Basketball is on the brink of becoming one of the biggest sports in the country with the creation of a new professional team and ambitious plans for a dedicated arena.
With major backing from local investors keen to promote the sport, Caledonia Pride has been taken over by Lady Rocks, a leading voluntary female basketball club in Scotland.
As they merge, the new team will go forward as Caledonia Gladiators, drawing from Caledonia Pride and JRW Gladiators which Lady Rocks was named when first established.
It will be the first and only professional women’s team with a full pathway in Scotland and plans are already under way for a purpose-built arena in Lanarkshire. Caledonia Gladiators will compete at the highest level in the WBBL and its pathway will not only develop playing talent but also attract talent from further afield to the professional outfit.
Lisa Palombo, co-founder of Lady Rocks Basketball Club, said: “Without doubt, this allows us to grow the game further. It will create greater opportunities for players, inspiring some to be seriously ambitious.
“Being able to provide a pathway for players to progress through community participation to high performance, is a first for us and for Scotland. The new franchise will also support other roles beyond playing, such as coaching, officiating and sports administration- It really is an exciting time for everyone.”
All this was made possible with the financial backing of investors, Lanarkshire-based business-couple Alison and Steve Timoney. They have a series of ambitious plans to make basketball one of the most popular sports in the country.
Steve said: “Alison and I have supported Lady Rocks women’s basketball for over 10 years. We challenged them to dream big and that’s exactly what they have done. As a result, we are working to develop a strong pathway to bring top talent to the professional basketball club with an aim to compete and win at the very top level.
“A successful professional club needs a home and we believe we can deliver a world-class venue that will set a new standard for the UK and be among the best in Europe. We are inspired by the commitment of other investors to the success of British Basketball and we are keen to build on this, believing we can lead the way across the UK and beyond.
“Our commitment, starting with a high-tech arena - a first for Scotland, will contribute to the success of the game and inspire our communities to become involved in a world leading sport.” Following a proposal by Lady Rocks to take over Caledonia Pride, offering it future stability and longevity, the Cumbernauld-based club gained full agreement from Basketball Scotland.
This means that the pro team will now move forward with Alison and Steve as the new franchise owners.
Lisa added finally: “We are genuinely overwhelmed by the continual support offered by Alison and Steve. They have believed and trusted in the work we have done as a club and it seems fitting that we get to embark on the next phase of our journey with them.”