Throwback Thursday: 40 ago Team Britvic became only Irish basketball team to land Federation Cup

THE Basketball season of 1982/1983 will be forever etched in the history of Blue Demons basketball club.

Hard to believe it is now 41 years ago, that Demons playing under the Team Britvic banner became the first and only Irish team to win the Federation Cup.

The Federation Cup was an International club competition for teams from Ireland, England and Scotland.

Team Britvic triumphed in remarkable fashion with such style and panache there was no argument as to the merit of their win.

Even more surprising was that their win was achieved at the end of a season that was far from auspicious by Team Britvic’s standards as the first half of the season was not a good experience for the club as the team suffered one upheaval after another.

Demons' new American coach Roger Dutremble was relieved of his duties with the season only a few weeks old and his place was taken by the late Peter Coughlan. The two original Americans Mike Hancock and Larry Williams were replaced by Bob Stephens and Tony ‘Sweet T’ Hafley.

Britvic were pitted against Gleneagle of Killarney in the semi-final of a two-legged encounter and the first leg was played at a sold-out Parochial Hall.

The Kerry side got off to a good start and surged into an 11-point lead but Britvic played outstanding in the second half and eventually ran out 86-73 winners with Stephens, Hafley and Andrew Houlihan superb from start to finish.

The second leg was hosted in Tralee before another capacity attendance and once again Stephens and Hafley were to the fore and with Timmy McCarthy and Gerry Wheeler also in great form Demons ran out 84-66 winners.

The other side of the draw involved Marian (Dublin), Dalkeith (Scotland), Sunderland and Scottish Cup winners Solripe who topped that group.

The Parochial Hall Gurranabraher was thronged to capacity for the first leg and the home fans saw Britvic excel with their American duo Stephens and Hafley and the outstanding John Cooney leading them to a superb 17-point win.

The return leg at the Coaster Arena in Falkirk had 5,000 partisan fans awaiting Demons for the return leg as their former coach Roger Dutremble was at the helm for the Scottish side. The first half was a close encounter with Britvic under serious pressure and at the interval Solripe led by the minimum but Demons still had a 16-point aggregate cushion.

DEPTH

Coach Peter Coughlan had to bring all his experience to the table and make some crucial decisions and the team responded despite losing 63-61 they still were 15 points to the good over the two legs (148-133).

The big contributors in the scoring charts on the night were Hafley and Timmy McCarthy but William ‘Mono’ McCarthy’ and Joe Coughlan showed the true spirit of Blue Demons with superb defensive displays.

History had been made and when Timmy McCarthy received the Cup from Duncan Hardy (SBBA) Team Britvic (Blue Demons) went into the history books as the only Irish team to win the coveted title.

The victory was celebrated joyously and when the team and their large band of travelling supporters touched down at Cork Airport they were met by several hundred delighted supporters with many local dignitaries also present to mark the occasion.

When I contacted Bob Stephens in the States he recalled this win as one of the best in his career.

“I remember it well as the supporters just went crazy in every game we played in this championship and to see grown men crying after we done the business was something that touched my heart,” he said.

Stephens believes Demons Irish players all excelled in this win.

“Solripe had a few Americans and Europeans and their stadium was state of the art and although we had given them a pasting in the first leg they were confident they would turn us over in the second.

“We had some great Irish players that showed heart and honesty beyond belief and yes the Federation Cup win is one I will never forget."

Team Britvic: 

Andrew Houlihan, Gerry Wheeler, Paudie Coughlan, Bob Stephens, Tony Hafley, Greg Creagh, Joe Coughlan, John Cooney, Tim McCarthy, William McCarthy, Sean Murphy. 

Coach: Peter Coughlan.