Oxford Hoops is celebrating its 30th anniversary and has revealed ambitions to secure a permanent facility as the club continues to grow at both junior and senior levels.
The club held its first session at Ferry Leisure Centre in Summertown in 1995, offering training and competitive opportunities for young players at a time when basketball options were limited locally.
Three decades on, Oxford Hoops now supports around 300 players. Its coaching team delivers up to 50 hours of training each week across 11 squads, including the men’s side competing in Division One of the National Basketball League.
Currently, the club relies on rented courts at Cheney School, Oxford Spires, Oxford Academy and Cherwell School. With rising costs and restricted availability, leaders say a permanent home is essential to secure Oxford Hoops’ long-term future.
Director Franky Marulanda said basketball has enormous potential to enrich lives across Oxford.
“I’m extraordinarily proud of what we’ve built from those humble early days,” he said. “Basketball reinforces skills that help on and off the court. Seeing thousands of players thrive thanks to our work has been a real privilege.”
However, Franky added that the club has “hit a ceiling” in its ability to grow. Income cannot be reinvested as needed, and operating costs continue to rise.
“A permanent home would allow us to run more teams, deliver greater impact in schools and communities, and support our coaches,” he said.
This year, Oxford Hoops celebrated one of its biggest achievements yet: promotion to Division One of the National Basketball League — the first time the senior squad has reached tier three of British basketball, competing against teams from Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester, Cardiff and Sheffield.
Without its own venue, the club cannot generate revenue from facilities, forcing first-team players to cover their own costs — something Franky hopes to change.
“It’s not right that players must pay hundreds of pounds each year to represent the city,” he said. “It affects recruitment too. While other clubs pay their athletes, we have to charge them.”
Franky also highlighted the club’s diverse membership, with many players coming from countries where basketball is the most popular sport, including China, the US, Eastern Europe and the Philippines.
“We’re often their only option for regular training and competitive play,” he said. “We’ve reached a crossroads, and with the right partners, we can grow our programmes and explore women’s and wheelchair teams. The potential is huge.”
