Wolves ready to bare teeth after securing National League status
DROGHEDA Wolves Basketball Club are officially a National League outfit following the expected confirmation from the sports parent body Basketball Ireland last week.
The exciting announcement was greeted by the Drogheda basketball community with applause and quiet satisfaction as Wolves chairman Jim Agnew explained.
‘This is a great vote on confidence in Wolves Basketball Club. The registration process was very comprehensive and detailed. Both Maeve (Coleman,director of coaching) and myself were delighted with how our presentation was received last week and it was very welcome news to get the thumbs up for Drogheda basketball at the end of it.
‘It’s exactly what the club and the north east part of the country needed from a basketball standpoint’.
Maeve herself added ‘The executive committee of Wolves have put so much work into developing the club that is was just brilliant to see their efforts rewarded. I’m thrilled and really can’t wait for our first National League match tipping off in Drogheda featuring players we have developed from academy and through the underage programme.’
In truth Wolves might have joined National League last year as committee member and media relations officer Niall Rice explains.
‘There were some aspects of the plan which we felt needed tweaking so we stepped away from it last year until we were confident that all strands of the venture were secure and ready for launch. Gavin Garland was recruited as coach for the senior men and some of his players will now coach teams at underage level thereby helping to develop the players which are the lifeblood of the club,’ explained Niall.
The senior men will now play all their games at the impressive DIFE venue which is a perfect space to let the talented Wolves players express themselves on the hardwood the game was meant to be played on.
Brothers Ciaran and Padraig McGroggan who run the Wolves backcourt were buzzing at the development
‘To get to play in your hometown for your hometown club will be special for all of us. We really appreciate what the club has done for us and all those who play on the senior team now and in the future. It has finally happened. We really wanted this and now we will grab this opportunity with both hands and there will be no letting go. This is why we play this game. It’s just brilliant’
Wolves senior men’s coach Gavin Garland joked that he may need new wheels as he burns up the miles between his home in Belfast and training and games in Drogheda. ‘We are in the northern conference along with fellow newbies Malahide. We have Letterkenny IT in our section as well along with University of Ulster from Belfast. I have had the players doing some pre-season stuff this week which allows me to have a closer look at the group and our strengths. We will have our professional, an American college player, with us in good time and he will make the group stronger. The pieces are fitting together nicely’
‘Tip off in National League will not be until November but while that is a while away coach Garland has set goals for all players on strength & conditioning along with skill-based exercises. There will be a series of preseason games to prime the team for that season delayed tip off.
‘Covid has changed things just a little bit but we will do whatever schedule Basketball Ireland gives us,’ Gavin added.
To ensure there is a smooth transition from local to national competition for the senior men Wolves have assigned several people to support the team. Con Crowley returns as team manager, Noel Kierans joins as assistant coach, Colin Doheny is venue officer, Michelle O’Brien takes care of fixtures and Niall Rice is heading up media relations.
Con Crowley recognised the importance of the experience the group brings ‘The group of Colin, Noel, Michelle and Niall have been excellent in sorting any issue that presented itself. They are a very experienced crew.’
As the Wolves presentation for NL approval came to a close Jim Agnew added an important note to the proceedings. ‘I reminded the kind people of Basketball Ireland that we plan to be back in three years to have a conversation about our plans for our women NL team. Emer Howard is currently prepping our U-18 girls for the season ahead in North East Basketball League but in reality it’s to go beyond that. Her players will strengthen the senior ladies team and in turn form the nucleus of a Wolves ladies National League team,’ promised Jim.
Other teams in Division 1 include Titans (from Galway, returning after a year out), Dublin Lions (relegated from Superleague) and IT Sligo. Eight teams in total will form division one with the format yet to be confirmed. Wolves home games will be in DIFE on Sunday afternoons with the first games to be played on the weekend of October 18th/19th.