The Townsville Crocodiles have been gone from the NBL for almost a decade, however one passionate supporter is pushing to carry the membership again.
18-year-old Tom Gillman has launched a petition calling for the workforce’s return to the competitors. Whereas he by no means had the prospect to observe the Crocs play in individual earlier than the membership folded in 2016, he hopes his marketing campaign might help reignite basketball within the metropolis.
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Backing the hassle is Crocs legend Peter Crawford, who performed for the membership from 1999 to 2004 and once more between 2009 and 2014 and was inducted into the Basketball Queensland Corridor of Fame final yr.
In an interview with the Townsville Bulletin, Gillman spoke about his love for the NBL and his want to see the Crocs return to the court docket.
“I really like the NBL, I try to catch each sport that I can. I really like my hometown too, and I actually need to see us again within the competitors,” Tom stated.
His petition has already gathered 1,317 signatures and continues to achieve traction on-line.
“First I went to the basketball neighborhood right here in Townsville and bought a bunch of signatures after which jumped onto social media,” Tom stated.
“I even reached out to former Crocs participant and legend Peter Crawford and he stated he’d be glad to assist with the marketing campaign too.
“A decade, it’s a very long time, however there’s lots of people in Townsville who miss the Crocs and I’d like to see the workforce come again as quickly as attainable.”
The Crocodiles entered the NBL in 1998, although the franchise’s origins date again to 1993 when the workforce competed because the Townsville Suns. A trademark battle with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns compelled the membership to alter its identify to keep away from paying royalties.
Throughout 18 seasons within the NBL, the Crocs reached the finals as soon as, in 2001, the place they misplaced their collection 2-1 to the Wollongong Hawks.
The membership competed each season till the 2013-14 marketing campaign, when possession group Barrier Reef Basketball Pty Ltd relinquished its NBL licence, throwing the workforce’s future into doubt. Months later the Crocodiles returned as a neighborhood owned membership, although monetary stress ultimately compelled them to withdraw from the 2016-17 season.
Regardless of by no means successful a championship, the Crocs produced three league MVPs, together with the late Corey ‘Murder’ Williams, who received the award in 2010 throughout his third and closing season with the membership.
Tom stated he has been humbled by the response to date, with many native households desirous to signal the petition.
“Down on the stadium, accumulating signatures from dad and mom and gamers, mainly each response was ‘oh, sure, undoubtedly’. They’d like to see the Crocs again. Folks really need this workforce again,” he stated.
Basketball curiosity stays robust in Townsville, highlighted by the current championship received by the Townsville Fireplace within the WNBL, the fifth title within the franchise’s historical past.
The NBL registered the trademark for “Townsville Crocodiles” in 2022 and holds the rights to the identify till October 2030.
“I’d like to go to dwelling video games and see Townsville’s personal gamers enjoying in opposition to the opposite groups within the NBL,” Tom stated.
“It might be wonderful. A dream come true.”
To help Tom’s marketing campaign, the petition could be signed on-line.