433:, the Birmingham Mail confirmed an application to move the franchise to Telford for the following season had been made by owner Herman Wilson, citing a lack of suitable venues in Birmingham as his main reason. The move fell apart however after Telford's backers pulled out, but with renewed interest from the Aston Events Centre, the possibility of remaining in Birmingham looked increasingly likely. However it was officially announced on 4 June that the Panthers franchise had been withdrawn from the BBL and folded. Despite the ill-fated outcomes Birmingham-based franchises, there is still keen interest in bringing top-level basketball back to the city, with a group headed by Bullets legend and Panthers general manager
184:
143:
114:
198:
157:
31:
417:
suited up for the
Panthers with a contract ready to sign to fulfill the Birmingham Panthers roster for the rest of the 2007/08 season. Though the club were seriously considering a move to Telford on a permanent basis (with the possibility of keeping the Birmingham name), the league confirmed that no
367:
After having to uproot venue from Aston to
Nechells, the club were forced again to seek alternative venues to stage home games as the cost and facilities available at their new home did not suit the club. Just days before their first home fixture, against Leicester on 6 October, the Birmingham Mail
288:
On 23 March 2007 it was officially confirmed that
Birmingham would be part of the mass-expansion of the BBL, with former Bullets assistant coach Herman Wilson leading a consortium of investors behind the project. Behind the scenes both the BBL and Wilson worked fast to establish a franchise amid
408:
After failing to attract a decent fanbase and support from investors in
Birmingham, owner Herman Wilson switched two games to the TCAT Arena at Telford College, rebooting the idea of moving the franchise to Telford permanently despite earlier block's from the
316:, Wilson was keen to stress that the new club is attempting to cut any links to the former Bullets franchise. Wilson also claimed the Bullets name was not chosen for the new franchise because of connotations with gun crime, a move that was taken by the
340:
On 11 September it was announced that due to health and safety risks, the Aston Events Centre was not in a suitable condition to host
Panthers' home games, thus a search for an alternative venue was conducted at short notice. The
914:
391:
led the Wolves' scoring with 32. A long and difficult season ensued for the
Panthers, who managed to notch up only 6 victories throughout the whole league campaign, coupled with first round exits in both the
413:
Manager/Owner Tom Sunley help back the idea to move to telford by selling out the 500 seater TCAT Arena. Having two young guns sign for the panthers helped the spot light on the idea. Sean Jones and
684:
941:
372:, 35 miles north of Birmingham. Defeating the object of Panthers' franchise application, the BBL blocked the move in an attempt to keep basketball in Birmingham, and after discussions with the
612:
177:
136:
356:
in a Pre-Season friendly. Unfortunately for
Panthers fans, the team lost 108-81. Luck didn't change a week later when the Panthers took to the court in their first ever league game, away to
191:
150:
308:, a former home of both the Bullets and Athletics, hosting all home games of the new team, with a move to a future arena already planned. Rumours abound that former Bullets coach
868:
799:
1011:
591:
918:
822:
845:
1567:
400:. Their Trophy game with Worcester was switched to the NIA, former home of the Bullets, in a one-off showpiece game but were pipped to the honours losing 91-95.
776:
418:
official request had been made and that the move was only temporary in a bid to promote the club. The team was comfortably beaten in both games at
Telford by
707:
891:
345:
and
Birmingham Sports Centre were both considered, however the board settled on the 500-seat capacity Nechells Community Sports Centre on Rupert Street in
1582:
1004:
753:
730:
638:
1572:
329:
289:
speculation of potential rival league the
British Basketball Association announcing their own Birmingham franchise for the following season, the
1354:
1562:
361:
360:, who defeated them with a similar scoreline, 101-79. The fact that none of Birmingham's import players had yet arrived only added to Coach
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1424:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1404:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1294:
519:
253:
1577:
997:
364:'s woes, and just a few days later the clubs' dream of returning professional basketball to the city of Birmingham hung in the balance.
1557:
1283:
1552:
1531:
1255:
256:, but following a disastrous season and a lack of organisation, the franchise ceased operations in 2008, lasting just one year.
1521:
1516:
1270:
273:, one of British basketball's most successful franchises, Birmingham was left without a major basketball team for the
1156:
301:
274:
410:
324:(formerly called Bullets) in 1995. Instead, the name Panthers was opted for in reference to former BBL franchise
1495:
966:
1106:
30:
1490:
1076:
980:
446:
373:
312:
would be hired by the club were rapidly quashed by Wilson. In the same interview with regional newspaper
79:
1244:
1151:
586:
661:
1141:
1020:
525:
387:. They won the game 98-86 with Daniel Sandell led all scorers with 38 points for the Panthers, while
249:
237:
41:
434:
1265:
1194:
1126:
1184:
282:
93:
342:
380:
Campus Sports Centre as the home venue for all of the clubs' games for the upcoming season.
1214:
1066:
1061:
290:
8:
1179:
1131:
305:
1136:
1086:
1041:
1036:
325:
321:
285:, every effort was made for Birmingham to return to the fold for the following season.
270:
205:
164:
296:
Within weeks of the initial announcement it was confirmed on 18 April by the BBL that
281:, elected to the BBL to replace the Bullets and retain professional basketball in the
1161:
1240:
1224:
1219:
1209:
1199:
1189:
1171:
1121:
1071:
426:, and the club returned to their usual home venue for the remainder of the season.
423:
419:
384:
357:
353:
278:
1111:
1091:
984:
313:
309:
971:
1096:
1056:
1051:
581:
430:
414:
245:
1546:
1166:
1146:
1101:
989:
1526:
1204:
388:
383:
On 21 October the Panthers got their first BBL win at home to local rivals
352:
Panthers played their inaugural match away on 16 September at local rivals
328:, where Wilson started his career as a basketball coach as an assistant to
1116:
1081:
1511:
1250:
556:
397:
233:
89:
429:
On 17 April, two days before the final game of the season at home to
346:
1260:
975:
563:
393:
377:
369:
241:
113:
942:"Bid to reform Birmingham Bullets held up by lack of home HQ"
437:
currently seeking to reignite interest and start a new team.
300:
would be the eleventh franchise taking to the court for the
368:
broke the news that the club were planning to relocate to
509:
317:
269:
Following the demise and eventual liquidation of the
632:
630:
627:
244:. Established in 2007, the franchise competed in
1544:
264:
869:"End of the road looms for Birmingham Panthers"
774:
1568:Defunct basketball teams in the United Kingdom
376:, a deal was struck on 2 October to use their
1019:
1005:
705:
682:
636:
610:
939:
912:
889:
866:
843:
820:
800:"Birmingham Panthers set to play in Telford"
797:
754:"Panthers banned from making Telford switch"
751:
728:
18:Basketball team in Birmingham, West Midlands
456:
447:University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus
277:. Though many Bullets fans defected to the
1012:
998:
659:
1583:Basketball teams disestablished in 2008
1532:Timeline of basketball on UK television
1573:Former British Basketball League teams
1545:
846:"Panthers switch not for good... yet!"
993:
335:
1563:Basketball teams established in 2007
915:"Panthers fold as BBL pull the plug"
823:"Panthers may be on move to Telford"
708:"Herman: Why we fired Bullets brand"
613:"Basketball team to replace Bullets"
259:
197:
156:
685:"Panthers ready to make Brum proud"
183:
142:
13:
1578:Sport in Birmingham, West Midlands
662:"New team to launch in Birmingham"
403:
14:
1594:
1558:2008 disestablishments in England
1271:Women's British Basketball League
960:
917:. Birmingham Mail. Archived from
731:"Panthers set to quit Birmingham"
1522:Scottish Basketball Championship
196:
189:
182:
175:
155:
148:
141:
134:
112:
29:
933:
906:
883:
860:
837:
814:
462:
1553:2007 establishments in England
791:
768:
745:
722:
699:
676:
653:
604:
440:
1:
777:"Panthers pipped to the post"
597:
265:Basketball back in Birmingham
639:"Venue change hits Panthers"
7:
660:BBC Sport (18 April 2007).
374:University of Wolverhampton
10:
1599:
1517:National Basketball League
575:
236:club based in the city of
1504:
1483:
1279:
1233:
1029:
1022:British Basketball League
892:"Herman may stay in Brum"
484:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
466:
463:
250:British Basketball League
218:
126:
122:
107:
99:
85:
75:
63:
55:
47:
42:British Basketball League
37:
28:
23:
1162:Manchester Giants (2012)
1157:Manchester Giants (1989)
981:Birmingham Panthers news
775:Birmingham Mail (2007).
457:Season-by-season records
298:Team Birmingham Panthers
230:Team Birmingham Panthers
349:as their final choice.
1185:Plymouth City Patriots
706:Collin Tattum (2007).
683:Collin Tattum (2007).
637:Collin Tattum (2007).
611:Collin Tattum (2007).
940:Colin Tattum (2007).
913:Colin Tattum (2007).
890:Colin Tattum (2007).
867:Colin Tattum (2007).
844:Colin Tattum (2007).
821:Colin Tattum (2007).
798:Colin Tattum (2007).
752:Colin Tattum (2007).
729:Colin Tattum (2007).
343:National Indoor Arena
248:top-tier league, the
232:) was a professional
1496:Most Valuable Player
1215:Thames Valley Tigers
1067:Caledonia Gladiators
1062:Calderdale Explorers
332:in the early 1990s.
291:Birmingham Athletics
1180:Olympic City Giants
1047:Birmingham Panthers
972:Birmingham Panthers
512:Birmingham Panthers
411:Shropshire Warriors
306:Aston Events Centre
226:Birmingham Panthers
68:Birmingham Panthers
24:Birmingham Panthers
1137:London City Royals
1087:Doncaster Panthers
1042:Birmingham Knights
1037:Birmingham Bullets
921:on 9 February 2012
336:Venue difficulties
326:Doncaster Panthers
322:Washington Wizards
271:Birmingham Bullets
80:UoW Walsall Campus
1540:
1539:
1491:Coach of the Year
944:. Birmingham Mail
894:. Birmingham Mail
871:. Birmingham Mail
848:. Birmingham Mail
825:. Birmingham Mail
802:. Birmingham Mail
779:. Birmingham Mail
756:. Birmingham Mail
733:. Birmingham Mail
710:. Birmingham Mail
687:. Birmingham Mail
641:. Birmingham Mail
615:. Birmingham Mail
573:
572:
452:TCAT Arena (2008)
260:Franchise history
222:
221:
214:
213:
1590:
1286:
1266:Cup Winners' Cup
1241:BBL Championship
1225:Worcester Wolves
1220:Worthing Thunder
1210:Surrey Scorchers
1200:Sheffield Sharks
1190:Plymouth Raiders
1172:Newcastle Eagles
1122:Leicester Riders
1072:Cheshire Phoenix
1023:
1014:
1007:
1000:
991:
990:
967:Official website
954:
953:
951:
949:
937:
931:
930:
928:
926:
910:
904:
903:
901:
899:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
864:
858:
857:
855:
853:
841:
835:
834:
832:
830:
818:
812:
811:
809:
807:
795:
789:
788:
786:
784:
772:
766:
765:
763:
761:
749:
743:
742:
740:
738:
726:
720:
719:
717:
715:
703:
697:
696:
694:
692:
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
634:
625:
624:
622:
620:
608:
552:Did not qualify
514:
461:
460:
424:Plymouth Raiders
420:Newcastle Eagles
385:Worcester Wolves
358:Leicester Riders
354:Worcester Wolves
279:Worcester Wolves
200:
199:
193:
192:
186:
185:
179:
178:
159:
158:
152:
151:
145:
144:
138:
137:
128:
127:
117:
116:
33:
21:
20:
1598:
1597:
1593:
1592:
1591:
1589:
1588:
1587:
1543:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1500:
1479:
1284:
1281:
1275:
1229:
1112:Guildford Kings
1107:Glasgow Rangers
1092:Durham Wildcats
1025:
1021:
1018:
985:Birmingham Mail
963:
958:
957:
947:
945:
938:
934:
924:
922:
911:
907:
897:
895:
888:
884:
874:
872:
865:
861:
851:
849:
842:
838:
828:
826:
819:
815:
805:
803:
796:
792:
782:
780:
773:
769:
759:
757:
750:
746:
736:
734:
727:
723:
713:
711:
704:
700:
690:
688:
681:
677:
667:
665:
658:
654:
644:
642:
635:
628:
618:
616:
609:
605:
600:
578:
510:
473:Regular Season
459:
443:
406:
404:Move to Telford
338:
314:Birmingham Mail
310:Tony Garbelotto
267:
262:
228:(official name
210:
209:
202:
201:
194:
190:
187:
180:
176:
169:
168:
161:
160:
153:
149:
146:
139:
135:
111:
103:Black and White
70:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1596:
1586:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1538:
1537:
1535:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1514:
1508:
1506:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1498:
1493:
1487:
1485:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1291:
1289:
1277:
1276:
1274:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1237:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1176:Oldham Celtics
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1132:London Capital
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1097:Essex Leopards
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1077:Crystal Palace
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1057:Bristol Flyers
1054:
1052:Brighton Bears
1049:
1044:
1039:
1033:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1017:
1016:
1009:
1002:
994:
988:
987:
978:
969:
962:
961:External links
959:
956:
955:
932:
905:
882:
859:
836:
813:
790:
767:
744:
721:
698:
675:
652:
626:
602:
601:
599:
596:
595:
594:
589:
584:
582:Josh Crutchley
577:
574:
571:
570:
567:
560:
553:
550:
547:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
522:
516:
515:
507:
506:
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
487:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
458:
455:
454:
453:
450:
442:
439:
431:Everton Tigers
415:Josh Crutchley
405:
402:
337:
334:
302:2007-08 season
275:2006-07 season
266:
263:
261:
258:
254:2007-08 season
220:
219:
216:
215:
212:
211:
203:
195:
188:
181:
174:
173:
172:
170:
162:
154:
147:
140:
133:
132:
131:
124:
123:
120:
119:
109:
105:
104:
101:
97:
96:
87:
83:
82:
77:
73:
72:
65:
61:
60:
57:
53:
52:
49:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1595:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1550:
1548:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1509:
1507:
1503:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1488:
1486:
1482:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1278:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1256:All-Star Game
1254:
1252:
1249:
1246:
1242:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1232:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1167:Mersey Tigers
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1152:London United
1150:
1148:
1147:London Towers
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1102:Essex Pirates
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1024:
1015:
1010:
1008:
1003:
1001:
996:
995:
992:
986:
982:
979:
977:
973:
970:
968:
965:
964:
943:
936:
920:
916:
909:
893:
886:
870:
863:
847:
840:
824:
817:
801:
794:
778:
771:
755:
748:
732:
725:
709:
702:
686:
679:
663:
656:
640:
633:
631:
614:
607:
603:
593:
592:Craig Hopkins
590:
588:
587:Adam Williams
585:
583:
580:
579:
568:
565:
561:
558:
554:
551:
548:
545:
542:
539:
536:
533:
530:
528:
527:
523:
521:
518:
517:
513:
508:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
488:
451:
448:
445:
444:
438:
436:
432:
427:
425:
421:
416:
412:
401:
399:
395:
390:
386:
381:
379:
375:
371:
365:
363:
359:
355:
350:
348:
344:
333:
331:
330:Curtis Xavier
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
294:
292:
286:
284:
283:West Midlands
280:
276:
272:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
217:
208:
207:
171:
167:
166:
130:
129:
125:
121:
118:Herman Wilson
115:
110:
106:
102:
98:
95:
94:West Midlands
91:
88:
84:
81:
78:
74:
69:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
43:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
16:
1527:National Cup
1245:BBL Playoffs
1234:Competitions
1205:Solent Stars
1142:London Lions
1046:
1030:Former Teams
946:. Retrieved
935:
923:. Retrieved
919:the original
908:
896:. Retrieved
885:
873:. Retrieved
862:
850:. Retrieved
839:
827:. Retrieved
816:
804:. Retrieved
793:
781:. Retrieved
770:
758:. Retrieved
747:
735:. Retrieved
724:
712:. Retrieved
701:
689:. Retrieved
678:
666:. Retrieved
655:
645:11 September
643:. Retrieved
617:. Retrieved
606:
569:Nigel Lloyd
524:
511:
476:Post-Season
428:
407:
389:Anthony Paez
382:
366:
351:
339:
297:
295:
287:
268:
229:
225:
223:
204:
163:
100:Team colours
67:
15:
1117:Leeds Force
1082:Derby Storm
948:25 November
925:25 November
898:25 November
875:25 November
852:25 November
829:25 November
806:25 November
783:25 November
562:1st round (
555:1st round (
505:Win %
485:Head coach
449:(2007-2008)
441:Home arenas
435:Clive Allen
362:Nigel Lloyd
304:, with the
252:during the
48:Established
1547:Categories
1512:BBL Player
1251:BBL Trophy
1195:Portsmouth
1127:Livingston
598:References
398:BBL Trophy
238:Birmingham
234:basketball
90:Birmingham
760:2 October
737:1 October
467:Division
246:Britain's
108:Ownership
71:2007-2008
714:19 April
691:19 April
668:19 April
619:24 March
409:league.*
347:Nechells
86:Location
1475:2023–24
1470:2022–23
1465:2021–22
1460:2020–21
1455:2019–20
1450:2018–19
1445:2017–18
1440:2016–17
1435:2015–16
1430:2014–15
1425:2013–14
1420:2012–13
1415:2011–12
1410:2010–11
1405:2009–10
1400:2008–09
1395:2007–08
1390:2006–07
1385:2005–06
1380:2004–05
1375:2003–04
1370:2002–03
1365:2001–02
1360:2000–01
1355:1999–00
1350:1998–99
1345:1997–98
1340:1996–97
1335:1995–96
1330:1994–95
1325:1993–94
1320:1992–93
1315:1991–92
1310:1990–91
1305:1989–90
1300:1988–89
1295:1987–88
1280:Seasons
1261:BBL Cup
976:MySpace
576:Players
520:2007–08
502:Points
499:Losses
493:Played
490:Finish
479:Trophy
464:Season
394:BBL Cup
378:Walsall
370:Telford
242:England
64:History
1484:Awards
549:0.182
56:Folded
38:League
1505:Other
983:from
664:. BBC
534:12th
496:Wins
470:Tier
76:Arena
1285:List
950:2009
927:2009
900:2009
877:2009
854:2009
831:2009
808:2009
785:2009
762:2007
739:2007
716:2007
693:2007
670:2007
647:2007
621:2007
482:Cup
422:and
396:and
224:The
206:Away
165:Home
59:2008
51:2007
974:on
546:12
543:27
537:33
526:BBL
320:'s
318:NBA
1549::
629:^
566:)
564:BC
559:)
557:BT
540:6
531:1
293:.
240:,
92:,
1288:)
1282:(
1247:)
1243:(
1013:e
1006:t
999:v
952:.
929:.
902:.
879:.
856:.
833:.
810:.
787:.
764:.
741:.
718:.
695:.
672:.
649:.
623:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.