Reading Rockets

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The Reading Rockets, officially Atlantis Reading Rockets by sponsorship, are a basketball club based in Reading, Berkshire that currently play in the English Basketball League. The Rockets were formed in 1997 by the current owner Gary Johnson. Won promotion at the first attempt, and in the reorganisation of 2000 they found themselves in Division One. They were there for just one season, finishing second, and beating Oxford in the Championship Final, thus winning promotion to the Conference after a mere four years in the league. A creditable seventh place finish showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers, and the following seasons they continued their seemingly inexorable rise, finishing in third and then second place. Won the National Cup, and reached EBL1 Championship Final in 2005, and were League runners-up and Cup Finalists in 2006. They are thus already firmly established among the elite teams of the EBL Source - Pawprint Basketball Services http://www.pawprint75.co.uk/Clubs/reading.htm.

Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets logo
League	EBL Division 1
Founded	1997
History	'Reading Rockets' 1997-present
Arena	Rivermeade Leisure Complex
Location	Reading, Berkshire
Team colours	Black, Red and White
Head coach	File:Titmuss Dave.jpg ‎David Titmus
Ownership	Gary Johnson

About the club

It was only in 1997 that Reading Rockets were launched and Reading first acquired a Senior men’s basketball team, since when the team has gone from strength to strength. The heart of the Rockets club is passion, vision, quality, motivation and commitment - unified with family values and standards. The club has a vision to give children from 6 years of age upwards an opportunity to play at the highest level, perform to the very best of their ability and be coached professionally. It has just finished its fifth season in the highest level of English Basketball, finishing 2nd in the league and won the National Trophy. The team plays its home games at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading and comprises players with experience of the USA game, Europe and of Div. 1 and Div. 2 coupled to young blood - the vision being for youngsters to come up through the ranks of the junior section and play in the Senior National League.

The Senior teams represent the target for the 1000 or so youngsters that are coached each week by the Reading Rockets development arm. There are some 50+ coaching sessions run in the locality for children of all ages and abilities, with some specific ones for girls only. Reading Rockets takes children from complete beginners, coaches and develops their individual talent with team dynamics. Those who wish to pursue the game competitively and maximise their development are encouraged to attend the Junior section coaching sessions for their specific age group. Depending on their age and abilities, boys and girls participate in local, regional and national competitions. The Junior section has squads that play at Under 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and a development squad for Under 9s.

Reading Rockets have been represented by both boys and girls at county, regional and national level. There are also girls only squads - Under 14, Under 18 and an Under 12 development squad. Last season a Junior scholarship programme was set up to give three selected 18 year old players the opportunity to take a year out from education to ‘be the best players they could possibly be', two are now on scholarships in the USA.

As a stepping stone into the Senior Men’s team, there are men’s teams that play in the National Division 3 and in the Regional Wessex leagues. These give an opportunity for those who are not able to make the necessary demanding training schedule of the seniors and for young folk who are seeking to break into senior basketball whilst a 'social' basketball session takes place weekly for parents to participate, have fun and socialise.

Reading Rockets are actively involved with the Active Sports and Active Communities Managers within the local authorities as well as coaching in specialist educational units and on holiday programmes. We are also leaders within the evolving Community Sports Partnerships and School/Club programmes.

Reading Rockets are at the heart of the explosion in female basketball in the UK and in three short seasons have established junior squads that play locally, regionally and nationally whilst a Ladies squad has just completed its first season on the national stage.

In June 2006 Thames Valley University and Reading Rockets Basketball club joined forces to create a Basketball Academy, one of its kind in the UK. The Academy will create a pathway for young athletes wishing to stay in a structured education environment. The students will receive individual, small group and team training sessions on a daily basis. The students will also be able to complete their coaching certificates, refereeing qualifications, basic first aid, drugs awareness courses and a host of other certificates through the Academy. TVU's Peder Madsen, Tutor and Academy Director will oversee the fitness of the athletes. Peder is a current Irish Basketball International and a key player in the Rockets team. Matt Johnson of Reading Rockets is Head Coach and oversees the whole programme, bringing in specialist coaches and players to work alongside himself and Peder.

In early 2007 Atlantis Property Services Ltd of Castle Street Reading agreed to sponsor the Reading Rockets. Announcing the deal Atlantis Property Services Ltd Director Andrew Strong said: “We believe that with this assured financial foundation, Atlantis Reading Rockets – as they are to become known – will go from strength to strength thus securing a future for top class basketball in Reading”.

2007/2008 Season

• August

• September

• October

• November

• December

• January

• February

• March

2006/2007 Season

• September - Reading Rockets have some major changes to the roster. American duo EJ Harrison and Paul Tonkovich have both moved on, with Lithuanian Tomas Kersis also not returning after only one injury prone season. In Harrison's place comes former Kingston Wildcats and Ware Rebels shooting guard Mike Williamson who subsequently moved on. Tonkovich's replacement is fellow American Steve Humphreys who joins them after graduating from Albertson College of Idaho. Joining the pair is Englishman David "Tin Tin" Watts who signs from Division Two play-off winners Mansfield Express. Also leaving the Rockets is English point guard Lloyd Gardner who returns to London Leopards having played for the first incarnation of the club in 1998/9.

• October - Rockets play their new American signing Ryan Williams for his first match against Tees Valley Mohawks. Player of the month - James Cook

• November - Rockets lose in the league for the first time this season, but recover to win their next five matches including a win against Worthing Thunder (their only league defeat of the season) and a national cup quarter final win aginst Bristol. Player of the month - Dan McKay

• December - Missing out on the National Cup Final, losing to Manchester Magic at the semi finals stage, Rockets win their other four games in the month. Player of the month - Ryan Williams

• January - Rockets win three from four during the month. Beating London Capitals twice and winning away to Tees Valley Mohawks, Player of the month - Rich Wellings

• February - Rockets suffer 3rd defeat of the season, losing to away to Worthing Thunder. Two players receive the "player of the month award" - Pedar Madsen & James Cook

File:Rockets trophy.jpg

• March - Rockets win National Trophy beating Worthing Thunder 91-85 to secure their first every National Trophy title. Rockets bounced back from their 100-84 league defeat to Worthing the week before to stun their rivals at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena. Coach Dave Titmuss paid tribute to U-18 starlets Dan McKay and Danny Carter, winning their second trophy in a week after the Rockets U-18s lifted the Sureshot National Cup in Manchester. Player of the month - Rich Wellings

• April - Rockets secure 2nd place in the league and beat Sheffield Arrows in the Play-Off quarter final. Rockets 2006/2007 season ends with them being beaten in the Play-off semi finals by Manchester Magic. Coach Dave Titmuss "Our guys played their hearts out but on this occasion we came up short. We’re not going to let this loss taint the success we’ve had this season, only those people close to our team know what we’ve had to conjure up all year to win games. We have the National Trophy in the cupboard, we finished runners up in the league which earlier in the season just did not look remotely possible. We have also gone out in the semi final stage of the play-offs to a very well coached team that produced an outstanding performance when it mattered. I offer my congratulations to Worthing and Manchester and wish both teams all the best for the final. It should be a great advertisement for EBL basketball." Player of the month - David "Tin Tin" Watts. Rockets announce that they will not move to the BBL for the 2007/2008 season preferring to stay in the EBL Division 1 where they can continue as a community club developing local players.

• May - Atlantis Reading Rockets Under 18 premier team beat Manchester Magic at Rivermead by 94 - 89 pts and progress to the National Final 4's at RAF Cosford on Sun 13th May.

Achievements

2006/2007

• National Trophy Winners 2007

• Sureshot National Cup Winners 2007 (Atlantis Reading Rockets Under 18 premier team)

• English Basketball League Division 1 Runners up

2005/2006

• English Basketball League Division 1 Play Off Champions

• English Basketball League Division 1 Runners up

• National Cup Finalists

2004/2005

• National Cup Winners

• English Basketball League Division 1 Play Off Finalists

2003/2004

• English Basketball League Division 1 Runners up

The England Baskeball website contains all the relevant information.

2006/2007 roster

4		Jamie Ashwin	Forward	Jamie recently returned from injury and is looking to establish himself firmly in the Atlantis Reading Rockets side. He began his career with Cochise College in Arizona and represented Oxford Brookes University before joining the Atlantis Reading Rockets.
5		Steve Vear	Guard	Steve recently signed from Worthing Thunder. Steve has added a new dimension to Rockets play and his agility and inventiveness is a great asset to the team. Steve first became interested in basketball when he was six years old but took the sport up seriously at the age of 14. Started playing at Ealing Tornadoes/London United and moved to Worthing Thunder in 2005.
6		Richard Wellings	Guard	Richard has achieved alot for such a young player having captained Great Britain at youth level and being named GB Under 19 National player of the year. Rich began his career with Birmingham Bullets and turned out for Biloxi High School before joining the Atlantis Reading Rockets.
7		Steve Humphreys	Forward	Steve began his career at Lassen Community College and after two years transferred to Albertson College in Idaho before crossing the water to join the Atlantis Reading Rockets in 2007. Born Nov. 19, 1981
8		Steve Tolloczko/Simon Kearney	Guard	Simon has worked his way through the ranks at the Atlantis Reading Rockets, but began his career with Taunton Tigers Juniors. Kearney has played at Under 18 level at the Rockets before making the step up to the first team. Steve has has very little court time this season, with the senior team, but continues to gain valuable experience.
9		Adam Kelly	Guard	Captain Adam Kelly represented both the Solent Stars and Poole Dolphins at Under 19 level as well as Brunel University. He has also represented the Rockets through the League's from NBL Division 2 right through to the clubs current position in EBL 1.
10		Ryan Williams	Guard	American Ryan Williams made his Atlantis Rockets debut in 2007 and recently broke the clubs scoring record with 46 points against the Solent Stars. Ryan has turned out for various sides in America including Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Salt Lake City, as well as La Rochelle before moving to the Atlantis Reading Rockets.
11		Pedar Madsen	Guard	Pedar's varied career has seen him represent Ireland Under 16's and he earned a four year scholarship at NCAA II College in America. He went to the World Student Games and was the Irish 3-point shootout champion. Pedar has also appeared for Roma (Italy) and St. Vincent in Ireland before returning to the Atlantis Reading Rockets last year.
12		Dan McKay	Guard	Dan has been widely tipped as a big star of the future, and it is a mark of his talent that he has made such an impact, despite being the youngest member of the squad. Dan played for Paws London capitals juniors as well coming through the ranks at the Atlantis Reading Rockets before joining the first team.
13		Danny carter	Centre	Another Rockets junior who has secured a place in the senior team this season. Improved performances alround and earned the right to be in the starting line up in the play-off semi final first leg.
14		James Cook	Centre	James is the oldest member of the squad and his long career has seen him represent both Oxford University and the English Universities side. He played for the Oxford Devils as well as the now defunct Thames Valley Tigers in the BBL, and spent four years at Sutton Pumas before joining the Atlantis Reading Rockets in September 2003.
15		David "Tin Tin" Watts	Forward	Affectionately known as 'Tin Tin', Watts started out with South Notts College and has 6 England Senior Caps to his name. The 6ft 9in forward has been inspirational for the Atlantis Reading Rockets this season. Tin Tin has already won six full England caps, is improving by the game and will be a tremendous asset next season. Previously he has played for South Notts College, Optica Hannut in Belgium and Mansfield Express. before signing for the Atlantis Reading Rockets in 2007.

Squad changes during 2006/07 season

In:

• Mike Williamson - Signed From Kingston Wildcats
• Steve Humphreys
• David "Tin Tin" Watts - Signed From Mansfield Express
• Ryan Williams
• Steve Vear - Signed From Worthing Thunder

Out:

• EJ Harrison - To Tees Valley Mohawks
• Paul Tonkovich - Released
• Tomas Kersis - To PATRIMONIO
• Lloyd Gardner - To London Leopards
• Mike Williamson - To Kings Lynn

Season-by-season records

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pld.	W	L	Pts.	Play Offs	Trophy	Cup
Atlantis Reading Rockets
2007-2008	EBL Div1
2006-2007	EBL Div1	2nd	24	19	3	38	Semi-Finals	Winners	Semi-Finals
2005-2006	EBL Div1	2nd	26	22	4	44	Winners	Semi Finals	Runners-Up
2004-2005	EBL Div1	3rd					Runners-Up	DNQ	Winners
2003-2004	EBL Div1	2nd	22	17	5	34	Semi-Finals	DNQ	Quarter Finals

Notable former players

• Ted Smith

• Steve Parillon

• Errol Seamen

• EJ Harrison

• Paul Tonkovich

• Tomas Kersis

• Lloyd Gardner

External links

• Official Atlantis Reading Rockets website
• Local newspaper information on the Atlantis Reading Rockets
• Pawprint
• England Baskeball website