Brighton Bears

Brighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League (BBL) until 2006 when the franchise folded. The final season was notable for the signing of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who played three games for the Bears. The league's franchise for the Brighton-area, originally put on hold, was intended to be occupied by the Brighton Cougars from the 2008–09 season but the Cougars bid was rejected, with the league favouring rival candidate Worthing Thunder.

Brighton Bears
League	British Basketball League
Established	1973
Folded	2006
History	Brighton Bears 1973–1984 Worthing Bears 1984–1999 Brighton Bears 1999–2006
Location	Brighton, Sussex and Worthing, Sussex
Team colours	Blue and White
Ownership	Ricky Perrin
Home Away

Season-by-season records

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pld.	W	L	Pts.	Play-offs	Cup	Trophy
Worthing Bears
1990–1991	BBL	7th	24	10	14	20	Quarter-final	Quarter-final	1st round
1991–1992	BBL	3rd	30	22	8	44	Semi-final	Semi-final	1st round
1992–1993	BBL	1st	33	31	2	62	Winners	Runner-up	1st round
1993–1994	BBL	2nd	36	30	6	60	Winners	Winners	Semi-final
1994–1995	BBL	7th	36	20	16	40	Winners	4th round	Semi-final
1995–1996	BBL	7th	36	19	17	38	Quarter-final	4th round	Runner-up
1996–1997	BBL	11th	36	12	24	24	DNQ	4th round	Quarter-final
1997–1998	BBL	12th	36	7	29	14	DNQ	4th round	1st round
1998–1999	BBL	13th	36	4	32	8	DNQ	1st round	1st round
Brighton Bears
1999–2000	BBL S	6th	34	11	23	22	DNQ	Quarter-final	1st round
2000–2001	BBL S	6th	34	9	25	18	DNQ	1st round	1st round
2001–2002	BBL S	2nd	32	21	11	42	Semi-final	1st round	Quarter-final
2002–2003	BBL	2nd	40	30	10	60	Runner-up	Winners	1st round
2003–2004	BBL	1st	36	30	6	60	Semi-final	1st round	Runner-up
2004–2005	BBL	5th	40	22	18	44	Quarter-final	Winners	Runner-up
2005–2006	BBL	8th	40	17	23	33	Quarter-final	1st round	1st round

Notes:

• From 1999 to 2002, the BBL operated a Conference system. Brighton competed in the Southern Conference.
• DNQ denotes Did not qualify.

Trophies

League

• NBL Division One Winners: 1987/88 1
• BBL Championship Winners: 1992/93, & 2003/04 2
• BBL Championship Runners Up: 1993/94, & 2002/03 2
• BBL Southern Conference Runners Up: 2001/02, & 2002/03 2

Playoffs

• NBL Division One Play Off Winners: 1987/88 1
• BBL Championship Play Off Winners: 1992/93, 1993/94, & 1994/95 3
• BBL Championship Play Off Runners Up: 2002/03 1

Trophy

• BBL Trophy Runners Up: 1995/96, 2002/03 & 2003/04 3

Cup

• National Cup Winners: 1993/94, & 2002/03 2
• National Cup Runners Up: 1992/93 1
• BBL Cup Winners: 2004/05 1

External links

• Official website
• Previous incarnation of official website (frozen as at summer 2002)
• Tom Oliver's Brighton Bears photo galleries
• Official Brighton Cougars website