The Crusaders History

History of the

Coventry Crusaders

From a dream to a team ... from a team to a community!

1992 / 1993 - The Beginning

Crusader basketball came to Coventry for the 1992/93 season. Starting in August, early season crowds of an average 180 over the first 3 games of the season had grown to about 500 by the end of the first competitive season in National League Division One.

Prime movers behind the team were Rob Bromfield as coach (on the right) and Dip Donaldson – captain and leader on the court. This photo also shows Bob Laventure (on the left) who was the Junior teams coach. In their first season, McDonalds was one of their main sponsors, with the team finishing a worthy mid- place in the table. A full scale coaching development programme began in Coventry and Warwickshire schools reaching some 50 children a week, with development coaches and Crusaders American star players, Matt Donaldson and Lane Schumaker. Half term basketball camps were held during the debut season and the first of the Crusader summer basketball camps was held at Warwick University for 50 children in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.