History of National Women’s Water Polo 1987 - 2009
The National Women’s Water Polo League was formed at a meeting at Gurnell Leisure Centre, London, in November 1987 and staged its first season in 1988 with eight teams.The League was initially set up to give better quality games to assist development of the national team which had competed in the first European Championships (Oslo, 1985), World Championships (Madrid, 1986) and the second European Championships (Strasbourg, 1987). The inaugural teams were Stretford, Potters Bar, Coventry, Heanor Sirens, Dunfermline, Merseyside, Sheffield and Beckenham. Beckenham withdrew after the first round leaving Stretford, Potters Bar and Coventry in Division One and Sirens, Dunfermline. Merseyside and Sheffield in Division Two. Using a shared venue format, all deep pools and two referees from the start, the NWWPL quickly expanded to provide better standard matches for all female players. An annual ASA grant was established to continue the growth when the league reached 12 teams. After ten seasons, the League became an official ASA competition with 20 teams. The ASA link remained until 2009 when, once again, the NWWPL returned to organising its own affairs. Merger with the NWPL to form the British League followed in 2010 when the women’s game in the UK was in its heathiest-ever state.
NWWPL Officers
- 1987-89: Julie Allsopp (Chair), Mike Glover (Secretary), Judi Clayton (Treasurer)
- 1990-96: Helen Martin-Hicks (Chair), Judi Clayton (Secretary), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer)
- 1997: NWWPL became ASA competition with management committee of Antonia Glynne Jones (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Helen Martin-Hicks, Patrick Bates, Mike Beard
- 1998: Management Committee of Antonia Glynne Jones (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Helen Martin-Hicks, Diana Williams, Mike Beard
- 1999: Management Committee, Antonia Glynne Jones (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Helen Martin-Hicks, Joanne Dacre, Mike Beard
- 2000: British Swimming requested season is moved from Spring to Autumn in line with the international season, therefore November AGM switched to May 2001
- 2001/02: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Secretary), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Joanne Dacre, Helen Martin-Hicks, Michelle Horton
- 2003: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins, Lynn Baird, Lisa Bartlett
- 2004: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins, Lynn Baird
- 2005: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins, David Walters, Tara Green, Cassandra Horton
- 2006: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins, Tasha Botha, Mike Beard
- 2007: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins, Pauline Stanley, Patrick Bates, Margaret Ward
- 2008: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins
- 2009: Management Committee, Judi Clayton (Sec), Julie Allsopp (Treasurer), Michelle Horton, Michelle Jenkins
League Tables
| nwwpl_league_tables_archive_1988_-_2009.pdf |
Top Goal Scorers
Division 1
1989 G. Von Voight Potters Bar 21
1990 S. Langston Potters Bar 38
1991 P. Jones Coventry 37
1992 P. Jones Coventry 37
1993 J. Lunt Everton 45
1994 E. Green Coventry 51
1995 A. Norris Coventry 40
1996 E. Green Coventry 35
1997 A. Norris Coventry 39
1998 No record
1999 S. Winter Liverpool 36
2000 E. Green Coventry 44
2001 E. Green Coventry 45
2002 L. Davies Sheffield 40 / H. Dacre Liverpool 40
2003 B. Cowton Sheffield 30 / H Dacre Liverpool 30
2004 H. Dacre Liverpool 37
2005 L. Davies Sheffield 37
2006 F. Clayton GB Juniors 47
2007 F. Clayton Harrogate 47
2008 F. McCann Liverpool 44
2009 A. Winstanley-Smith Manchester 37
Division 2
1989 F. Cameron Dunfermline 28
1990 J. Elliot. Beckenham 24
1991 R. Crowder Sheffield B 55
1992 No record
1993 S. Langston Paignton 29
1994 L. O'Connor Potters Bar 20
1995 L. Grindrod Clacton 26
1996 J. Dacre Everton 40
1997 L. Grindrod Clacton 42
1998 M. Smith Haywards Heath 41
1999 L. Grindrod Clacton 32
2000 C. Bates Haywards Heath 37
2001 L. Roby Solihull 28
2002 G. Williams Invicta 59
2003 F. Leighton Sheffield B 54
2004 A .Richardson Harrogate 50
2005 L. Betts Tisbury 54
2006 F. Clayton Harrogate 57
2007 L. Betts Tisbury 59
2008 F. McCann Liverpool 44
2009 L. Lang Leeds 47
Feeder League
1995 S. Davies Haywards Heath 43
1996 V. Clement Cardiff 15
1997 No record
Division 3
1998 A. Spriggs Basildon 32
1999 A. Spriggs Basildon 34
2000 A. Spriggs Basildon 41
2001 E. Barneston Cardiff 37
2002 E. Barneston Cardiff 32
2003 F. McCann Liverpool B 46
2004 J. McKay GB Juniors 42
2005 L. McFarlane Otter 40
2006 L. McFarlane Otter 66
2007 L. Woodfield Hucknall 47
2008 E. Chadderton Manchester 57
2009 A. Holmes Bristol 32
Division 4
2008 E. Dunn Polytechnic 54
2009 A. Richardson Sunderland 52
1989 G. Von Voight Potters Bar 21
1990 S. Langston Potters Bar 38
1991 P. Jones Coventry 37
1992 P. Jones Coventry 37
1993 J. Lunt Everton 45
1994 E. Green Coventry 51
1995 A. Norris Coventry 40
1996 E. Green Coventry 35
1997 A. Norris Coventry 39
1998 No record
1999 S. Winter Liverpool 36
2000 E. Green Coventry 44
2001 E. Green Coventry 45
2002 L. Davies Sheffield 40 / H. Dacre Liverpool 40
2003 B. Cowton Sheffield 30 / H Dacre Liverpool 30
2004 H. Dacre Liverpool 37
2005 L. Davies Sheffield 37
2006 F. Clayton GB Juniors 47
2007 F. Clayton Harrogate 47
2008 F. McCann Liverpool 44
2009 A. Winstanley-Smith Manchester 37
Division 2
1989 F. Cameron Dunfermline 28
1990 J. Elliot. Beckenham 24
1991 R. Crowder Sheffield B 55
1992 No record
1993 S. Langston Paignton 29
1994 L. O'Connor Potters Bar 20
1995 L. Grindrod Clacton 26
1996 J. Dacre Everton 40
1997 L. Grindrod Clacton 42
1998 M. Smith Haywards Heath 41
1999 L. Grindrod Clacton 32
2000 C. Bates Haywards Heath 37
2001 L. Roby Solihull 28
2002 G. Williams Invicta 59
2003 F. Leighton Sheffield B 54
2004 A .Richardson Harrogate 50
2005 L. Betts Tisbury 54
2006 F. Clayton Harrogate 57
2007 L. Betts Tisbury 59
2008 F. McCann Liverpool 44
2009 L. Lang Leeds 47
Feeder League
1995 S. Davies Haywards Heath 43
1996 V. Clement Cardiff 15
1997 No record
Division 3
1998 A. Spriggs Basildon 32
1999 A. Spriggs Basildon 34
2000 A. Spriggs Basildon 41
2001 E. Barneston Cardiff 37
2002 E. Barneston Cardiff 32
2003 F. McCann Liverpool B 46
2004 J. McKay GB Juniors 42
2005 L. McFarlane Otter 40
2006 L. McFarlane Otter 66
2007 L. Woodfield Hucknall 47
2008 E. Chadderton Manchester 57
2009 A. Holmes Bristol 32
Division 4
2008 E. Dunn Polytechnic 54
2009 A. Richardson Sunderland 52
