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Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 04:08:59 pm

Title: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 04:08:59 pm
Doncaster panthers as in our local basketball team that played home
games at adwick le street sports centre.

When I spent a handfull of home games watching them it back in the very early 1980s,coukf well have been the 1980 season.

They was allways seemed to round top end of the league and correct me if Iam wrong but Sunderland were the top team back then.

The sports centre was allways full for Doncaster panther games from memory,and it was allways a good watch.

I think that Doncaster panthers later on joined up with Sheffield and played somewhere in Sheffield then I lost interest as I hated Sheffield back then and still not really hot on it today.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bentley Bullet on February 28, 2017, 04:12:34 pm
I think former Rovers chairman Frank Wilson owned them at one bit, hence them being called Wilson Panthers.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 04:20:03 pm
I never knew that BB ,when was they known as Wilson panthers?

In the 1970s at a guess and well before my watching basket ball time
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Dagenham Rover on February 28, 2017, 04:28:43 pm
as you say the Panthers were nearly always at the top end of the league
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bentley Bullet on February 28, 2017, 04:30:41 pm
https://tinyurl.com/jrctt9q
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Super Colin Cramb on February 28, 2017, 04:40:14 pm
I remember watching them at the Dome in the early to mid 90's.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversdude on February 28, 2017, 04:57:30 pm
I can remember them as Wilson Panthers best team for years
A game I can't take to however
Did they play at Adwick
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: colfromdonny on February 28, 2017, 05:05:05 pm
I remember Maurice Wordsworth who was the manager as he was my tutor at Doncaster College in the eighties, if we bought tickets or pens or whatever for the Panthers he would let us out early, also a chap called Peter Jacques who seemed to be the number one fan who was at all of the games with all his gear and horn.  I also seem to remember that the American players who came over all seemed to get jobs at the college.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Drover on February 28, 2017, 05:19:58 pm
I used to love watching them on a Sat morning on,I think it was on Grandstand,like you say,they was usually in the top 3 or 4,so often on the chosen game.At one point,Panthers had a very,very good player.Cannot remember his name,he was coloured and I think he came from the US or Canada and was often the shortest player on the court,but usually scored the most points for us.If I remember right,some of our biggest rivals were Nottingham and Kingston.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on February 28, 2017, 05:34:07 pm
I went in the mid seventies several times when they played at Adwick, pretty sure they were Wilson Panthers then. A Donny team in the top league, and more excited girls there than at footy.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: idler on February 28, 2017, 05:36:48 pm
Wasn't Crystal Palace Eagles or something the ones that usually pipped them or was that when we went to Sheffield.
Alton Bird or somebody that was small but scored loads of points for the team that I'm thinking of.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on February 28, 2017, 05:39:06 pm
I saw them play Crystal Palace and get beat. I recall them winning the league when I was watching, had a better set of yanks playing for them, more established club, bigger home crowds, more money.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 05:39:44 pm
Crystal palace seems to ring a bell with me
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: DonnyOsmond on February 28, 2017, 05:42:10 pm
We kinda have a new team anyway. Danum Eagles they've had a few promotions up the leagues and now have had to move to meet the new arena criteria. They tried getting in at the Dome but couldn't meet terms so have ended up in Scunthorpe. We could do with an arena in the center for different sports where the Eagles could play, we could have an Ice Hockey team and indoor football, etc.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 06:03:57 pm
How many fans are Danum eagles getting for a typical home game?

Also what numbers of away support follow basketball teams around the country?

That Doncaster panthers v sunderland game i was at back in early 1980s had a section of Sunderland fans at adwick
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: weststander on February 28, 2017, 06:05:25 pm
I seem to remember Ian Day playing for them in the National League in the 70's. By then I was living in Coventry and used to watch Warwickshire who became Team Fiat and later moved to Birmingham as B'ham Bullets. Teams being moved from their roots to larger cities happened quite often. Another example was the Solihull Barons Ice Hockey team, a top division side for years who were snapped up and moved to Coventry.
Thank goodness this has never happened in football 😗
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 06:11:31 pm
Ian day ,thanks for that as I have been kicking me sen all afternoon trying to recall this former panthers player.

He was the most talked about player on the team when I watched them .

Iam sure mr day played for England's basket ball team,hence why I was drawn to him ,but I could be wrong on that
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on February 28, 2017, 06:12:36 pm
I can remember them as Wilson Panthers best team for years
A game I can't take to however
Did they play at Adwick

Used to see them play at Adwick - maybe at Woodlands to be exact in a huge Gym
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on February 28, 2017, 06:13:31 pm
Ian day ,thanks for that as I have been kicking me sen all afternoon trying to recall this former panthers player.

He was the most talked about player on the team when I watched them .

Iam sure mr day played for England's basket ball team,hence why I was drawn to him ,but I could be wrong on that

Deffo one of the better Panthers Players
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bentley Bullet on February 28, 2017, 06:17:43 pm
I wonder if Doncaster Panthers were a still a top league team now they'd be called Doncaster Sheffield Panthers?
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: The Red Baron on February 28, 2017, 06:20:02 pm
Each to his own, but I find basketball about as exciting as watching someone knitting a scarf.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BiargeBob on February 28, 2017, 06:21:48 pm
I used to watch the Panthers play at the Corn Exchange in the sixties.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversdude on February 28, 2017, 06:27:50 pm
Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Panthers
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 06:31:42 pm
Each to his own, but I find basketball about as exciting as watching someone knitting a scarf.

Going to play a blocking move here ' get out of this thread dude '
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 06:33:10 pm
I used to watch the Panthers play at the Corn Exchange in the sixties.

As they say from across the big pond

' cool dude give me some skin brother '
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on February 28, 2017, 06:35:19 pm
How many fans are Danum eagles getting for a typical home game?

Also what numbers of away support follow basketball teams around the country?

That Doncaster panthers v sunderland game i was at back in early 1980s had a section of Sunderland fans at adwick

....and (Tony ?) Jacques as Panthers star supporter .... the Paul Mayfield equivalent

No scratch that there is only one Mr Rovers ! (mines a Ginger Biscuit Paul)
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: 1879Rovers on February 28, 2017, 06:36:04 pm
I remember Channel 4 showing quite a few live games in the 80s.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on February 28, 2017, 06:38:30 pm
I was USELESS at School at Basketball - so it was ironic that as I kept growing and became 6' 5 tall I used to watch Panthers regularly and all the kids used to see me entering the Gym or leaving it and I could see them casing me out to see if I was a Player (injured or dropped of course as I did not have the kit on)
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: knockers on February 28, 2017, 06:42:26 pm
They were also sponsored  by John Carr for a while and had Anthony "juice" Joseph and another guy called the Hollywood hoopster playing for them.he was called this because he played a waiter in a Lethal Weapon film. Think it was the second one.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on February 28, 2017, 06:46:18 pm
They were also sponsored  by John Carr for a while and had Anthony "juice" Joseph and another guy called the Hollywood hoopster playing for them.he was called this because he played a waiter in a Lethal Weapon film. Think it was the second one.

Yes John Carr Panthers ... remember it well now I have been prompted of course.

Could do with the late Mr Jacques to remind me of the other Players in the Ian Day era. There was a really great one whose name I just cant pull to the front of my head !
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: eastender on February 28, 2017, 06:47:40 pm
I went quite a few games in the late 70's , i can remember 2 Americans were in the team.
One had black curly hair and i think his name was Wayne Metzger , the other was a blonde lad called Brian Dunn.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: weststander on February 28, 2017, 07:11:44 pm
Ian day ,thanks for that as I have been kicking me sen all afternoon trying to recall this former panthers player.

He was the most talked about player on the team when I watched them

Iam sure mr day played for England's basket ball team,hence why I was drawn to him ,but I could be wrong on that
You not wrong Ian did play for England and my favourite English player with Jimmy Guymon my favourite American
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BobG on February 28, 2017, 07:57:50 pm
There was a lad in the year below me at Danum who was a regular in the Panthers team. I've been struggling for his name for ages though. He wasn't very tall though so I think that held him back in the end.

BobG
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Bentley Bullet on February 28, 2017, 08:08:20 pm
I was USELESS at School at Basketball - so it was ironic that as I kept growing and became 6' 5 tall

 It was the other way round for me. I was good at Basketball but too short! We'd have been great with me sat on your shoulders!
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: not on facebook on February 28, 2017, 08:29:27 pm
When I played for st Peters at basket ball doing all that zoneally marking b*llocks ,it was my job to do my best to zoneall mark this bird out of the game .

Could not stop at her little tits bouncing about all over the place,they was like two puppies fighting to get out of the coal sack as it was thrown into river don.

She roasted me all way throu the game,still have nightmares today.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on February 28, 2017, 10:11:47 pm
I played for Panthers Women's team in the mid seventies. We often played the warm up game to the men's first team matches at Adwick Leisure Centre.

I've probably still got my Wilson Panthers holdall up in the loft somewhere!
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on February 28, 2017, 10:16:56 pm
There was a lad in the year below me at Danum who was a regular in the Panthers team. I've been struggling for his name for ages though. He wasn't very tall though so I think that held him back in the end.

BobG
Not sure how old you are Bob but I wonder if you are talking about Mike Davies?
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on February 28, 2017, 10:18:47 pm
How many fans are Danum eagles getting for a typical home game?

Also what numbers of away support follow basketball teams around the country?

That Doncaster panthers v sunderland game i was at back in early 1980s had a section of Sunderland fans at adwick

....and (Tony ?) Jacques as Panthers star supporter .... the Paul Mayfield equivalent

No scratch that there is only one Mr Rovers ! (mines a Ginger Biscuit Paul)
It was Pete Jacques. He used to be a teacher at Edlington Comp.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Dagenham Rover on February 28, 2017, 11:12:11 pm
How many fans are Danum eagles getting for a typical home game?

Also what numbers of away support follow basketball teams around the country?

That Doncaster panthers v sunderland game i was at back in early 1980s had a section of Sunderland fans at adwick

....and (Tony ?) Jacques as Panthers star supporter .... the Paul Mayfield equivalent

No scratch that there is only one Mr Rovers ! (mines a Ginger Biscuit Paul)
It was Pete Jacques. He used to be a teacher at Edlington Comp.

 Another little story about Pete Jacques apart from being a teacher that related with us lot of Edlo reprobates, was half a dozen of us 5th formers that were leaving sodded of to the Greyhound one lunchtime and were sat drinking half apiece Pete walked in looked over and clocked us, we thought oh shit, he walked over to us said hmnn your all leaving in the next day or two went to the bar and bought us all half apiece
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on March 01, 2017, 01:35:28 am
What year were you in 5th form DR?
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Dagenham Rover on March 01, 2017, 07:31:30 am
Joined the Army May 74
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on March 01, 2017, 11:37:59 am
I was a fifth former in 1972. Knew quite a few people in your year though. Probably all from Tickhill though as that was where I was from.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BobG on March 01, 2017, 09:33:27 pm
Roversontheup. You and I look like we're exactly the same age. So yes. Davis definitely rings a bell. Not sure about the Christian name but that's senility catching up with me. He was a year younger than you and I. He was at Danum. And he was a nice lad too.

Bob
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversontheup on March 01, 2017, 10:31:47 pm
Hi Bob. Mike Davis was a really nice guy and a very good basketball player.  In those days Panthers had a very good team.  I played basketball with his sister Pam and his mum Julie.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: colfromdonny on March 02, 2017, 02:36:20 pm
There was a lad in the year below me at Danum who was a regular in the Panthers team. I've been struggling for his name for ages though. He wasn't very tall though so I think that held him back in the end.

BobG
Was he called Fred??
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Dr Fundlekrotch on March 03, 2017, 12:17:56 am
I was lucky enough to have occasional coaching from Ian Day at Hallcross from U14s upwards and when I played in the senior league for Hallcross Hornets.  He was a great bloke. Mind you, he was coaching an exceptional team (if I say so myself) - we lost to Campsmount in our very first game and then never lost again in 4 years. Between '83 and '87, basketball was a massive sport at Hallcross

Trying to find out about Ian Day's career since, there is very little on the net, although it seems he may be teaching psychology at Hallcross now
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Crowle Rover on March 03, 2017, 07:30:55 am
I remember Channel 4 showing quite a few live games in the 80s.

Me too. Weren't Doncaster called Doncaster Ziebart during this period?
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Donnywolf on March 03, 2017, 07:56:44 am
Certainly rings a bell with me. Came straight from memory bank when I saw it !
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Dr Fundlekrotch on March 03, 2017, 08:23:54 am
They did take on sponsors names and Ziebart rust-proofing was one of them.  They were John Carr Panthers for most of the period that I watched them
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BobG on March 03, 2017, 10:54:36 pm
Wilson Panthers is the name I remember most though Ziebart does ring a very faint bell too.

I wonder who set them up and who had the drive and the ambition to make them the side they became?

Cheers

BobG
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversdude on March 04, 2017, 10:13:54 am
It's a shame that they disappeared- it was always good that whilst Rovers seldom got a mention in the sporting world (at that time) Panthers and Belles were at the top of their game and flew the flag for Doncaster sport
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: idler on March 04, 2017, 12:05:09 pm
Didn't Maurice Wordsworth have a lot to do with them at the start?
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversdude on March 04, 2017, 12:45:22 pm
That's a name I've not heard in a long time Idler
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: winegums on March 04, 2017, 02:10:56 pm
They were also sponsored  by John Carr for a while and had Anthony "juice" Joseph and another guy called the Hollywood hoopster playing for them.he was called this because he played a waiter in a Lethal Weapon film. Think it was the second one.

You must have gone to watch them at the same time as me in the early 90s. The guy that was in the film was a short arse for a basket ball player but I can't remember his name. Dave Middleton I think it was, was the coach
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: roversdude on March 04, 2017, 02:40:36 pm
I think he was a teacher at DGS in my time there
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: eastender on March 04, 2017, 02:55:37 pm
Wilson Panthers is the name I remember most though Ziebart does ring a very faint bell too.

I wonder who set them up and who had the drive and the ambition to make them the side they became?

Cheers

BobG

Here you are Mr Bob. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doncaster_Panthers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doncaster_Panthers)
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BobG on March 04, 2017, 03:13:02 pm
I really didn't know they were established so long ago Eastender. Thank you.

BobG
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: knockers on March 04, 2017, 09:36:51 pm
They were also sponsored  by John Carr for a while and had Anthony "juice" Joseph and another guy called the Hollywood hoopster playing for them.he was called this because he played a waiter in a Lethal Weapon film. Think it was the second one.

You must have gone to watch them at the same time as me in the early 90s. The guy that was in the film was a short arse for a basket ball player but I can't remember his name. Dave Middleton I think it was, was the coach
He was a small guy for a basketball player and  the games I mainly saw were at the Dome
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: Pancho Regan on March 04, 2017, 09:41:16 pm
Roversontheup. You and I look like we're exactly the same age. So yes. Davis definitely rings a bell. Not sure about the Christian name but that's senility catching up with me. He was a year younger than you and I. He was at Danum. And he was a nice lad too.

Bob

Hi Bob, I was in the year below you at Danum and the lad you're thinking of was my classmate Mick Davies.
A great guy, always had a smile on his face, and an excellent basketball player despite the fact he wasn't tall.
His parents had a corner shop / off license on the junction of Beckett Road and ..... that road that led up to the hospital.

I went right through school with Mick, at Kingfisher then Wheatley Hills High School for Boys then Danum Grammar.

I was always in awe of Mick cos his school sports bag was a Doncaster Panthers hold-all!

 
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: BobG on March 05, 2017, 12:23:32 am
Well, well Pancho :) Hello. I'm very glad to make your acquaintance. I had no idea. I presume you will remember Harry Gledhall? I think it was Kingfisher he was head of - though it might have been Nightingale! Anyway, if it was Kingfisher you'll remember him and his very memorable arm. Did you know Denis Healey while you were at Wheatley Hills? I'm not sure if he'd left by that time and moved to the Education Office in Princes Street but he was the head at Wheatley Hills for a good while.

What happened to Mick? I've not seen sight nor sound of him since I left.

If you'd care to use PM's or email just let me know :)

Cheers

BobG
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: moses on March 06, 2017, 04:51:02 pm
How many fans are Danum eagles getting for a typical home game?

Also what numbers of away support follow basketball teams around the country?

That Doncaster panthers v sunderland game i was at back in early 1980s had a section of Sunderland fans at adwick

I went on Sunday to see them play against West London, it was a brilliant game. My cousins lad plays.
Only about 25 there watching though.
Hopefully back in Donny next year.
Title: Re: Anyone recall the Doncaster Panthers
Post by: PantherDude on December 08, 2017, 04:31:03 pm
Anyone wanting to know about the original Doncaster Panthers Basketball Club/Team, just type in Doncaster Panthers - Wikipedia on your Internet Explorer to get all the facts.