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009/10 Players  |  Coaching Staff  |  Championship Table  |  Fixtures/Results  |  Player of the Month
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The first major news of the summer, came with the announcement that the Wrigley Company would again return to sponsor the BBL team through the Airwaves brand of chewing gum. The company were delighted with the return on their investment last season, and were eager to sign a deal as early as possible in the summer.

The Raiders form part of a high profile sponsorship portfolio for Wrigley's with Wrigley's Extra partnership with the Football Premier League, and Airwaves sponsorship of the BSB Ducati team.

This summer, the club also moved into the second year of a two year deal with FBT Sports as kit suppliers. FBT Sports was established in 1952 and is now one of the biggest sportswear manufacturers in Asia, exporting quality sports apparel and equipment to over 40 countries worldwide.

The majority of last season’s players were offered contracts again for 2009/10, but most decided to pursue opportunities elsewhere. This gave Raiders the opportunity to freshen up the team with a number of new faces.

Into the BBL team at the start of the season, came 4 players who were all new to the Raiders organisation, and 3 players who moved up from last year’s successful Raiders 2 team. Matt Hilleary, an Irish/American player came to the team on the back of a number of years in Ireland establishing himself as one of the premier players in the Irish Superleague. Also new to the team were Americans Eric Flato (Yale University), Florentino Valencia (Toledo University, and Battle Creek Knights in the USA’s PBL), and Terry Horton (University of Alabama A&M and Central Oregon Hotshots in the USA’s IBL).

Returning to the Raiders from last year’s team were newly appointed club captain Allister Gall, and forward James Noel, who returns to the team for his 3rd straight year. Rounding out the team were 3 players who played for the Raiders 2 team in EBL’s Division 2 last season - Jamie Burchell returns to the first team after a year out, Jay Marriott (formerly a starter with the Birmingham Bullets in the BBL) and Michal Czynienik, a former Polish international junior player.

By Mid November, the team had changed dramatically. Out was guard Eric Flato, after having suffered a career threatening leg injury. Replacing him was American Drew Lasker, a crowd favourite with the Raiders fans. Another player who returned to the team was point guard Anthony Martin. He had started the season with Raiders BBL rivals Worcester Wolves, but a mutually agreed contract termination gave him the opportunity to rejoin the Raiders, and there’s been no looking back since.

Finally, Anthony Rowe returned to round out the team. Rowe had graduated from University in the USA over the summer, and had signed a contract with French team Cognac. After this didn’t work out for him, Rowe quickly agreed to sign with the Raiders, and in December, extended his stay for the rest of the season.

Commercially, a number of key new sponsors have been attracted to the team for 09/10, in particular Future Inns, and Subway restaurants. Funding for the successful Hoops 4 Health programme has again come from Plymouth City Council and the University of Plymouth, and we’re indebted to the funding partners for their support and contributions. The programme is already having a huge impact on the development of basketball in Plymouth, and this will continue again this year.

Because of the programme’s success last year, we are also in talks with other areas of Devon and Cornwall (the club’s franchise area) about the possibility of establishing Hoops 4 Health in their areas as well.