The Sheffield Steelers Wheelchair Basketball Club is a registered charity founded in 1987 by a handful of ex-patients from the Spinal Injuries Unit at Lodgemoor, a division of the NHS Sheffield Teaching Hospital Trust. They are an inclusive club with players of all abilities, from amateur through to world-class.
The Steelers’ story is a one of sheer determination, a swift rise to success and international recognition. Within just three years of forming, many of the founding players represented Great Britain in the World Championships and finished 11th. Over the next few years the British squad became packed with Steelers and went on to win medals at the European Championships, World Championships and took the silver medal at the Paralympics in Atlanta.
Steelers players weren’t just making waves for Team GB; from their base camp at the Northern General Hospital, the dedicated players powered their way up the domestic leagues and secured the coveted Euro League Cup.
Over the past 30 years, the Sheffield Steelers Wheelchair Basketball Club has grown into a dynasty, attracting players from across the country and recruiting at all levels. The Club boasts some of the world’s best players, including two budding Paralympians, with numerous ex-players going off to start their own teams in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Wolverhampton.
The Club trains at their multi-sport training venue in the Spinal Injuries Unit at Northern General Hospital.