GB JUNIORS GIVEN NWPL GREEN LIGHT

GB Juniors are set to compete in the National League for the first time this season following almost unanimous approval of the move in a vote by member clubs and officials.

The proposal, viewed as a key element in plans to build a successful GB team for the 2012 Olympics, was agreed in principle at the NWPL annual meeting at Hockley Heath in January.

However, a Special General Meeting was required to clear the way for the league committee to waive a rule in respect of GB’s late membership application. Voting closed at 8pm on Tuesday 28 February and produced this overwhelming endorsement:

For:                94 votes
Against:         0
Abstentions:  20

The GB youngsters will compete in Division One, but not until the first phase of the season – which determines the top five and bottom five – has been completed.

Only then will the juniors join the “mini league” involving sides placed 6^th to 10^th. These teams will play each other twice – a total of 10 games per team.

League chairman Steve Monico said: “The award of the 2012 Olympics to London is potentially a tremendous fillip for water polo in this country. I believe the overwhelming vote in favour of admitting the GB Junior side to the National League demonstrates the extent to which this is acknowledged by our clubs.”

Steve Monico was re-elected chairman at the annual meeting after a contest with ex-international Gary Simons, of Polytechnic.

Ben Caulfield, of Grantham, was appointed the new assistant secretary, with specialist responsibility for marketing and sponsorship. Other new appointments: Simon Pemberton, of Solihull (Div 2 representative), Nigel Wilson, City of Leeds (Div 2 substitute), Fergus Allerton, University of Bristol (Div 4 representative). Gary Simons has since been co-opted to the committee as a member with specialist knowledge.