City of Birmingham Rockets are thrilled to confirm that Birmingham basketball legend Clive Allen is returning to lead our Women’s First Team as Head Coach for the upcoming 2026/27 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season.
Coach Allen joined Rockets in January 2024 and led our Women’s First Team to a third-place finish last season in WNBL Division Two Pool A, competing at the top end of the table for the majority of the year.
The team recorded an impressive 15-5 regular-season record, qualifying for the playoffs before falling to eventual finalists East London Phoenix.
A True Birmingham Icon
For those who know the history of the game in the Second City, Clive needs no introduction.
He achieved legendary status as a player during two historic stints with the Birmingham Bullets (1985–1987 and 1988–2001), helping them reach peak playoff form and earning five international caps representing England.
“We Are Looking To Build On Our Momentum!”
Clive is looking forward to another positive season at the helm of our women’s team and is looking to build on last season while continuing to bring through some of the talented young players from the club’s junior programme to supplement his squad this campaign.
Clive said, “I am SO hyped to be back as the Head Coach of the Rockets Women’s team for the 26/27 season!
“With most of the squad returning and some fresh faces on the way, we’re looking to build on our momentum.
“We have a big focus on nurturing our talented young players from the Rockets junior programme. Let’s make women’s basketball a game to watch!”
“The Squad Will Continue To Reach New Heights & Inspire The Next Generation”
Rockets CEO, Robert Palmer, is pleased to have Clive on board ahead of 2026/27 and is looking forward to seeing his impact this season.
He said, “Bringing Clive back for the 2026/27 season was a top priority for us.
“His leadership, experience, and passion for the club are invaluable as we transition into the next chapter of our women’s basketball programme.
“We built some great momentum last season, and under Clive’s guidance, I have no doubt the squad will continue to reach new heights and inspire the next generation of young athletes in the city.”
Welcome back, Coach!
We will be announcing more information ahead of the 2026/27 season in the coming weeks – follow us @cobrockets on social media and stay tuned to cobrockets.co.uk for the latest news and updates!