Dragons History
Bradford Dragons was established in Summer 2001 in response to the demand from a number of under 16 Year 11 players from Beckfoot school near Bingley, Bradford who wanted to play competitive basketball. A small group of players trained regularly together at Beckfoot school and started to play friendly matches against similar age players across West Yorkshire.
With the addition of more young players and based firstly at Parkside School, Cullingworth then at Immanuel College, Thackley, Bradford, Dragons entered an U18 team in the Bradford league for the 2002/3 season, finished mid table and got to the semi final of the Bradford League cup. An U16 training squad was also started during the season.
For the 2003/4 season, Dragons moved to the new £4m sports hall at Woodhouse Grove school at Apperley Bridge and entered an U21 team in the Bradford league and set up U14 and U16 training squads who played friendly matches against other similar age national league teams in West Yorkshire. The senior team recruited further players and eventually won both the Bradford league and League cup in only their second season of competitive basketball.
Dragons stepped up a further gear for the season 2004/5, entering teams in the England Basketball League [EBL] at U14 and U16 levels, and an U18 team in the Bradford league and an ever expanding senior squad in the Yorkshire, Leeds and Bradford leagues. U14 and U16 Girls training squads were also set up. Dragons moved to twice weekly training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays with home games on Saturday afternoons.
Dragons entered national league teams at U14, U16 and senior division 3 levels for 2005/6. Additionally, Dragons ran an U15 girls team, an U18 girls team and a senior women’s team to train and play friendly matches. Dragons 1 just missed out on a play off place, finishing 5th in the division and the U16 also narrowly missed the play offs with a last game of the season 1 point defeat. Dragons 2 won both the Bradford league and Bradford handicap cup.
In the 2006/7 season, Dragons ran EBL teams at senior men, U18, U16 and U13 levels, two senior men’s teams and a women’s team in the Leeds & district leagues. Dragons also established U13 and U16 girl’s development squads. Despite finishing joint third with 3 other teams, Dragons 1 again missed the play offs, this time on points difference. Dragon’s women finished a credible third in the Leeds league women’s division.
For the 2007/8 season, Dragons have entered the EBL at the senior men, U18, U16 and U14 levels and the Dragons 2 men and Dragon’s women’s teams will again play in the Leeds league. Dragons are also running U18 and U14 girls and U13 boys and U10’s girls and boys development squads.
With 202 members registered with EB in 2006/7, Dragons are now the largest club in Yorkshire and the 10th largest in England. Dragons have achieved EBBA 3 star club accreditation and Clubmark. Using only new full size courts, Dragons run basketball training nights at 3 venues on Tuesdays and Thursdays and day long training and matches at the brand new Zara Sports Centre which is now the Dragon’s home match venue.
Dragons work closely with Bradford Council's Sports and Leisure service and West Yorkshire Sports to promote basketball opportunities. Dragons also worked with Bradford Council to run an annual week long 'basketball barmy' event in Centenary Square, Bradford between 2002 and 2007 and provided outdoor fun taster sessions across the district over the summer months. Dragons deliver basketball sessions and ongoing coaching in many Bradford district primary schools and secondary schools. Dragons continue to draw players of all ages from across West Yorkshire and into Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
A Club audit in 2005/6 revealed that players from 45 nationalities and ethnic minorities had been involved with the Club over the season. Dragons are proud to be a multinational and multiracial club putting community cohesion and social inclusion into practice. The Club actively encourages players from all nationalities and ethnic groups to play basketball to be the best that they can be. Bradford Council awarded Dragons a special commendation award in 2006 for its contribution to community cohesion. Dragons emphasises the club as a family, playing tough defence and competitive basketball to get to the highest level possible. Dragons encourage its senior players to gain coaching, refereeing and table officials awards to develop the game further across West Yorkshire.
We need more Coaches and more financial support to realise our ambitious development plans to bring more and better basketball opportunities to young people in West Yorkshire, to develop player development pathways, and to develop opportunities for recreational and taster basketball.
Please contact Stuart Culliford at info@bradforddragons.co.uk or ring 0781 661 0600, or write to 71, Grosvenor Road, Shipley BD18 4RB for further information.
With the addition of more young players and based firstly at Parkside School, Cullingworth then at Immanuel College, Thackley, Bradford, Dragons entered an U18 team in the Bradford league for the 2002/3 season, finished mid table and got to the semi final of the Bradford League cup. An U16 training squad was also started during the season.
For the 2003/4 season, Dragons moved to the new £4m sports hall at Woodhouse Grove school at Apperley Bridge and entered an U21 team in the Bradford league and set up U14 and U16 training squads who played friendly matches against other similar age national league teams in West Yorkshire. The senior team recruited further players and eventually won both the Bradford league and League cup in only their second season of competitive basketball.
Dragons stepped up a further gear for the season 2004/5, entering teams in the England Basketball League [EBL] at U14 and U16 levels, and an U18 team in the Bradford league and an ever expanding senior squad in the Yorkshire, Leeds and Bradford leagues. U14 and U16 Girls training squads were also set up. Dragons moved to twice weekly training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays with home games on Saturday afternoons.
Dragons entered national league teams at U14, U16 and senior division 3 levels for 2005/6. Additionally, Dragons ran an U15 girls team, an U18 girls team and a senior women’s team to train and play friendly matches. Dragons 1 just missed out on a play off place, finishing 5th in the division and the U16 also narrowly missed the play offs with a last game of the season 1 point defeat. Dragons 2 won both the Bradford league and Bradford handicap cup.
In the 2006/7 season, Dragons ran EBL teams at senior men, U18, U16 and U13 levels, two senior men’s teams and a women’s team in the Leeds & district leagues. Dragons also established U13 and U16 girl’s development squads. Despite finishing joint third with 3 other teams, Dragons 1 again missed the play offs, this time on points difference. Dragon’s women finished a credible third in the Leeds league women’s division.
For the 2007/8 season, Dragons have entered the EBL at the senior men, U18, U16 and U14 levels and the Dragons 2 men and Dragon’s women’s teams will again play in the Leeds league. Dragons are also running U18 and U14 girls and U13 boys and U10’s girls and boys development squads.
With 202 members registered with EB in 2006/7, Dragons are now the largest club in Yorkshire and the 10th largest in England. Dragons have achieved EBBA 3 star club accreditation and Clubmark. Using only new full size courts, Dragons run basketball training nights at 3 venues on Tuesdays and Thursdays and day long training and matches at the brand new Zara Sports Centre which is now the Dragon’s home match venue.
Dragons work closely with Bradford Council's Sports and Leisure service and West Yorkshire Sports to promote basketball opportunities. Dragons also worked with Bradford Council to run an annual week long 'basketball barmy' event in Centenary Square, Bradford between 2002 and 2007 and provided outdoor fun taster sessions across the district over the summer months. Dragons deliver basketball sessions and ongoing coaching in many Bradford district primary schools and secondary schools. Dragons continue to draw players of all ages from across West Yorkshire and into Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
A Club audit in 2005/6 revealed that players from 45 nationalities and ethnic minorities had been involved with the Club over the season. Dragons are proud to be a multinational and multiracial club putting community cohesion and social inclusion into practice. The Club actively encourages players from all nationalities and ethnic groups to play basketball to be the best that they can be. Bradford Council awarded Dragons a special commendation award in 2006 for its contribution to community cohesion. Dragons emphasises the club as a family, playing tough defence and competitive basketball to get to the highest level possible. Dragons encourage its senior players to gain coaching, refereeing and table officials awards to develop the game further across West Yorkshire.
We need more Coaches and more financial support to realise our ambitious development plans to bring more and better basketball opportunities to young people in West Yorkshire, to develop player development pathways, and to develop opportunities for recreational and taster basketball.
Please contact Stuart Culliford at info@bradforddragons.co.uk or ring 0781 661 0600, or write to 71, Grosvenor Road, Shipley BD18 4RB for further information.
bRADFORD DRAGONS Basketball Club
