AGM REPORT
2004-05
The senior teams completed the main Summer Season in November 2004 The first team finished as winners of London League Division 1 after winning 9 of their 10 games, this gained promotion to London League premier division for the first time since 1994. The team also managed to take second equal place in Surrey Division 1with Avondale and behind Sutton & Cheam, with 5 wins, one drawn game and four losses. The second team won their division (Surrey Division 2) with eight wins and two lost games. Twenty nine players represented the teams over the season.
We then played in the Winter League, which is open to Clubs in the South and played between November and March, and performed successfully. The Club’s senior team, finished in 4th place, one point behind three teams who tied for first place. We also won the over 40’s knock out cup for the fifth year running. At junior level, we were 4th at under 18 age group after struggling with availability, runners up at the under 16 age group, behind a very strong Sutton & Cheam squad, comfortable winners at under 14 age group and finally 2nd at under 12 age group. We also won the junior girls league, which was being run as a pilot for the first year. We were the only club to enter all available junior leagues.
We are now coming to the end of the London and Surrey League seasons for 2005 and are finding the London League Premier Division tough going with two wins, one draw and five losses so far. We need a couple more wins to avoid the relegation spot. We are likely to finish second or third in Surrey Division 1. The second team, with a good blend of youth and experience, entered the London League and Surrey League this year. In London League we are unbeaten and are guaranteed promotion to division 3 next season. In Surrey League we have finished with five wins and, one draw and four losses which should mean a mid table finish.
Junior teams have played at under 18 and under 15 level in the London League and at under 18 and under 16 in the Southern Counties Club Championships. In the London League we came across much improved opposition from Hailsham this year and had to settle for runners up spot, however at under 15 we were by far the best team and have finished unbeaten with 10 wins and 117 goals. We reached the final of both Southern Counties Championships playing Hailsham (under 18) and Watford (under 16) in the new deepwater pool at Whitgift. A very close game with Hailsham went to extra time when we lost 9 – 11 however the under 16s, playing with an under strength team, squeezed to the gold medal 5 – 2.
5 players were selected to represented Surrey Over 40s team in the Inter-counties championship in July, however the competition has been to postponed until October. 2 players represented Surrey at over 50s back in November, 7 players played for Surrey and 2 for Kent in the under 18s Inter-counties competition and 9 players have been selected for this years Surrey under 16s squad.
In our second year in the ASA Club Championships, at junior level (under 18), we had an improved performance over last year. Against some very good teams from all over the country we found the competition challenging but finished seventh out of ten teams.
mini polo on Saturday mornings at Whitgift for under 12s and any C, D, and pre-squad swimmers, has been very successful and regularly have 10 -15 young players learning the game and having some fun.
Garry King was awarded player of the year and Trevor Langan retained the ‘major king’ shield
The water polo section now has over 90 playing members. About twenty young players, between 11 and 17 years old, regularly train on Thursday evenings, improving their skills as well as having some fun. All newcomers are welcome, contact Chris Martin.