Sheffield Steelers

The Sheffield Steelers have six different teams/ training times to accommodate players of all abilities. In fact, last season Steelers were able to put a team in every GBWBA division possible, and this alone shows the success Sheffield Steelers have, as the club continously grows on members, players, ideas and events. Look here for some impressions of the running season 2009/ 2010.

Patients of the Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU)

Funded by the Spinal Injuries Association, this team gets patients playing sport, often in conjunction with Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy treatment. The session serves as an introduction to sport in a structured environment and patients benefit from the endorphin release of physical exercise and increased confidence. The Steelers provide the sports wheelchairs, equipment that many patients haven’t tried before.

• The team: varies depending on the patients being treated in the unit at any one time.
• Time: Tuesdays, 15:30 – 16:30
• Coach: John Robinson has been involved with the Club for 20 years. He first got into wheelchair basketball during his time as a patient at the SIU following a road traffic accident in 1984. A keen sportsman and retired javelin player, Coach Robinson concentrates on coaching and playing for the 3rd division team. He is also a member of the SIA liaison staff.

Steelers Junior Team

Players are: Maddie Thompson, Mark Scholefield, Harry Brown, Chris Rainforth, Damian Delay, Jack Waring, Joe Williams.

Steelers Junior Team is coached by Maurice Hammerton.

The GBWBA provides with the Lord Taveners Junior league different layouts for junior players to participate, for instance under 15, under 19, 8ft or 10ft baskets. Steelers Juniors play in the under 19, 10ft basket category.

Steelers Womens Team

Steelers Womens Team                                              Steelers Women classy, at the "Casino Royal" Ball 2009

Players are: Yvonne Waft, Jessica Pilkington, Jo Harper, Maddie Thompson, Jill Fox, Debee Steel, Manja Wolfram.

Coach: Tina Gordon

All players are previous or present Steelers members in other divisions apart from Debee, who plays for the irish Knights. 

3rd Division:

Our 3rd division team includes novices and intermediate players. Many of the players were introduced to the Steelers through their school road shows so there are a number of children on this team, as well as people from all backgrounds and with varying disabilities.

• The team: Chris Rainforth, Joe Williams, Paul Gregory, Paul McBentley, Steve Ryan, Sultan Al-Esayi, Damien Delay, Russell Pilkington, John Robinson, age between 14 and 60.
• Training: Tuesdays 17:30 – 19:00
• Coaches: Steve Ryan and John Robinson

1st Division - Team B: 

Just being promoted to the first division, this team are fire starters, who won all of their games last season, including the play off's 2010. The first division will challenge them on a new level and the team is looking forward to take it on. 

• The team: Mark Scholefield, Joe Caudwell and Manja Wolfram are joined by Jack Waring, Paul Hudson, Greg Johnson and Nat Craig. This team has worked it's way up the leagues and has been very successful over the last 3 years. With the preperation for 2012 paralympics, key players Harry Brown and Maddie Thompson had sadly to leave the team, however, this will also be a new challenge of growing together and working hard to proove they can hold their own in the 1st Division north.
• Training: Thursdays 18:00 – 20:00 & Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00
• Coach: Maurice Hammerton is an ex-GB international player. His current part-time post as development officer with the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation takes him all over the world.

1st Division - Team A:

This elite team includes ex-Paralympic medal winners, ex-international players and budding young hopefuls in its ranks. Their aim is to progress higher up the league and to be 1st division champions.

• The team: Jessica Pilkington, Jo Harper, Mark Cheaney, Hatim Ghanami, Liam Twigg, James Newton. With new players James and Liam, and Calum Gordon being placed in Steelers' Superleague, this team also will face new challenges which should meke the season 2011/2012 an interesting one. Steelers A are placed in the 1st Division central.
• Training: Thursdays 19:00 – 20:00
• Coach: Tina Gordon is an ex-able bodied basketball player (GB and Sheffield Hatters) who coached on different levels of wheelchair basketball such as Superleague. She is passionate about the sport and helps organising the Club as a Committee Member of Sheffield Steelers.

Super League

This team includes ex-Paralympians and a Beijing bronze medal winner.

• The team: Kevin Hayes, Steve Owen, Colin Price, Darren Greenfield, Calum Gordon, Lee Manning, Mark Scholefield, Harry Brown, Matt Rollston, Terry Bywater. Bywater playing for GB alongside 16 year old Harry Brown was key to winning the Gold in the European Championships this year. The team is consisting of past, present and future hopes for Great Britain. To see Wheelchair Basketball at high level, skills and speed, watch our Superleague at their home games.
• Training: Fridays 18:00 – 21:00
• Coach: Kevin Hayes and Steve Owen take on the job of coaches for a second year to give the team new direction and an edge.