The Crusader's History

Coventry Crusaders

1999/2000

History 1999/2000

After last season’s disappointing 8th placed finish the 1999/2000 season was to see the biggest ever change in playing personnel so far in the Crusaders history.

The first new face was that of Derrick Pope a 38 year old American born forward who had played for the last 14 years in National Division One in France and now held dual citizenship.

Pope and Crusader owner Dip Donaldson had played together years previously in Glasgow before Pope's switch to France.

Pope's signing was a great coup for Crusaders.

As signing the second highest points scorer in French Basketball history would do much to boost Crusader's chances in the new season.

Not only would Pope be showing his basketball skills on court, he was to become the Crusader Director of Coaching.

His job would be to oversee the running of the Crusader Foundation and co-ordinate the Schools and Community Programme.

News then came of the sensational return of Matt Donaldson, from America.

Donaldson junior had hung up his Crusader boots at the end of the 97/98 season but was now returning to revive the dynamic duo of himself and Club Captain Rick Solvason.

His return however, would mean the departure of last season’s American player Milek Jivons, due to the league’s restriction rule of only two non-Europeans per team.

By the end of July, Crusaders had completed their "French Connection" with the signing of two more French stars 27 year old Karim Houari a 6 ft point guard and 28 year old Pierre Bonneau a 6 ft 8" Centre.

Both had played for French Division 1 team St Brieuc.

Both had previously teamed up with Derrick Pope and both would be joining the Crusader community coaching staff.

It was not just the men's team that got a boost.

Donaldson signed up American university graduate Tiffany Mitchell to become player coach of the Crusader Ladies team in their bid to lift the Leicestershire Women's League Title.

Tiffany would also be helping with the Schools Coaching Programme.

The summer of `99 saw Crusaders and Coventry City Council, with support from Coventry's Police force, organising twice weekly training sessions at Stoke Aldermoore and Willenhall besides running two, four day Crusader summer camps sponsored by Maersk Air and Sportsmatch.

The dawning of a new season brought with it more changes.

Dip Donaldson took over as Head Coach of the now to be known Coventry BUPA Crusaders, as the team donned a new kit designed by Darren Weaver.

Weaver had played a little over two seasons for the club, but was now stepping down along side Jon Elsey, Dylan Bogg and Jimmy Smith, who all, due to work commitments were unable to make the new early morning training sessions.

With their departures and that of Robert Clarke who had gained an American College Scholarship, there was room in the team for a host of new talent.

Only four of last season's players remained as Crusaders welcomed Kevin Penny and Colin Rhooms from the now defunct Solihull Chiefs, Manny Sharland a young 24 year old guard from Thames Valley Tigers, as well as the return of former Crusader players Marvin Livingston and Andrew Laventure.

Manny Sharland would also be part of the newly formed Coventry Fly.

The Times were amongst the first to report:

" The owner of one of the countries leading basketball teams was launching a new side to go dunking for Christ."

Fly was to be used in conjunction with Crusaders and Coventry Youth For Christ, and use basketball as a way of introducing young people to Christianity.

Donaldson was pleased with the way his new look team performed in their pre season victory over USA Air Force Eagles 84-81.

The new season looked promising for Crusaders.

September saw the Crusader coach celebrate his 40th birthday with a friendly victory over Oxford Devils 94-71.

Crusader History was made as 14 year old Nicholas Pope stepped out on court alongside his father Derrick.

Nicholas became the youngest player to ever wear a senior vest, as well as the occasion seeing for the first time a Crusader father and son appear on the same team.

Crusader's had a tough season opener against defending league champions Solent Stars.

Donaldson was delighted with his teams stunning 89-78 victory.

However, a week later saw the shock departure of Crusader's new French star Karim Houari following a difference of opinion with his new coach during a mid week friendly with BBL side Birmingham Bullets.

The departure of the talented player upset things and saw Crusaders lose their next two league games.

However, the beginning of October would see Houari replaced as Ben Livingston returned to the Crusaders.

October also saw:

The Crusader Foundation launch the Central Venue League.

The Ł30,000 basketball league aimed at young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The Sky Dome announce that they had agreed to pay Ł80,000 for a basketball floor from Michigan USA.

The Crusader coaches where each working in 10-15 different schools every week.

News of the Crusader home games would be broadcast on Hospital Radio.

It was also the start of the Women's season.

The Crusader Ladies, who with the inclusion of Player/Coach Tiffany Mitchell and new signing Shari Pope(wife of Derrick), were aiming to build on their previous performances in the Leicestershire League in this their third season, won their opening game.

As Crusader moved in to November, the ladies had maintained their 100% record whilst the men were again adding to their numbers as they signed Mark Bradbury.

They were able to move up into 7th place in the league with a 42 point performance from Captain Rick Solvason as Crusaders at last returned to winning ways.

1999 drew to a close with the ladies on a high having won all six games played, whilst the men finished the year on equal terms won 5 lost 5.

The Sky Dome doors remained tightly closed as the opening date was extended further.

The New Millennium saw new owners for the Sky Dome Arena as Birmingham based Planet Ice took over the agreement that the Coventry City Council had with Rank Leisure.

The turn of the century had brought with it a turn of fortunes as the men registered a win in the opening game of the year against Westminster Warriors.

However, a month later would see the same team struggling again as their match statistics showed out of the 18 games played they had won just 8.

February also saw the first disappointment for the ladies as they fell to their first and only defeat for the season, when they went down by just 5 points to "Atherston A" in a cup match.

Despite their current league position Dip Donaldson thought that the time was right for him to launch a bid for Crusaders to play in the BBL Dairylea Dunkers League, based on the opportunity of playing at the Sky Dome Arena.

The Sky Dome were planning to provide an excellent basketball facility and it had been announced that the Arena was to become the home of English Basketball and would be playing host to the national team.

The Crusaders Wheelchair team found it so much easier to move into March as they were given Ł15,000 worth of lightweight sports wheelchairs. Ł5,320 of the purchase price had been donated by the Coventry Evening Telegraph Snow Ball appeal.

The Senior Men's team now seemed to have an uphill struggle on their hands as the end of the season approached.

This was not helped when back to back home games found them with no home court to play on.

Having expected to have moved to the Sky Dome as their new home court by this date, facilities were not available at the Sports Centre for these two games.

Much to the club's relief nearby Solihull came to the rescue and offered the use of their Sports Centre for the two fixtures.

This weekend also saw the shock announcement of the Departure of Team Captain Rick Solvason, one of the clubs most popular players.

In all Solvason had played for 6 of the clubs 8 year existence and had always been one of the clubs leading scorers.

Recent weeks however, had seen him struggling to maintain his form and so in the interest of the team the painful decision had been made to release him.

This news was followed up a week later with the announcement that the other half of the dynamic duo Matt Donaldson would be retiring at the end of the season.

The departure of both these stalwarts would bring the end of an era to Crusader Basketball.

The duo had between them put in 13 year's service to the Club both on and off the court.

One out of two at Solihull kept hopes alive that Crusaders could make the play offs for the eighth successive year.

This they achieved in dramatic style when they took on Birmingham Bullets B team at home.

With just 2 minutes 29 seconds left in the game Crusaders trailed by 13 points.

However, a dazzling final flurry and a match score of 39 points for the seasons Star signing Derrick Pope saw them snatch the victory and finish their league campaign in 7th place, securing a play off quarter final away to second place Worthing Thunder.

The ladies impressive season drew to a close with a 72 - 44 victory over Lancaster Bombers maintaining their unbeaten league record and their seasons overall record of 12 wins and just that one Cup loss in February.

The men's season also ended the same weekend as they went down 99 - 92 to Worthing in their play off quarter final.

Just one week after the Crusader season finished, April 15th heralded the long awaited and much delayed opening of the Sky Dome Arena.

The opening games were the quarter finals of the BBL’s Dairylea Dunkers Championships.

While the BBL played their quarter final at the Sky Dome the EBA announced Crusaders Derrick Pope to be their player of the month.

Pope in his opening Crusaders season had averaged 30 points a game.

The EBA also made its first announcement of the proposed Elite League.

This league was to be made up of the top clubs in the National League and had a very stringent criteria for entry.

Teams would require a 500 + seat home court facility, viable marketing strategy and commitment to youth development.

In return the teams involved could expect a much increased profile.

It would be confirmed within weeks that Crusaders would be playing in the new "Super League" that was to become known as the National Conference.

Two days after the Arena's opening, The Crusaders and the Sky Dome joined forces to welcome the Coventry Community into the Arena for an open day.

The day gave around 400 Coventry Kids an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the stadium, to meet their heroes and play along side them on the court that was to be Crusaders home court next season.

Dip Donaldson signed a one year contract to play next season’s home games in the Ł7 million stadium and plans got underway to stage Crusaders opening game in the Arena.

The Sky Dome’s General Manager, Simon Burdett, was quoted by the Coventry Evening Telegraph as saying,

" We are delighted that at last everything is fixed and the BUPA Crusaders will be playing here."

The Crusaders first Sky Dome game was fixed for 15th May.

Their opponents would be Rice University from Houston Texas.

The game sponsored by Computime promised to be a night of basketball entertainment and excitement.

There were many VIP guests along with guest players.

The game tipped off in front of a large crowd and amid much excitement, only to be stopped and later suspended due to an unsafe court, as condensation formed on the court's surface.

The Sky Dome officials placed the responsibility on freak weather conditions and spectator body heat.

The Crusaders who had been expecting to go into their summer break on a high note were instead left both embarrassed and disappointed by the whole fiasco.