BASKETBALL Bristol Flyers set for BBL top flight

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Created on Monday, 17 June 2013 18:30

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 12:37

Published on Monday, 17 June 2013 18:30

Bristol Flyers are soaring into the British Basketball League next year.

Flyers - who will be owned by Bristol Sport Ltd - are set to tip-off in the BBL at the start of the 2014-15 season, September 2014.

Flyers will remain in English Basketball League Division One for the 2013-14 season.

Flyers are established as one of the most successful and well-supported community basketball clubs in the country outside of the BBL, securing promotion to EBL 1 in 2007, becoming National Cup winners in 2010 and EBL 1 champions in 2011.

Bristol Sport Chairman Martin Griffiths said: "The Flyers have already developed one of the best youth schemes and academy pathways in the country.

"Having performed so successfully in recent years at the top of the semi-professional leagues, it is right and proper they should be part of the UK's premier professional basketball league.

"This new Bristol Flyers BBL franchise will give the city's talented young basketball players and coaches the chance to develop and to shine at the national level. It's great news for sport in Bristol, and I am delighted that Bristol Sport has been able to make it happen."

Andy Webb, BBL chief operating officer, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Bristol Flyers to the BBL.

"They are a perfect fit to extend our reach within the UK and, with the support of Bristol Sport, we believe all the building blocks are in place for a hugely successful franchise."

• Bristol Sport Ltd will manage the Flyers' participation in the BBL alongside its existing support for Bristol City FC in the Football League, Bristol Rugby in the RFU Championship, Dino Zamporelli in GP3, along with its sponsorship via the Bristol City Community Trust of the Bristol Academy Women's Football Club's participation in the FA Women's Super League.

• The BBL - British Basketball League - is an independent company, owned by its member clubs, which has run the top men's professional league in the UK since 1987. It operates a system of franchises over the UK stretching from Plymouth in the far west to Glasgow in Scotland.

• visit Bristol Academy Flyers official website

• track @BristolFlyers on twitter

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