Lothian Basketball Association

SCOTTISH BASKETBALL -  the tip-off

Though invented in 1891 in the United States by Dr James Naismith, a Scot whose parents came from Ayrshire, basketball was not 'officially' recognised in Scotland until 1946.  The SCPR convened a meeting in November of that year to explore the possibilities of this 'new' game.

Details of the early meetings are very sketchy but with the assistance of enthusiastic volunteers, particularly J A (Jock) Kerr Hunter, the Amateur Basketball Association of Scotland was formed. The sport took off and the first national championships took place at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow in conjunction with the World Football and Sports Pageant. These took place at the time of the Great Britain v Rest of Europe football match. A Men's game versus England was also arranged.

The English Association had been formed prior to the war and their team represented Great Britain in the London Olympics in 1948. A feature of that year was the visit of the US Olympic team to Edinburgh, playing an exhibition game in Princes St Gardens.  The first fully representative British team was selected in March 1960 after the British Championships held at the USAF base at Kirknewton.

In September 1966 the Association opened its first office at 43 George Street, Edinburgh later transferring to 8 Frederick Street before settling in its new Headquarters at the Gyle in 198?

1967 was an eventful year with the Scottish senior men becoming the first British team to tour the United States and Canada and Boroughmuir becoming the first Scottish (if not British) team to compete in the European Cup. The game was played at Murrayfield  Ice Rink and their opponents were the mighty Real Madrid.

1970 saw the opening of Meadowbank Sports Centre with an international against the 'Auld Enemy' and in 1971 the hosting of the FIBA (International Governing Body) Clinic for International Referees (run in conjunction with the Boroughmuir International club tournament) We also organised the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in May 1976 with, among others Yugoslavia and Italy competing.
 
Sponsorship in a big way, started in 1978 with Appleyards supporting the Scottish Cups.
Murray International Metals became involved in 1978 and this heralded a very bright period in the sport. The Association dropped the word 'Amateur' from its title in 1979 although the first 'professional' player, Chuck Chambliss, had signed for Paisley in 1976.
The Bank of Scotland came in to assist youngsters in the sport in 1981 and proved to be stalwart supporters of our game.

European Qualifying Tournaments for Senior and Junior Men were hosted by Scotland in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1982.
There was a big influx of American players in the these years and these proved so popular that the Cup Finals in 1983,1984 and 1985 had crowds of over 4,000 at Coasters Arena in Falkirk.
MIM Livingston won the World Club Championships at Crystal Palace in 1989 beating top European club sides and a national Soviet Union select in the process.
The Men's and Women's Commonwealth Championships were hosted by us in July 1991.
Although the game fell away after these halcyon days of the mid and late Eighties it is now showing signs of revival with schools reporting that it is their top indoor game and pushing football for overall popularity.