Wheelchair Basketball Edinburgh: Edinburgh Thistles Wheelchair Basketball Team

A SHORT HISTORY OF EDINBURGH THISTLES

by Joanne Smith

The Thistle Wheelchair Basketball Club was formed in 1976 after the disbandment of the Scottish Paraplegic Association (SPA) team with an amalgamation of players from both the east and west of Scotland.

Based in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, Thistle has played at all levels within the national league. In the early 1980's the team was the first wheelchair sports club to receive the Wilkinson Swords in honour of their momentous defeat of the until then undefeated wheelchair basketball champions LGS Jets.

Over the years the team has led the way in competition throughout the world. In 1986 they were the first British team to compete in the world's largest wheelchair basketball tournament - The Toronto Spitfire Challenge in Canada. Thistle has also competed in tournaments in Portland, Oregon (Hoop it Up Challenge), Houston, Texas (The Pasadena Shootout), USA and Nagaoka, Japan (DMS Cup). The trophy cupboard is well stocked; Thistle has both won and been runners up in a number of tournaments and National League competition.

They have had a chequered lifespan that has taken in highs - winning the National League - and lows - when they had to withdraw from National competition due to lack of players and funds. What stays true however, is the dedication of the team members and supporters in the promotion

The Present Thistles Team

of a positive attitude to wheelchair sports. The team do not see themselves as playing a game for disabled people they are sportsmen (and women) who take both the competition and the technicalities of the sport seriously.

Founding members John Smith and Tom Killin still play with the club that is now entering its 26th year. The team has had members from all over - some from as far as Mississippi, USA and others from Aberdeen and Newcastle. The commitment and dedication of everyone involved has meant that even with the difficulties that are facing teams north of the border in terms of securing sponsorship and maintaining high team rosters there is still a team known as the Thistle Wheelchair Basketball Club.