Neptune Basketball Club
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball club
| name = Neptune Basketball Club
| color1 = white
| color2 = blue
| logo = Neptune Basketball Club Logo.png
| imagesize =
| leagues =
| founded = 1947
| history =
| arena = Neptune Stadium
| colours = Blue and white
| sponsor = Energywise Ireland
| chairman =
| president =
| coach = Pat Price (as of 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41408456.html |title=Neptune Basketball Club appoint experienced Pat Price as new head coach |work=echolive.ie |date=3 June 2024|accessdate=3 November 2024}}
| championships =
| website =
}}
Neptune Basketball Club is an Irish basketball club based in Cork. Founded in 1947 following input from members of the Irish Defence Forces in developing citizen's clubs,{{cite web|url = http://neptunebasketballclub.com/nptnbsktbllclb/history/ | title = History | website = neptunebasketballclub.com | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20181218101727/https://neptunebasketballclub.com/nptnbsktbllclb/history/ | archivedate = 18 December 2018}}{{cite book| last = O'Leary| first = Eleanor | title = Youth and Popular Culture in 1950s Ireland | page = 209 | date = 2018 | publisher = Bloomsbury | isbn = 9781350015883 | quote = [prior to] the setting-up of the Neptune Basketball Club and Stadium in Cork [..] over a period of a decade or more some members of the army assisted the uptake of the game by the civilian population }} Neptune is the oldest and most successful basketball club in Ireland.{{cite web|url = http://thecourtsidecollective.com/neptune-withdrawal-raises-serious-questions/ | title = Neptune withdrawal raises serious questions| website = thecourtsidecollective.com | date = 27 July 2015 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} Based at Neptune Stadium, Neptune is the only basketball club in Ireland with its own stadium.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/frustration-seeps-out-of-neptune-via-leak-in-the-roof-468600.html | title = Frustration seeps out of Neptune via leak in the roof| work = Irish Examiner | date = 22 March 2018 |accessdate = 31 December 2018 }}
History
The club's senior men's representative team has won the Irish National League title 11 times. Known as Burgerland Neptune throughout the 1980s and 1990s,{{cite web|url = http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/kieran-shannon/king-of-cork-and-court-222207.html | title = Kieran Shannon: King of Cork and Court | work = Irish Examiner | date = 9 February 2013 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} the team won seven championships between 1983 and 1991 thanks to American import Terry Strickland and the support of Irish investor Jackie Solan.{{cite web|url = http://thestar.ie/americans-enriched-a-unique-era-when-ireland-loved-basketball/ | title = Americans enriched a unique era: When Ireland loved basketball| website = thestar.ie | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170208014333/http://thestar.ie/americans-enriched-a-unique-era-when-ireland-loved-basketball/| archivedate = 8 February 2017 }} Neptune won a further four titles between 1995 and 2003.{{cite web|url = http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1388 | title = Roll of Honour 1973 - 2014 | website = basketballireland.ie | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150428104842/http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1388 | archivedate = 28 April 2015 }}{{cite web|url = http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/neptune-favourites-1.352154 | title = Neptune favourites | work = Irish Times | date = 14 March 2003 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} In 2013, Neptune won their fifth National Cup title and first since 1992.{{cite web|url = http://www.the42.ie/american-dream-retold-in-documentary-on-irish-basketballs-glory-days-767528-Jan2013/ | title = American dream retold in documentary on Irish basketball's glory days | website = the42.ie | date = 25 January 2013 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }}
In July 2015, Neptune withdrew from the Premier League following a major loss of player personnel, deciding instead to join the second-tiered National League Division 1 for the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|url = http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/neptune-exit-basketball-premier-league-344741.html | title = Neptune exit Basketball Premier League | work = Irish Examiner | date = 27 July 2015 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }}{{cite web|url = http://www.corkindependent.com/20150730/sport/cork-basketball-in-turmoil-as-neptune-withdraw-S109620.html | title = Cork basketball in turmoil as Neptune withdraw| website = corkindependent.com | date = 30 July 2015 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }}{{cite web|url = http://www.irishnews.com/sport/othersports/2015/12/22/news/neptune-s-disappearance-a-low-point-for-basketball-in-2015-361939/ | title = Neptune's disappearance a low point for basketball in 2015 | website = irishnews.com | date = 22 December 2015 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} Neptune continued on in Division 1 for the 2016–17 season{{cite web| url = http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10011240/ | title = National League Fixtures 2016/2017 | website = basketballireland.ie | date = 1 September 2016 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} and subsequently won the 2017 Hula Hoops Presidents Cup.{{cite web | url = http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10018280/ | title = Hula Hoops Cup Finals Gamezone: Senior Men and Women | website = basketballireland.ie | date = 27 January 2017 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} In March 2018, they were promoted back into Basketball Ireland's Men's Super League.{{cite web|url = http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10037008/ | title = RECAP: Neptune secure promotion while Templeogue win in OT | website = basketballireland.ie | date = 31 March 2018 | accessdate = 31 December 2018 }} After initially being relegated back down to Division 1 following the 2018–19 season, the withdrawal of cross-town rival UCC Demons led to Neptune remaining in the Super League for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|last=Coughlan|first=John|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/neptune-to-replace-ucc-demons-in-mens-superleague-937828.html|title=Neptune to replace UCC Demons in Men's SuperLeague|work=irishexaminer.com|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=19 July 2019}}{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Éamonn|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/Neptune-take-the-place-of-basketball-rivals-Demons-in-the-Super-League-07e8d511-e417-427b-aa23-b3d80588d6f1-ds|title=Neptune take the place of basketball rivals Demons in the Super League|work=echolive.ie|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=19 July 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10053467/|title=Neptune To Remain In Men's Super League For 2019/20 Season|work=basketballireland.ie|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=19 July 2019}}
In the 2021–22 season, Neptune reached the final of both the National Cup{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/20220122212008-garvey-s-tralee-warriors-beat-c-s-neptune-88-75-to-win-the-insuremyhouse.ie-pat-duffy-cup-final|title=Garvey's Tralee Warriors beat C&S Neptune 88-75 to win the InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup Final|work=ireland.basketball|date=22 January 2022|access-date=25 January 2022}} and the League playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/20220402220931-garvey-s-tralee-warriors-claim-double-with-78-72-insuremyvan.ie-super-league-final-win-over-c-s-neptune|title=Garvey's Tralee Warriors claim double with 78-72 InsureMyVan.ie Super League final win over C&S Neptune|work=ireland.basketball|date=2 April 2022|access-date=3 April 2022}}
Achievements
- 11× Irish Men's National League champions: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003{{cite web|url = https://irishsportsnet.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/basketball-ireland-superleague-winners/ | title = Basketball Ireland Superleague Winners |work = irishsportsnet | date = 23 March 2013 | accessdate = 13 December 2018 }}
- 5× Irish Men's National Cup champions: 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2013
Notable players
{{Basketball notable players criteria}}
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Joe Healy{{cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/neptunes-new-wave-making-a-splash-438289.html |title=Neptune's new wave making a splash |first=John |last=Coughlan |newspaper=Irish Examiner |date=9 January 2017 |accessdate=28 March 2019 |quote=When Neptune dominated Irish basketball in the 80's and 90's, players like Tom Wilkinson, Tom O'Sullivan, Jim Nugent, Joe Healy and Brendan O'Flaherty were household names.}}
- {{flagicon|USA}} Gerald Kennedy
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Stephen McCarthy{{cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/kieran-shannon/top-25-irelands-greatest-ever-male-basketball-players-308366.html |title=KIERAN SHANNON: Top 25: Ireland’s greatest ever male basketball players |first=Kieran |last=Shannon |newspaper=Irish Examiner |date=22 January 2015 |accessdate=29 March 2019}}
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Jim Nugent
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Brendan O'Flaherty
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Tom O'Sullivan
- {{flagicon|USA}} Ray Smith
- {{flagicon|USA}} Pete Strickland{{cite web |url=https://deadspin.com/the-american-who-briefly-got-ireland-to-love-basketball-1827229628 |title=The American Who Briefly Got Ireland To Love Basketball Is Looking For A Storybook Ending |first=Dave |last=McKenna |website=Deadspin |date=29 June 2018 |accessdate=30 June 2018}}
- {{flagicon|USA}} Terry Strickland{{cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/kieran-shannon/when-we-were-kings-188259.html |title=When we were kings |first=Kieran |last=Shannon |newspaper=Irish Examiner |date=24 March 2012 |accessdate=30 June 2018}}
- {{flagicon|IRE}} Tom Wilkinson{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/strickland-inspires-the-re-emergence-of-neptune-1.101659 |title=Strickland inspires the re-emergence of Neptune |first=Greg |last=Allen |newspaper=Irish Times |date=1 November 1996 |accessdate=28 March 2019 |quote=Under the coaching of former eighties star Tom Wilkinson...}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web |url=https://deadspin.com/the-fake-all-star-team-on-a-bender-that-inspired-irelan-1791079517 |title=The Fake All-Star Team On A Bender That Inspired Ireland To Play Basketball |first=Dave |last=McKenna |website=Deadspin |date=17 January 2017 |accessdate=30 June 2018}}
- {{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/Hanging-Rafters-Neptune-Golden-Basketball/dp/0956244327/ |title=Hanging from the Rafters: The Story of Neptune and the Golden Age of Irish Basketball |first=Kieran |last=Shannon |publisher=Echo Publications |date=2009 |isbn=0956244327}}
External links
{{commons category|Neptune Stadium}}
- {{twitter|neptune1bc}}
- [https://www.balls.ie/other-sports/neptune-stadium/354400 Neptune Stadium: The Arena Which Transformed Irish Basketball]
{{Sport in Cork City}}
{{Super League (Ireland)}}