SOUTHAMPTON CITY WATER POLO CLUB
SIXTY YEARS
IN THE WATER
From a 1966 Division Two side to a modern club rebuilt from the pool up — this is the story of how Southampton kept coming back to the water.
A history with real twists and turns.
Southampton's water polo story doesn't run in a straight line. The club first formed in 1966 and finished 7th in Division 2 of the National Water Polo League in its debut season — a competitive start that gave way to a harder decade, relegation in 1978, and a final NWPL season in 1979. It took a swimming club, a group of university students, and three committee members with a plan to bring it back — twice. What exists today is the result of that second start.
Southampton's water polo club is formed and enters the National Water Polo League (NWPL), finishing 7th in Division 2 in its debut season.
Mid-table finishes in 1971–73 give way to a harder run — last place in Division 2 in both 1974 and 1977 — before relegation the following year.
Relegated to Division 3 in 1978. The 1979 season is the club's last in the NWPL — the original team fades from national competition.
Mark Williams, Sport & Recreation Manager at what is now Southampton Solent University, re-introduces water polo into CSSC, built mainly from local university students.
Numbers grow as former players from the folded Eastleigh Water Polo Club join, followed in 2010 by a talented group from Christchurch Seagulls. Coached by Rob Webber
Committee members Mark Williams (CHAIRMAN), Toby King (Treasurer) and Jamie Spicer (club secretary) break away from the swimming club to form Southampton City Water Polo Club (SCWP) in its own right.
The men's team open as early leaders of BWPL Division 4, beating Newport 16–10 and Sheffield Dolphins 15–4, before finishing the season 2nd.
The women's team — the Southampton Sirens — finish runners-up in the inaugural National Conference Water Polo League.
The men's team top BWPL Division 3 with a perfect 100% record in Phase 1 — seven wins from seven.
The men's National League team win promotion to Division 2 of the British Water Polo League (BWPL)
a new beginning
In 1997 Mark Williams, who was the Sport and Recreation Manager at what is now the Southampton Solent University, re-introduced waterpolo into CSSC using mainly students from the local Universities.
Numbers grew as the club also attracted old members from 'Eastleigh Waterpolo Club' that had folded a few years previously. These were then joined by a new group of talented young players in 2010 from Christchurch Seagulls Waterpolo Club.