US Menwith Hill of Harrogate and RAF Bomber Command respectively in the Doncaster Corn Exchange (no mean feat) and in 1965 played against St. Germain in France being the start of many twinned basketball visits between the two towns.

During the following years, the Club continued to develop with the Men’s team being winners of the Yorkshire Premier League (1962-1981) and Yorkshire Cup (1961-1982) on numerous occasions. During this period they also played for one season in the US Menwith Hill Base ‘Trick’ League. In 1967, the Club was successful in organising and participating in a World Record attempt, playing basketball non-stop for 28 hours 10 mins. 1968 saw the Panthers become the North of England Champions after beating Liverpool Police in the Vaux final.

The EBBA, now named Basketball England (BE) established the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1972 and the club playing as Wilson Panthers (Doncaster) gained entry to this elite competition for the 1973-74 season. This was the NBL’s second year of its existence and in 1987 it became the British Basketball League (BBL). The Club also registered as a limited liability company called Doncaster