Former England international Ken Nottage passes away

Newcastle Eagles’ director and former England international Ken Nottage, has passed away at the age of 64.

Nottage, born in 1959, represented England and played for Solent in the NBL and Sunderland (in the NBL and BBL), before the North East franchise moved to Newcastle, where Ken’s involvement on and off the court was hugely significant.

Nottage had been involved with the Newcastle Eagles for over four decades after being recruited to the then-Sunderland franchise in 1981.

A former England international, Ken spent 14 of his 19 seasons as a professional basketball player based in the North East – leading the BBL in scoring in 1991-92, before taking over the club with managing director Paul Blake in 1999.

The popular player turned club director after holding pivotal roles off the court, firstly as chief executive of Newcastle United Sporting Club and then in the subsequent takeover of Newcastle Eagles, which led to the development of the Eagles organisation we know today, becoming the most successful British basketball team of all-time.

In addition to his directorship at the Eagles, Ken was managing director of Gloucester Rugby for 13 years, where he was the driving force behind the club’s sporting successes, seeing them top the league three times and lift three trophies, as well as commercial growth off the pitch, much like that he helped establish in Newcastle.

Further tribute will be paid to Ken in the coming weeks by the Eagles with details announced in due course.

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