The rich history of basketball in Sheffield has been celebrated with the official opening of the Sharks & Hatters Heritage Exhibit at Weston Park Museum, bringing together memorabilia, stories and artefacts from two of the city’s most successful sporting clubs.
Representatives from the Sheffield Sharks, Sheffield Hatters and Sheffield Museums gathered at Weston Park Museum this week to officially launch the exhibit, which charts more than six decades of basketball history in the city.
The exhibit features a collection of historic jerseys, photographs, programmes and memorabilia from both clubs, highlighting the players, coaches and people who have helped shape their stories.
Among the centrepieces are two particularly significant pieces of club history: a jersey belonging to Betty Codona OBE from the early days of the Sheffield Hatters, founded in 1961, and Garnet Gayle’s jersey from the Sheffield Sharks’ inaugural 1994–95 season.
The launch was marked with an official ribbon cutting featuring Yuri Matischen, Vanessa Ellis, Sarah Backovic and Atiba Lyons, before former and current players from both the Sharks and Hatters came together for photographs and to explore the new display.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Jean Aston, members of the original Sheffield Hatters team, attended the launch, bringing together different generations of Sheffield basketball in a celebration of the clubs’ past, present and future.
Yuri Matischen, one of the founders of the Sharks, said:
“It’s amazing to have the history of the Sharks and the Hatters put on record here at the iconic Weston Park Museum. If you’re featured here, you know you’ve made it and are embedded in the fabric of this city.
“There are so many great stories and people behind both clubs, and this exhibit gives us a chance to celebrate them and make sure that history isn’t forgotten. It’s something everyone connected with Sheffield basketball can be really proud of.”
The exhibition provides an introduction to the two clubs for those discovering their stories for the first time, while giving generations of Sharks and Hatters supporters the opportunity to revisit some of the people, moments and memorabilia that have shaped basketball in Sheffield.
Clara Morgan of Sheffield Museums said:
“It’s been great to welcome the Sharks and the Hatters on display here at the museum. It’s nice to give an overview and introduce people who may not be aware of the teams and their history, while also celebrating the teams for their fans who might be visiting the museum.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the exhibit here until the summer of 2028.”
The exhibition forms part of the wider Sharks & Hatters Heritage Project, which has been made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project aims to capture, preserve and celebrate the history of the two clubs and the people who have contributed to their success, ensuring their stories are recorded and shared with future generations.
From the formation of the Hatters in 1961 through to the arrival of the Sharks in 1994 and the continued success and impact of both organisations today, the project tells the story of basketball’s unique place within Sheffield’s sporting and cultural heritage.
The Sharks & Hatters Heritage Exhibit is open now at Weston Park Museum and will remain on display until summer 2028.
Entry to Weston Park Museum’s permanent galleries is free, with a suggested donation of £5 helping to support the museum.
