Following the double success of winning EBL Division 3 North, and gaining promotion, the Durham Wildcats have gained further honours in England Basketball’s end of season Awards.
Each Division has two awards, one for Coach of the Year, and one for Player of the Year, and the Wildcats have scooped both titles for Division 3 North. Dave Elderkin has taken the coach award, while Paul Elderkin has captured the player’s – a unique achievement, as it is the first time a father and son have won the two awards in any division!
A delighted Paul, who is recognised around the league as one of its best defensive players, as well as a high scorer, says “It's an honour and a privilege to be voted most valuable player in a league which has so many good players”. It was a difficult year, for me with so many injuries, and that makes the award even more pleasing. I want to thank my team mates and the coaching staff for all the hard work and support that made the season such a success.”
While for Paul this is the first such award that he has gained, Dave’s last accolade came eighteen years ago, when he was BBL Coach of the Month for January, having just guided Sunderland to the National Cup.
“If anything, this one gives me even more satisfaction” he comments. “The Sunderland team was professional, but the success at Durham has been achieved with a squad of amateur players, most still young, and all still learning.
“I’m naturally delighted personally, but also I’m very pleased for the club. A coach can only be as good as the players with whom he works, and this award is a testament to the effort and commitment that they have put in throughout the season.”
Four years ago the Durham Club were playing Local League, but now only England Basketball Division 1 separates them from Elderkin senior’s first club Sunderland, now playing out of Newcastle Arena as Newcastle Eagles.
The partnership of the Wildcats, Durham University and Team Durham are already planning the programme for the next two years; could it just be that in the not too distant future we might be able to look forward to a local Derby!

The Durham Wildcats partnership with Durham University continues to blossom with news that the University has secured funding for four £2,000 postgraduate scholarships for female players wishing to further their education whilst continuing to play basketball.
The emphasis during the first two years of the partnership was on men’s basketball where the university club have secured back to back promotions to BUCS Northern Conference Division 1 whilst the Durham Wildcats have recently secured promotion to England Basketball National League Division 2.
Despite further significant developments for the men’s programme expected within the next two months, both the University and the Wildcats are excited by the fact that the women’s programme is now equally well placed to develop. Thoughts have immediately shifted to the 2009/10 season where the focus for the women will be on securing promotion to the BUCS Northern Premier League and establishing a National League programme.
The scholarships apply to any postgraduate degree available at Durham University, an institution that is renowned throughout the world for academic excellence and enhancing career progression. With a full time coaching structure now in place for men’s and women’s basketball this should be an attractive option for female players who want to develop as players whilst also continuing their University education.

For further information on the scholarship opportunities please contact:
Quentin Sloper, Assistant Director of Sport
Tel: 0191 334 2193
Email: q.r.sloper@dur.ac.uk