Basketball buzz as Rockets chase national finals double

Basketball fever is gripping Birmingham - with the city 's biggest club chasing national glory on two fronts this Saturday.

City of Birmingham Rockets ' men 's and women 's first teams will both compete in National League play-off finals at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester after winning their respective semi-finals.

The Rockets men overcame Worcester Wolves by 70-55 in front of a sell-out crowd at Nechells Wellbeing Centre last Saturday to set up a final showdown with St Helens Saints.

And, on the same evening, the women 's team edged Nottingham University Wildcats 61-57 to clinch a final spot against Sheffield Hatters.

Success in the play-offs would be a fitting way to round off a landmark season in the club 's 20-year history.

Founded in 2003 to provide young people from Birmingham and surrounding areas with a pathway to play basketball, the Rockets are becoming an important part of the city 's sporting landscape.

The club engages more than 1,300 players each week across a range of programmes, including a 14-team junior and adult high-performance setup.

The men 's and women 's first teams will be playing in the National Basketball League 's top-flight for the first time next season after winning their respective Division Two sections.

Game nights are attracting new supporters too - with the last five home fixtures at Nechells Wellbeing Centre selling out.

Founder and CEO Robert Palmer believes the club is delivering on its mission to bring top-class basketball back to Birmingham - something that has been missing from the city's sports scene since the demise of the Birmingham Bullets, the professional franchise who went into liquidation in 2006.

Rob said: “Saturday will be a huge day not only for the Rockets community, but for the whole city.

“The season has been an unprecedented success and with both our men and women representing the city in National Finals, we can safely say that Birmingham once again has a basketball club to be proud of.

"Our players, coaches, staff and volunteers have been outstanding in our quest to drive the club forward.

“The support from the people of Birmingham has been fantastic and we look forward to building on this successful season in the years to come."

The Rockets are seeking expressions of interest from fans who are interested in travelling to Manchester for Saturday 's finals - find out more information.

The club are also looking to work with new partners ahead of their first season in National League One in 2023/24.

To find out more about partner opportunities with the club, contact [email protected]