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Essex Leopards (1994–2003)

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Essex Leopards
LeagueBBL
Established1994
Folded2003
HistoryLeopards
1994-1997
Greater London Leopards
1997-2002
Essex Leopards
2002-2003
ArenaBrentwood Centre
LocationBrentwood, Essex
Team coloursTeal, Black and White

The Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League. Established in 1994, the Leopards franchise was one of the most successful teams of the 1990s, dominating the domestic scene with local rivals London Towers.

Originally playing out of the London Arena as Leopards and later Greater London Leopards, the team was moved to Brentwood in 1999, and in 2002 the name was changed to the Essex Leopards.[1] For financial reasons the team decided to "sit out" the 2003–04 season of the BBL and while every effort was made to find a buyer for the franchise, the Leopards soon folded completely.

Season-by-season records

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Season Division Tier Regular Season Post-Season Trophy Cup Head coach
Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win %
Leopards
1994-95 BBL 1 6th 36 23 13 46 0.638 Quarter-finals Pool Stage Semi-finals Billy Mims
1995-96 BBL 1 4th 36 23 13 46 0.638 Quarter-finals Pool Stage Quarter-finals Billy Mims
1996-97 BBL 1 1st 36 28 8 56 0.777 Runners Up Quarter-finals Winners, beating Sheffield Billy Mims
Greater London Leopards
1997-98 BBL 1 1st 36 29 7 58 0.806 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Quarter-finals Billy Mims
1998-99 BBL 1 8th 36 19 17 38 0.527 Quarter-finals Pool Stage Runners Up Billy Mims
1999-00 BBL S 1 5th 34 11 23 22 0.323 Did not qualify Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Bob Donewald
2000-01 BBL S 1 2nd 34 24 10 48 0.705 Semi-finals Quarter-finals Runners Up Bob Donewald
2001-02 BBL S 1 4th 32 16 16 32 0.500 1st round Semi-finals Last 16 Chris Pullem
Essex Leopards
2002-03 BBL 1 10th 40 11 29 22 0.275 Did not qualify Pool Stage Quarter-finals Mike Taylor

New team

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This was not the end though, as in 2004 a merger took place between Ware Rebels and Leopards Alive (an organisation of supporters of the defunct Greater London Leopards), and renamed as the Essex & Herts Leopards. In 2006, the team was renamed again to London Leopards, and currently play in EBL Division 1, the league below the BBL.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BBL duo opt for change". 3 October 2002.