[9][10] Having previously attempted to re-join the national leagues,[11] the Kanaries – led by Pocock and Bob Karruck – joined forces with Plympton's Dave Mills[8] and local basketball figures including Martyn Moon, Keith Mollard and businessman Les Palmer (of the Wrigley's company) to form a consortium in 1983 and merged the two teams together.

[8] A sponsorship deal was arranged with pharmaceutical producer Farley Health, and the team adopted their brand colours of red and yellow and the sponsor name Glucodin, after one of their leading products.

After an inconsistent start to the campaign, coach Graham Nicholls stepped down from his position and was replaced by his assistant Karruck who led the team to lowly 10th-placed finished in their rookie season.

Following the help of a local newspaper campaign in the Evening Herald, Wolferstan's Solicitors came forward with a sponsorship offer and investment that enabled the club to survive its second financial crisis in six years.

[citation needed] In the summer of 1993, head coach Bob Karruck announced his retirement and was replaced by his assistant Vic Fleming, who led the team to the 1994 National Trophy Final.

Fleming's tenure lasted only a season as he left to join the Chester Jets and was replaced by long-serving player Gary Stronach, who assumed the role of player/coach.

[17] The 2000–2001 season saw Stronach recruit arguably the strongest roster the franchise had ever seen, bringing in Todd Cetnar and Terrence Durham, two American imports straight out of Albany and St. Bonaventure University's respectively.

The season was completed with an excellent run in the Play-offs sweeping aside Sutton (98–68) and Manchester Magic (162–155 over two games), before commanding an 83–77 defeat on Worthing at Wembley Arena and claiming the Championship double.

[18] After two seasons in Portugal, Terrence Durham's return was the only adjustment in a largely unchanged roster for the 2003–2004 season which saw the club accept an invitation to appear in the BBL Trophy for a second time, adding to a tough schedule including the league (now reverted to EBL Division 1), the National Trophy and the National Cup, which for the first time in history didn't feature any BBL teams.

The Play-off Final was reached again, but Raiders were unable to add a third title to the season's haul as Teesside, exacting their National Cup defeat revenge, came out on top with an 80–75 win.

[19] Canadian Ryan French, along with Gerrick Morris and Jeff Danchie, were brought in as new signings to strengthen the roster who had won the Division 1 title in the previous season.

A dream first appearance to the Finals Weekend for Raiders was dashed by a 6-point defeat, 83–77, but a huge worry was an in-game injury to captain Gavin Love's Achilles tendon, which subsequently forced the Point Guard to miss a call-up to the Great Britain national team.

[26] After committing over two decades of service to the Raiders, Coach Stronach was presented by the BBC with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in November, honouring the success he has brought to Plymouth.

[31] After six years of sponsorship from Kularoos, the Raiders board announced during the summer of 2008 a major new deal had been reached with Plymouth-based chewing gum giant Wrigley's Airwaves, reportedly "one of the biggest in basketball history".

[44] The franchise expanded on its ambitions to play in Europe with the announcement on 16 March, of a co-operation deal with Spanish giants Unicaja Málaga; the alliance will see Raiders coaches going to Spain to gain experience and young players coming to Plymouth to improve their English and education.

[51] Eric Flato, a recent graduate of Yale University, was signed in July 2009,[52] and the news was soon followed by the capture of Terry Horton, another American, who was brought in from Germany.

[58] In February it was announced that James Noel was released from his contract, due to a series of long-term injuries, allowing the team's bench players more opportunity.

[59] Form started to improve throughout the Spring, but a double loss to Glasgow and Worthing at the beginning of April ended any hopes of qualifying for the Play-offs with fives games left of the regular season.

[66] Love continued to build the new-look Raiders roster with the signings of England international Taner Adu from Essex Pirates[67] and American import players Otis Polk and Brian McKenzie, straight out of college.

The community pathway projects accelerated during this period including the CVL/Youth Development League which were formed providing basketball learning opportunities to hundreds of school age young people across the city.

During this period, plans were put in motion to identify solutions for the club's long-term future that would be secured via the model of venue ownership as per Leicester and Newcastle's respective arenas.

Club Director/Co Owner Richard Mollard had presented detailed plans to Plymouth City Council and led a consortium of partners to explore the potential for a new venue.

MLA College were keen to continue the club's rich history, to bring silverware to the city, and strive to see the Raiders one day competing in European competition.

Raiders players during this season included Team GB star Ashley Hamilton, fellow Brits Will Neighbour, Denzel Ubiaro and Andrew Lawrence (injured), Elvisi Dusha with US imports Rickey McGill, Chris Porter Bunton Mike Morsell and Prince Ibeh.