Livingston (basketball)
Livingston was a professional basketball team that was based in Livingston, Scotland. The team was founded in 1977, under the name Edinburgh, by steel magnate David Murray, and was backed by a sponsorship from his company, Murray International Metals. Using the name Murray International or MIM Livingston, they went on to be one of the most successful clubs in Scottish basketball history, playing first in Edinburgh, and then later moving to Livingston.
| Livingston | |
|---|---|
| League | Scottish Division 2 (1977–1978) Scottish Division 1 (1978–1987) BBL (1987–1989) Scottish Division 1 (1989–1990) |
| Established | 1977 |
| Folded | 1991 |
| History | Edinburgh 1977–1987 Livingston 1987–1991 |
| Arena | Meadowbank Arena (1977–1987) Forum Arena (1987–1990) |
| Location | Livingston, West Lothian |
| Team colours | Royal Blue and White |
| Ownership | David Murray |
History
During the height of its success, Livingston were Scottish National League Champions seven times between 1979 and 1987. The club were founder members of the British Basketball League, a professional league established in 1987 by leading clubs from England and Scotland. Playing out of the newly built 3,000-seat Forum Arena, Livingston were successful in their inaugural season and with an 81–72 victory over regular season champions Portsmouth, were winners of the first Carlsberg League Championship Final.
In 1988 Murray acquired Rangers Football Club and inherited plans to form a 'sporting club' as the previous owner had bought Carlsberg League club Kingston for £100,000 and moved them to Glasgow.[1] The Glasgow Rangers basketball team made their first appearance alongside Livingston in the 1988–89 season, becoming the league's second Scottish club. Rangers dominated the campaign, pipping Livingston to the regular season title and then beating them in the final of the Championship Play-offs, winning 89–86. Livingston also finished as runners-up in the NatWest League Trophy, losing 89–81 to Bracknell in the Final.
Despite the success of his two basketball teams, Murray was rumoured to have had a fall out with the basketball authorities in 1989 over a proposal to have both teams playing at The Forum Arena on alternate weekends, meaning a home game would be staged every week. The move was blocked and so Murray withdrew his financial support.[2] The Rangers team was sold and moved back to Kingston-upon-Thames in 1989, whilst the Livingston club briefly returned to the Scottish League before becoming the Livingston Bulls.
Notable players
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Criteria |
|---|
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
|
Bobby Archibald
Alton Byrd- Alan Cunningham
- Vic Fleming
Record in European competition
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References
- Paul Smith (2012). For Richer, For Poorer: Rangers: The fight for Survival. Random House. ISBN 9781780572826.
- Jon Gaunt (2011). Undaunted: The True Story Behind the Popular Shock-Jock. Random House. ISBN 9780753521083.
- "Basketball".
- "Basketball".
- "Basketball".