IN his first column of the year, Martyn looks back at a mixed holiday programme which saw the Rockets record two wins and a defeat. But the team have a busy few weeks ahead as they try and catch up on some of the games that did not get played in 2025. That start this weekend with back to back matches against Bristol Flyers and Milton Keynes Breakers – you can buy tickets for those games HERE.
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WE’RE back into the swing of things again after the Christmas and New Year break – and it looks like being a busy 2026.
I’m reasonably pleased with the way things went for us over the past few weeks.
We had convincing wins against Loughborough and Worthing – but we lost at home to Newcastle.
That match, in front of our home fans, was a triple overtime thriller – definitely one for the neutrals to enjoy.
Ultimately, it was defeat for us, but again, we played well and we always try to take something from the setbacks.
It all helps with player experience and, sometimes, these are the moments that you need.
🚀 Rockets return to winning ways with a comfortable victory on the south coast!
Join us next weekend as we host Bristol Flyers II on Saturday and MK Breakers on Sunday – let’s keep the momentum going!
🎫 Tickets are available now: https://t.co/bpowwHpo5E#WeAreRockets pic.twitter.com/7JWARDWu4F
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) January 10, 2026
But the games that we won, that’s more of what we want. We did more of what we needed to do for most of those games.
We take the peaks with the troughs and and you have to keep on going. We gave a good account of ourselves against Loughborough and Worthing. We stuck to the programme. We stuck to the game and we had fun doing it.
If we can do more of that when we’re at home I think we’ll be in a much better place to comet end of the season.
We’re at the midpoint of the season. And while the break was necessary, it was over before we knew it.
But we did train over the holidays and we’re one of the fittest teams in the league.
We’re trying to keep it that way so we can play our style of basketball, which is quick. One of the main focusses that we have is conditioning. We have strength and conditioning coaches, and they do a good job of making sure that we stay healthy.
That we’re able to kind of do the running that coach is asking of us. A lot of thought goes into how we prepare ourselves and how we rest and recover as well.
This weekend, we have a double header with both games at home.
🚀 Newcastle edge it after three periods of overtime.
Your Rockets left everything out there on the court this evening – thank you for your incredible support this evening! 👏
Join us for our next home game 👉 https://t.co/bpowwHpo5E#WeAreRockets pic.twitter.com/JR3MhQQIwd
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) January 4, 2026
On Saturday, we host Bristol Flyers – and they’re still chasing their first win, so we’ve going to make it our job to make sure that their first win isn’t against us.
They’re a good side. They’ve got some good players and they’re getting accustomed to the league now, so at some point they will get that win.
But we’re going to try and put them into the ground like we need to.
And then on Sunday, we’ve got Milton Keynes, who are a great side. they’re doing a great momentum shift now, they’re rolling, they’re flowing, they’re playing well.
But again, it’s our job to make it uncomfortable for them and try and come out with a win. The reason we have the extra game is that we were meant to play Milton Keynes in October, but it clashed with a Trophy game.
We also have two postponed games to fit in – as well as the Trophy Final – so it’s going to be a hectic second half of the season. There are going to be quite a few double headers, back-to-back, between now and the end of the season.
A word about some pre-Christmas camps which myself and Orlan Jackman ran our camps ran for local youngsters.
🚀 A dominant win in Loughborough to round off 2025!
A 29-8 third quarter saw us take control of the contest.
Ron Blain 22, Eric Donaldson 20, Zack Powell/Lucas McGregor 13.
Join us on 4th January for our first game of 2026!
🎫 https://t.co/bpowwHpo5E#WeAreRockets pic.twitter.com/7Yd6TOFCn4
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) December 20, 2025
Orlan did a footwork camp and I did a shooting camp and they both went well. There was a good turnout and the kids enjoyed it, which is the most important part. They learned something. They were really receptive to to all of our knowledge and wisdom that we were trying to share.
One of the club’s most important jobs is getting youngsters interested and coming through for future years and helping us get to where we want to be.
Not only does it focussing on something positive, it gives the game longevity, it gives the game life again.
If we don’t have the kids coming through, then, at some point, the flow stops. So we want to work hard on that.
