​In April 2023, British water polo will mark a very special anniversary – 60 years since the very first national league match in this country. It took place in the Midlands and saw Otter’s men defeat the representative Birmingham & District League team 5-3.

We’ve come a very long way since then! The men’s competition grew rapidly from eight founder teams to four divisions by 1986; the expansion of the women’s National League was just as spectacular, increasing from seven teams in its inaugural season of 1988 to four divisions 20 years later.

More than 200 different teams have played national league polo in the UK. Many competed for a short time and are long forgotten; just an honoured few have featured in every season.

We’ve now put together a year-by-year record of every one! Check the ups and downs of your team by clicking on Year by Year in this website’s History section.

​The British League’s new Champions Cup and Super 5s competitions are to be official qualifiers for clubs entering European Champions League and Euro Cup.

British Swimming made the announcement today as it published a proposed event schedule for senior and age group British teams, as well as those representing the Home Nations, for the remainder of 2021 and 2022. See https://www.britishswimming.org/news/water-polo-news/water-polo-teams-look-future-new-schedule/

The aim, it says, is to lay “the platform for a progressive, long-term vision for the sport in this country.”
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BWPL chairman David Andrews said today: “This news is very welcome, in particular the fact that success in the BWPL will lead to formal entry to LEN events. This acknowledges the quality of competition that we endeavour to provide year after year for all the top clubs in England, Scotland and Wales.”

​John Lake, former player and influential coach of West London Penguin, has died a month short of his 81st birthday after a long illness.

Stephen Baker, ex-chairman of the former men’s National League, writes: “John lived for his family and his sport. He was a more than useful player, representing Sutton and Cheam but spending most of his career at Penguin as well as swimming for Spencer SC, where his achievements included winning a European Masters 200m backstroke title in the 1980s.

“From the late 1970s, John coached Penguin to the men’s NWPL second division title and was then responsible for reformulating an aging side to a young dynamic team with much potential, guiding young players to international success. In the late 1980s he became head coach of the new Penguin women’s team, remaining so for the next 30-plus years.”
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John, brother-in-law to Penguin legend Ron Turner, worked as a tertiary level teacher of PE in colleges and was then pool manager of the Shell Centre. 

This is the link for people to add messages to a memory board - ​https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/p5SHA1uj

The long-standing system of grading referees is to end following Swim England Water Polo Leadership Group’s launch of a new structure.

Qualifications will now be based on a referee’s level of competence at club, regional, national and international competitions. And the structure includes a development pathway from club right through to international level.
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The BWPL encourages all members of its Referees’ Panel to complete a survey - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WPO2021 - along with other refs across the country. This will help build an accurate database of qualified officials and determine who is active. Closing date for responses is 11 April.