UWIC Archers
As we know it today UWIC Archers senior women began as simply a student-led university based team that competed solely in the BUSA (British Universities Sports Association – now BUCS) competition. 10 years on and the UWIC Archers are a semi-professionally run national club based at a university – and there is a difference!
From our profile-leading EBL Division 1 women’s programme boasting British international players, coaches & management; to the EBL Div 3 men’s team and the Archers Junior Academy with over 100 members ranging from 5 up to 18 years old both girls & boys - the UWIC Archers club is creating an impact on a local, national & international stage.
Internal competition does not get much stronger than our women’s programme with in addition to the Division 1 team there is an EBL Division II team, and two BUCS teams, of which the 1st team is back-to-back BUCS National Champions in 2008 & 2009.
UWIC sport is steeped in 60 years of history producing Welsh greats such as Olympic Gold Medallist Lynn ‘the leap’ Davies, British Lion & Welsh International rugby stars Gareth Edwards & JJ Williams whom all have graced the famous Cyncoed campus to train and obtain degrees. This pedigree and elite ambition continues through several sports on Cyncoed campus, none-more-so than the UWIC Archers women’s basketball programme.
Title sponsors such as ‘Bovema/UK’ and partners such as ‘UWIC Performance Sport’, ‘Cardiff School of Sport’ and ‘Total Teamwear’ have changed the way UWIC Archers Women’s programme operates and afforded us the ability to step up a level and compete with the best in Britain alongside achieve aspirations of becoming a hub for current & future Great Britain talent leading into London 2012 and beyond.
The Archers mission is to play in Europe, alongside sustain one of the elite centres for British female basketball talent. Our 24/7 programme offers players the opportunity not only to perform on the highest stage but develop as an athlete & a basketball player with international level sports science support, facilities and coaching. The Archers Junior Academy also offers the opportunity for home-grown talent to see their development from playground to podium and emulate the role-models they see compete on their door-step in the Archers Arena on a Saturday to the Great Britain Archers representation on the international stage.
Key dates in UWIC women’s basketball history:
Sept. 2009 UWIC Archers add another BUCS team to their current 3 teams. The programme now consists of EBL Div 1, EBL Div 2, BUCS Premier & BUCS 2A teams.
April 2009 UWIC Archers progress to first EBL Division 1 Play-Off Final losing to Sheffield Hatters
April 2009 UWIC Archers finish second season in EBL Division 1 in 2nd place to league winners Sheffield Hatters
March 2009 UWIC Archers repeat BUCS championship title beating London Met. to accumulate an un-beaten run of 26 wins over 2 seasons.
Jan 2009 UWIC Archers progress to first National Cup Final losing to Sheffield Hatters
Sept. 2008 UWIC Archers are acknowledged as a UWIC Athletics Union ‘Focus Sport’ – 2 more bursary scholarships followed & increased S&C support provided.
March 2008 UWIC Archers won their 1st BUCS (then BUSA) Championship title, beating Team Northumbria 80-79 at the buzzer
Sept. 2007 UWIC Archers re-brand entire club, replacing UWIC Stealers (women), UWIC (men) & UWIC Academy of Basketball (juniors)
Aug. 2007 UWIC’s Dean of the Cardiff School of Sport, Dave Cobner agrees to support 2 Masters Scholarship athletes. Great Britain captain Stef Collins & Latvian international & ex-Rhondda Rebel Ilze Zekite join the Archers.
May 2007 Bovema/UK & MD David Fitzpatrick become main sponsor of the UWIC Archers
2006-07 UWIC Stealers won Division 2 League & Play-Off (promoted to Division 1)
March 2006 UWIC Stealers finished joint 3rd in EBL Division II South
Oct. 2005 Head Coach Mark Royal stepped down after 6 games into National League – Damian Jennings stepped up from Assistant to Head Coach
Sept. 2004 Due to an England Basketball re-shuffle of regional divisions UWIC Stealers chose to go back down to Division 2 South
Sept. 2001-2004 UWIC Stealers sustained a Play-Off finishing league position in the top-flight British league
March 2002 UWIC finished 3rd in BUSA Final 8 competition
Sept. 2001 UWIC Stealers employed Damian Jennings as Assistant National League Coach & Head Coach of BUSA (now BUCS) team to be mentored by Mark Royal (EBL Head Coach).
Sept. 2001 UWIC Stealers were promoted to National League Division 1 on the back of a 3rd place Play-Off Finish & a Trophy Final
Sept. 2000 Lucy Power and Ruth Murphy set up National League programme, UWIC Fins re-named as UWIC Stealers & entered England Basketball’s National League ‘Division 2 South’ & employed the internationally experienced Mark Royal to Head Coach the national league team.
Sept. 1999 UWIC Fins compete in BUSA & WEBBA league based from the University under head Coach Vic Flemming & Manager Lucy Power.
