BOTI NAGY
December 28, 2007 03:30pm

BASKETBALL
Revisionists in Adelaide would have you believe the 36ers were born as an NBL club in 1985 with the merger of the state's  district clubs to form one entity.

That'd be wrong.

The 36ers really were born in 1982 as Adelaide City Eagles after Forestville Eagles had stepped aside on the season's eve, the composite club replacing them as SA's second NBL competitor.

The league launched in 1979 with West Adelaide Bearcats and Glenelg Tigers (eventually Noarlunga City, now Southern) as SA's two bold pioneers.

The financial and playing toll too great on the Tigers, they bailed and were replaced by West Torrens Eagles in 1980. When the Eagles shifted into Forestville Stadium a year later, they changed to the club's current name.

But after two years, the Eagles had landed with a thud, prompting clubs in SA to band together behind one composite entity.

In deference to the Eagles, that nickname was retained as the Adelaide Basketball Club was born. But after one year as Eagles, the club sought a more readily identifiable SA name.

The 36ers - a reference to the founding of Adelaide in 1836 - was adopted and in 1983, the new name started its brand life.

Forestville's Chris Stirling was Adelaide's original captain in 1982, David Winslow and Reg Biddings its import tandem. In 1983, Winslow was promoted to the captaincy, Wayne McDaniel joining him as the second import.
The NBL champion in 1982 and runner-up in 1983, West Adelaide found it could no longer continue as a single club after an tough 11-13 season in 1984.

When the Bearcats merged in with the 36ers in 1985, Adelaide's singularity as SA's NBL club was complete. But it's not
where the club began.

Original Article