The original incarnation were members of the British Basketball League, the top-level competition in the United Kingdom, and played their home games at the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.

In 2005 Wildcats founded the team that would begin life in the EBL Division 3 North.

The club went on to win the league title with an 18-2 record, gaining promotion to EBL Division 1, and beat Team Northumbria (70-67) in the Playoff final at the Amaechi Basketball Centre to complete the Division 2 treble.

A 7-11 record gave them a 7th-place finish, as well as early exits in the National Cup and post-season Playoffs.

After weeks of rumours, it was officially announced that the Wildcats would enter the British Basketball League following the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder.