Sheffield Sabres (basketball)
The Sheffield Sabres is an English basketball team from Sheffield, South Yorkshire competing in the English Basketball League, Division 3 (North). They play their home games at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield along with the Sheffield Arrows and British Basketball League team Sheffield Sharks.
The Sabres entered NBL Division 2 North in 2001, effectively as a "spin off" second team for Sheffield Sharks. The team initially struggled, finishing bottom of the division twice. With close links to Hallam University, they had problems fitting in matches near the start and end of terms, and during busy periods such as exams. They failed to complete all their matches in both their first and third seasons, and in 2003-4 they also forfeited no less than five games through late cancellation, thus playing only 15 of their 22 scheduled matches.
2004-5 proved much better for the Sabres, with a completed schedule and a fifth-place finish in Div 3 North, and they built on this the following season as the Junior Sharks became an integral part of the tie-up between the clubs. This enabled younger players to gain experience at Senior level, with several of the Juniors regularly playing for the Sabres.
This policy paid dividends in 2006, with a third-placed finish, and an appearance in the Division 3 Championship Final, and they remained competitive, finishing third again in 2010.