BOOK CHARTS NATIONAL LEAGUE SUCCESS STORY

The National League’s 40th anniversary book is now on sale and will make a great read whether you played or watched water polo in the 1960s or are involved at any level in the modern game.

“The First 40 Years” chronicles the history of the National League and illustrates just how far the sport has progressed since the early days of leather balls, one ref and battle royals in shallow 25-yard pools.

Written by National League general secretary Chris Ducker, it includes special contributions by David Wright, skipper of champions Cheltenham in the first season, ex-Poly goalkeeper Neil May, David Edwards, Jez Sherman, Tad Detko, Rhys Tamlyn and Stephen Baker.

Up to 1962, as the book explains, English water polo was polarised to a great extent in regions, the only contact in many cases arising through an ASA Club Championship match or the County Championship.

The league was formed to provide more competition and to improve standards. Eight teams - Birkenhead, Birmingham & District League (now the Midland League), Cheltenham, Otter, Polytechnic, Sheffield Dolphins, Sutton & Cheam and Weston-super-Mare – committed themselves to take part in the inaugural season and were represented at the first annual meeting at Cheltenham’s Plough Hotel in December 1962.

The transformation to the modern league format of three divisions, shared venues, all-deep pitches and two refs for every game has been a gradual process requiring a dedicated approached by a number of key officials over the years. There is no doubt the league has made a major contribution to improved performances recently by England and GB teams.

It has also provided a focal point for ambitious clubs to raise their standards. The 2001 champions, Bristol Central, did not enter the league until 1976, spending 11 seasons in the third division before moving up the ladder; and Lancaster joined for the first time in 1979. It was only in the 1990s that Rotherham, Newton Abbot and Invicta, all now competing in the first division, made the big jump from local to national competition.

Back in 1963, the book explains, national competition was a bold new adventure bearing in mind there were virtually no motorways. On one occasion, it took Birkenhead eight hours to drive to Weston-super-Mare for a match.

Birkenhead’s home pool – the open air New Ferry – wasn’t exactly popular with “softy” southerners. When he contacted Birkenhead to confirm a fixture for 1964, Polytechnic’s secretary declared:

“We are writing to confirm that we are playing you at your home bath on Saturday 9th May (we certainly hope this is not your outdoor pool. For the return . . . we shall provide warm and pleasant swimming conditions at Seymour Hall Baths. Please note that we would prefer to give you the points at Birkenhead than play in such freezing conditions in spite of the added attraction of a bathing beauty contest!”

Referees often suffered heavy criticism. What’s new?

However, there seems to have been some justification when one club secretary complained:

“Last Saturday, the referee never made a decision. He had the ball out for a neutral throw a couple of dozen times and even when a major foul was obviously committed by either side, he sent both men out. Frankly, he was not up to the standard required to handle these games and in my humble opinion completely ruined this one.”

These days, of course, National League refereeing is of the highest standard . . . well, a good deal better, anyway!

“The First 40 Years” costs just £5 and includes photographs, coverage of 40 years’ action and a comprehensive records section featuring every league table, details of almost 100 teams who have taken part and leading scorers.

Copies are available from National League committee members or by writing to Chris Ducker, Malthouse Cottage, Edgecombe Mews, Chelscombe, Bath BA1 4DA, enclosing a cheque for £5.70 (includes postage and packing) made out to “National Water Polo League”.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

These news pages are for ALL National League clubs. So if you have an item of interest (new players, tours abroad, injuries or anything else that won’t have lawyers on our backs), please get in touch as soon as possible by emailing envelope.gif (852 bytes) chris.ducker@nwpl.co.uk

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