20/08/10 - National League basketball is bouncing back to Hemel Hempstead after more than a decade. The ‘Hemel Storm’ will compete in men’s Division Two and play at the former Dacorum Sports Centre, now called Sportspace, Hemel Hempstead.

The Storm’s home in Hemel Hempstead will see the Hertfordshire town regain a team 13 years after the club that is now known at Milton Keynes Lions left the area. Originally formed as Hemel Hempstead Lakers, they joined the national league in 1977 and spent most of their time in the top flight.  

Four of the Hemel Storm's new management team, Coach Dave Titmuss and wife Linda, Jon Burnell, and Tony Harrison all live in the town. Titmuss, who will be Storm's director of coaching was one of the founders of the original club in the late seventies and went on to a successful national and international coaching career after the franchise was moved to Milton Keynes.

Burnell was head coach of the London Leopards for the past six seasons and is the Storm's Associate Head Coach, and Tony Harrison, who led the former West Herts Warriors to promotion to EBL Division One is head coach. New chairman Neil McElduff and Community Programme Coach Terry Fryer join these four.   

Titmuss and Burnell both had links with the original Hemel club, with Titmuss coaching them and Burnell playing for them for several seasons.

McElduff said, "We're all very excited about the possibilities. We want to build a strong, community-based club, provide great family entertainment at our EBL home games and bring national sporting recognition to the town. The first goal for our senior men's team is to win promotion to Division One."

 "Our development strategy will see the launch in September of a 'Storm Future Stars Programme' for talented Under 14 and Under 16 boys and we eventually plan to be represented at every National League age group."

The Hemel Storm Club will be affiliated to a new basketball academy that Titmuss is establishing next year which will be based at the superb facilities in Queen's School, Bushey, Hertfordshire. Titmuss will be head coach at the academy.

"The Queen's Basketball Academy will be for 16 to 18 year-olds and provide an opportunity for youngsters to fulfil their sporting and academic potential," said Titmuss.

"We will be linked to the Hemel Storm Club so that athletes who are selected will have opportunities to play in national leagues at youth and senior levels, as well as representing the academy in other competitions and be eligible for selection to regional and national squads.

"Our technical curriculum will closely follow the requirements currently being developed as part of the Great Britain/England Basketball elite player pathway programme."

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