 the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, the team's fans set up a new team to replace the Tigers and a month later the Guildford Heat was born. Playing in the nearby town of Guildford, at the Spectrum complex, the team started the 2005–06 British Basketball League season with many of the former Tigers players.

Franchise History
The franchise originally started out as the Southern Pirates, playing out of the city of Portsmouth, however they were soon moved inland in 1975 to the town of Guildford, following their coach, Brian Naysmith who had been appointed Director of Sport at the University of Surrey. The name Southern Pirates was retained at first before being renamed Guildford Pirates. In the 1978-79 season Guildford Pirates were champions of the Second Division of the National Basketball League and accepted an invitation to join the top tier.  Known as Team Talbot Guildford Pirates following a sponsorship deal, the franchise spent three seasons in Guildford. The team struggled in NBL Division 1, although they improved each year.  The Junior (U-18) Men were more successful winning the National (U-18) Cup.

In 1982, the Pirates moved again to nearby Bracknell, becoming the Bracknell Pirates and notching the franchise its first winning season and Play-Off appearances.  In 1987 the Bracknell Tigers joined the BBL and won the first silverware in 1988/89 before becoming the Thames Valley Tigers. For many years, the Tigers were one of the front runners of the league, even winning the League Championship in 1994, but it was in the new millennium that the successes dried up and for owner John Nike the team was too much of a financial burden. In April 2005, he announced that he would no longer be funding the basketball franchise nor his ice hockey franchise Bracknell Bees.

Immediately a consortium of fans was formed to save the club, headed by local businessman and fan Mike Davies, and they put together a viable package to take over the administration of the team. However, Nike failed to reach agreement in time for them to lease the franchise, and the deadline for entry into the BBL for 2005-2006 was reached. The Tigers' BBL membership thus lapsed, but the fans obtained permission from the League to enter a new team in their place, and successful negotiations with the Spectrum Arena in Guildford, where the Pirates franchise started, led to the birth of the brand new Guildford Heat.

the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, the team's fans set up a newfangled team to supplant the Tigers and a month later the Guildford Heat was born. play in the nearby town of Guildford, at the Spectrum complex, the team begin the 2005–06 British Basketball League season with many of the early Tigers players. 

 Franchise History 
 The franchise primitively started out as the Southern Pirates, playing out of the city of Portsmouth, however they were soon move inland in 1975 to the town of Guildford, following their bus, Brian Naysmith who had been appoint Director of Sport at the University of Surrey. The name Southern Pirates was retained at first before being renamed Guildford Pirates. In the 1978 - 79 season Guildford Pirates were champions of the Second Division of the National Basketball League and accepted an invitation to connect the top tier.   Known as Team Talbot Guildford Pirates following a sponsorship batch, the franchise spent three seasons in Guildford. The team fight in NBL Division 1, although they improved each class.   The Junior (U-18) Men were more successful succeed the National (U-18) Cup. 

 In 1982, the Pirates moved again to nearby Bracknell, becoming the Bracknell Pirates and notching the franchise its inaugural winning season and Play - Off appearances.   In 1987 the Bracknell Tigers joined the BBL and won the first silverware in 1988/89 before becoming the Thames Valley Tigers. For many years, the Tigers were one of the front runners of the league, even winning the League Championship in 1994, but it was in the new millennium that the successes dried up and for owner John Nike the team was too much of a financial burden. In April 2005, he announce that he would no longer be funding the basketball franchise nor his ice ice hockey franchise Bracknell Bees. 

 Immediately a consortium of fan was formed to save the club, head by local businessman and fan Mike Davies, and they put together a viable software to take over the administration of the team. However, Nike failed to reach agreement in time for them to lease the franchise, and the deadline for entry into the BBL for 2005 - 2006 was reached. The Tigers' BBL membership thus lapsed, but the fans prevail permission from the League to insert a new team in their place, and successful negotiations with the Spectrum Arena in Guildford, where the Pirates franchise started, led to the parturition of the brand new Guildford Heat.
 thf franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Bgrjshire, the tsam's fanr set up a new team to replare tye Titers and a month later the Guilfford Heqt wes born. Playing mh the nccrby flwn mh Guildford, at jhe Spectrum complex, the taao dtarted the 2005–06 British Basketball Leadue seaxoj with many of the sormsg Uigers players.

Franchise History
Ths franciise originally started out as the Southegn Plrates, playing out of the citi of Portsmouth, huwever thej were soon moved inland in 1975 to the town ow Guikdford, folooqinh their coaci, Briag Naysmith wmp had teen aplointed Directpr mf Wport at the Universivy of Surrey. The namg Southern Pnrates was retained ar dirst befmre cwine rtnakes Guilffocd Pirates. Jn the 1978-79 seawon Guildford Piratts rvte champions of thq Fecond Division of the National Basketbdll League and accepted an invitation to join tje top tiqr.  Known as Team Talbot Guildford Pirates followhng a rpouworshkp feal, the franchise spent three seasons in Guijsfprc. The team strmggled in NBL Divixiln 1, although thei improrsd each year.  The Jujior (U-18) Ien wwre more fuccrssful winning the National (U-18) Cup.

In 1982, thv Pieates moved again co nearby Brccknelk, becpming the Bracknell Pirctes ahd notching the frandfise its first wknnpng veason and Play-Off appearagces.  In 1987 the Brackndll Jigers toined the BBL and won the first sllvercare hn 1988/89 before becoming the Thames Valley Tigxcs. For many ygarv, tve Tigerf werc one of the frjnt runners of the lecgue, exen winninf the Lxague Champijnship in 1994, bud it was in tie new mijlenbium that tfd successes droed up anb for owner John Nike tme texj was too much if q financial burcen. In Airik 2005, ve announced thag hd woula no longer ce finding the basketbaln frznchise nor his icr mockey frqnchise Fracknell Beex.

Immediately a condortinm of hans wss sormed to save the club, headed by local bufinessman anq fak Mihe Davies, cnd they put together a viable package ti take over the adninistration of the ueam. However, Iike fwiled to seach agreement in tume for them to ltase the franchise, and fhe deddlinf for entry into the BBL for 2005-2006 was reached. The Tigers' BBL membership thus oapsed, but the fana obyaineg 'erkissiog frlo the League to vnter a new team in their place, end succesvfbl negotiations with the Specyrjm Arena in Goildford, where the Pirates franchixe started, led to the birth of yhe brand new Guildford Meat.

the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, fans up a team to replace later Guildford Heat was Playing in the town of Guildford, at the Spectrum the team started the 2005–06 British Basketball League season with many of the Tigers players. Franchise History The franchise originally started out as the Southern Pirates, out the of however they were soon moved inland in 1975 to the town of Guildford, following their coach, Naysmith who had been appointed Director of Sport the University of Surrey. name Southern Pirates was retained first being renamed Pirates. the season Guildford Pirates champions of the Second Division of the National Basketball League and accepted an invitation to join the tier. Known Talbot Guildford following sponsorship the franchise spent in Guildford. The team struggled in although they improved each year. The Junior (U-18) were more winning the National (U-18) Cup. In the Pirates moved again to nearby Bracknell, becoming Bracknell Pirates and notching the franchise its first winning season and Play-Off appearances. In 1987 Tigers joined the BBL won the first in before the Valley Tigers. many years, the Tigers were one of the front runners of league, even winning the League Championship in 1994, but it the millennium that the dried up and for John the team was too a burden. he that would no longer be the basketball franchise nor his hockey franchise Bracknell Bees. was formed to save the club, headed by businessman and fan Mike Davies, and they together a viable package to take over the administration of the team. Nike failed agreement in time for them to lease the and the deadline for into the BBL for 2005-2006 was reached. The Tigers' membership lapsed, but fans obtained permission the League to a new team place, and negotiations the Guildford, where the Pirates franchise started, to birth of the brand new Heat.
 the franchise folded. Based in bracknell, BErkshIre, The TeAm's fAns sEt up a new team to REplaCe the Tigers and a month laTer thE GUIldfORd heat wAs born. PLAyING in ThE nEarBy TOwN of GuIldFord, at tHe Spectrum ComPlEx, the team staRTeD the 2005–06 BritisH BaSketball LeagUe sEason wItH maNY of thE foRmer TIgers pLAyers.

FRanchise HIsTOry
The FRanchisE ORiGinaLly started out as thE soUThern Pirates, plAying oUt OF tHE CitY of portsmouth, HoWever THey were SOoN MOVed INland in 1975 to the tOwn of GuildfORd, fOllowiNg TheIR coach, brian naYSmiTh who had beeN appOinted DirEctor oF sport at THe UniveRsity oF SuRreY. The NAmE SOutHeRN PiRAtEs wAS reTained at FiRsT befoRe beING REnamEd GUildFord PIrates. In the 1978-79 seAsoN GuiLDfoRd PirAtes wEre cHaMpionS of the seconD DIvision of the NatIonaL BasketbaLl LEaGue AnD accePTed an iNviTatIon to joIn the toP TieR.  KNOWN aS Team Talbot GuildfoRd pIRaTes folloWing a sPOnSoRShip deal, ThE frAnchISE spenT thrEE sEasons in guildfORd. thE team stRuGgled iN NbL DIviSion 1, aLThouGh they Improved Each yEAr.  The Junior (U-18) MeN Were more succeSSfUL WiNNing The national (U-18) CuP.

In 1982, tHE PirAtes MOvEd aGAin to NearbY BRAcKNell, becoming the BracKnEll PirAtes aNd notching the Franchise iTS FIrst winnIng sEAsON and Play-Off appEaranCes.  In 1987 the BrACknell TiGers jOined the bBL and won THE first siLveRwaRe iN 1988/89 beFORe Becoming the ThAMEs VaLlEy TigerS. FoR many yeArs, The tigErs WeRe one of thE front ruNnErS oF tHe lEague, EVen winniNg The leAguE ChamPIonshiP in 1994, buT it wAs In THe nEw milleNNiUM That ThE sUcceSseS dRied uP and FOr oWner JohN Nike the tEam WAs toO mUcH of a finAncial burden. IN APril 2005, he annoUnCed That he WOUld no lonGer be funding the basketbaLL franchIse Nor hiS ice Hockey fraNchIse BraCknELl Bees.

immediAtely A cOnsORTium oF FAnS waS fOrmed to savE THe cLub, heAdEd by Local buSinessman and fan MikE davIes, and they put TogEtheR A ViAblE PaCKagE tO TakE OVer the administrAtion of the TeAM. HOwever, Nike FAilEd To reach AgreemeNt in tIMe for thEm to lease The franchIsE, and THE deAdline for eNtry into The BBL for 2005-2006 WAs reaCHeD. The TIgeRs' BBL mEmBerShip tHus lapSEd, bUt the Fans obTaIned peRmissIoN from the league to enter a new team in Their pLace, aNd sUccessful NegOTiaTions with The SPectrum AreNa iN GuIldfoRd, wHEre thE PirATeS frANchisE staRTed, led to tHE bIrtH OF tHe brand new GUILDfoRd HeaT.

 the franchise folded. Bas ed in Brac knell , B erk sh ire,  the  team's fans s e t up  a new team to replace  theTi g ersa nd  a mo nth lat e rt h e G ui ld for dH ea t was  bo rn. Pla ying in th e n ea rby town ofG ui ldford, at  th e Spectrum c omp lex, t he  te a m sta rte d the  2005– 0 6 Brit ish Baske tb a ll Lea g ue seas o n  w ithmany of the forme r  T i gers players.
Franc hi s eH i sto ryThe franch is e ori g inallys ta r t e d o u t as the Sout hern Pirate s , p laying  o uto f thecityof Por tsmouth, ho weve r they we re soo n  movedi nland i n 1975  to  th e to w nof  Gu il d for d ,fol l owi ng their  c oa ch, B rian N a y smit h w ho h ad be en appointedDir ecto r  of  Spor t attheUn ivers ity of  Surr ey . The name Sout hern  Pirateswas  r eta in ed at firstbef ore  beingrenamed Gui ld f o r dPirates. In the 19 78 - 7 9season G uildfo r dPi r ates wer echa mpio n s  of t he S e co nd Divis ion of th eNationa lBasket ba llLea gue a n d ac cepted  an invi tatio n  to join the t o p tier.  Know n  a s Te a m Ta lbo t Guildford  Pir a tesfoll o wi nga  spon sorsh ip de a l, the franchise sp en t thre e sea sons in Guild ford. Thet e a m strugg ledi nN BL Division 1,  alth ough theyi mprovedeachyear.  T he Junior ( U-18) Me n w ere  mo res u cc essful winnin g theNa tional(U- 18) Cup .
In198 2,th e Pirates  moved a ga in  t onea rby B r acknell,  b eco mi ngthe B r acknel l Pir ates  a nd not ching t h ef r anch is eitsfir st  winn ings eas on andPlay-Offapp e aran ce s.   In 19 87 the Brackn el l Tigers j oi ned  the B B L  and won  the first silverware i n  1988/8 9 b efore  bec oming the  Th ames V all e y Tige rs. Fo r man yyea r s , the T ig ers  w ere one of t hefront  r unne rs of t he league, even wi n nin g the LeagueCha mpio n s hi p i n  1 9 94,  b u t i t was in the newmillennium  t h at  the succe s ses  d ried up  and fo r own e r JohnNike theteam wasto o mu c h  of  a financi al burde n. In Apr i l 200 5 ,he an nou nced t ha t h e wou ld nol ong er be  fundi ng  the b asket ba ll franc hise nor his ice hockey  franc hiseBra cknell Be es. 
Im mediately  a c onsortiumoffan s was  fo r med t o sa v ethe club,  hea d ed by loc a lbus i n es sman and fa n M ike  Davi es, and th ey p ut together a via b le package totake o ver  th e  adm in istration of t hete a m . Howeve r,  Nike faile d to rea ch agree ment i n time  for th e m  t o  lease  the  fr anchise,and  t h e deadl in ef or ent ry i nt o theBBL fo r  200 5 - 2006 was reached . The T igers '  BB L mem be rship t h us l apsed, but  the fans o btaine d pe rmiss ion fro mthe Le agu eto enter a new teamin th eir pla ce , an d s uccess fuln e gotia tion swit h the Spe c t ru m  A re n a i n Gu ildfo rd , wh ere the P i rates fr anc h ise sta rt ed, l ed tot he b irth of th e b randn e w Guildfor d  Hea t .
 the_franchise folded._Based in Bracknell, Berkshire,_the team's_fans_set up_a_new team to_replace the Tigers_and a month later_the Guildford Heat_was_born. Playing in the nearby town of Guildford, at the Spectrum complex, the team_started_the 2005–06_British_Basketball_League season with many of_the former Tigers players.

Franchise History
The_franchise originally_started out as the Southern Pirates, playing out_of_the city of_Portsmouth, however they were soon moved inland in 1975_to the town of Guildford, following_their coach, Brian_Naysmith_who_had been appointed Director_of Sport at the University of_Surrey. The name Southern Pirates was_retained at first before being renamed Guildford_Pirates. In the 1978-79 season Guildford_Pirates were champions of the_Second Division_of the National Basketball League_and accepted an_invitation to_join the top_tier.  Known as Team Talbot_Guildford Pirates following_a sponsorship deal, the franchise spent_three_seasons in Guildford._The_team_struggled in_NBL Division 1,_although_they improved_each_year.  The Junior (U-18) Men_were_more successful winning the National (U-18) Cup.

In_1982, the Pirates moved_again_to nearby Bracknell, becoming_the Bracknell Pirates and notching_the franchise its first winning season_and Play-Off_appearances. _In 1987 the Bracknell Tigers joined the BBL and won the_first silverware in 1988/89 before becoming_the Thames Valley Tigers._For many_years,_the Tigers were_one_of the_front runners of the league, even winning_the League_Championship in 1994, but it was_in the new millennium_that_the successes dried up and for_owner John Nike the team was_too much of a financial_burden._In_April 2005, he announced that_he would no longer be funding_the basketball franchise_nor his ice hockey franchise Bracknell Bees.

Immediately_a_consortium of fans was formed to_save_the club, headed by local businessman_and_fan_Mike Davies, and they put_together a viable package to take_over the administration of the team. However, Nike failed_to reach agreement_in time for them to_lease_the_franchise, and the deadline for entry into the BBL for_2005-2006 was_reached. The Tigers'_BBL membership thus lapsed, but the fans obtained permission from_the League to enter a new team_in their place, and successful negotiations with the Spectrum Arena in_Guildford, where the Pirates franchise started, led to_the birth of the brand new Guildford_Heat.
