Crusaders Opener in National Trophy

The Coventry Crusaders have been quietly getting things in place for the 16^th season as a club here in the city.  With new players, a new coach and a new start, it looks to be a very exciting season for the club.  

Crusaders opening game of the season is this Saturday at the Coventry Sports Centre against Derby Trailblazers in their first of five games against teams in their National Trophy Pool. 

Other teams in Pool 1 are Bristol Academy Flyers, Manchester Magic, Reading Rockets, and UH West Herts Warriors, all of which are Division One teams this season. 

Teams in Pool 2 are College of West Anglia Fury (formerly Kings Lynn), London Leopards, Sheffield Arrows, Taunton Tigers, and Worthing Thunder. 

The teams in each pool play each other once, then the top two teams from each pool will play each other and progress from there. 

Crusaders will have a few of the same players as last season. Wes Hall, Ed Baynes Clarke and Sam Spare are returning, although Marcin Twierdzinski is still unable to join the team due to his previous knee injury.

Sam Oatman has returned to the USA to pursue other basketball options as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.   

A number of players who have been “home grown” will be playing for the Division One side this season, as much of the grassroots work Crusaders have done over the years is now paying off, producing great young basketball players. 

Ex-Crusader Robert Clarke, 7’0 centre who spent a stint of his career at Worcester, will be back wearing Crusader colours again after being gone for a few years.  He will add a welcome presence inside. 

New USA signing, Ryan Luethy, 6’3 guard, flew in from his homeland last week, and has been practising with the team.  Luethy played in the USA college system, at Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri.

He is known for his high percentage shooting, so will be a great asset to Crusaders.  He will also be doing a lot of coaching in schools for the Crusader Foundation while he is here. 

Luethy will be joined by another USA player shortly, once paperwork gets cleared. 

One of the big changes to the team will not be on the floor, however, but on the sidelines.  Scott Neely has opted not to play this season, as he has accepted the new position as Head Coach for the Coventry Crusaders. 

His experience and perspective will give the Crusaders a new level of life and energy to the club. 

In the meantime, Dip Donaldson who has been player and coach in one capacity or another  - most of the time in both capacities, since starting the team in 1992 will be concentrating more on the corporate side of match night, and will be helping the team in quite a different way this season. 

Donaldson, with one of the longest playing records in English Basketball history, will be missed, as much for his sheer presence inside the key, as for his charismatic personality.

He says, “I don’t ever use the `R’ word (“retired”), but I am taking a back seat, at least for now.” 

The end of an era!

The game on Saturday will tip off at 7:30 pm against Derby Trailblazers.  Ticket prices are £6 for Adults and £4 for Concessions.  Season Tickets are also on sale this season. Please check the Crusaders website, email info@crusaders.co.uk , or ring the Basketball office for more information on 024 76 811 759.