Club History Written by Administrator    Wednesday, 11 June 2008 14:36 In 1957 Nottingham Leander Swimming Clubs Chief Coach Bill Henson left to form the Nottingham Falcon Swimming Club taking a good number of the clubs members with him. Initially the club membership was made up of male swimmers, but this changed as the club progressed, girls were recruited from other clubs and a formidable team was developed with many of the swimmers reaching Midland and National standards in swimming. The club was originally based at Noel Street Baths in Nottingham but as more pool time became available at Hucknall Baths we ultimately became based in Hucknall. Our name eventually changed to Falcon Amateur Swimming Club, but never used the name of Hucknall in its title. The clubs colours were purple; the exact shade was African violet. Falcon Amateur Swimming Club is basically a competitive club whose objectives are: To promote and encourage the teaching of swimming To promote and encourage the development of all competitive swimming members to a proficiency of at least county standard. To stimulate local public opinion in favour of the sport. To encourage prospective candidates for swimming officials examinations to district and national level. With regret the committee owing to ill health accepted the resignation of Chief Coach Bill Henson on the 20 March 1968. After a series of temporary coaches Ted Edwards was nominated for the post of Chief Coach a position he held for 13 years until 1984. It was during this time that more intensive training programs were undertaken; great emphasis was placed on a high standard of technique in all strokes. Incentive schemes were introduced to encourage swimmers at all levels. These included preparing the older swimmers for the "Masters" events. Monthly time trials were held and judged under ASA law, this not only enabled the coach to monitor swimmers progress but encouraged parents to become officials. This scheme also provided the means of using a points system to determine the most improved swimmer of the month. A proposal for a new league program was put to the Nottinghamshire ASA and introduced into the swimming calendar thus providing better competition for smaller clubs. Water time was precious but as a small club with limited resources we were still a match for all but the larger clubs. There was a great team spirit and we were highly successful, "trophy events" had yet to be established. The clubs’ annual gala was established early on and was restricted to first claim swimming members only. Swimmers were automatically entered for all events within their age group provided their stroke was legal. Handicap races were provided for beginners. Prizes and trophies were presented on the same night as the competition. The Annual Prize Draw was organised in June 1972 to raise necessary funds for the club and remains to this day. In September of the same year it was reported that the Hucknall Friday evening session on 9 September recorded Falcons highest ever attendance with 43 swimmers. In October the committee decided to award honorariums to their officials. The Chief Coach would receive £25, Assistant Coaches £10 and the Secretary £7.50p. In 1973, Mrs Winnie Clifton became the new President of the Nottinghamshire ASA. At the 1973 Annual General Meeting the clubs constitution was changed to include the Learner Pool Administrator has an elected officer of the club. In January 1975 Secretary Roy Gillborn and Chief Coach Ted Edwards, successfully negotiated pool time at the new 20 metre swimming pool in Kimberley Recreational Centre, which was booked for the Tuesday evening training session. Unfortunately, the pool was below the regulated length for competitive swimming, therefore invitations for Falcon to join the Sports Centre League had to be declined. At the same time training sessions at the old 20 yard Radford pool were cancelled through lack of support. In May the Committee decided to introduce honorariums for the Treasurer of £7.50. April 4 1976 saw the introduction of time trials on a Thursday at Noel Street. This was scheduled to take place prior to the Hucknall time trials to ensure swimmers from all locations were catered for. April 4 1977 saw the launch of a second learner pool session at Edgewood School, the other learner session was held in the small pool at Noel Street. The Treasurer reported at the following month's committee meeting that the pool hire charges for Hucknall and Edgewood had been reduced to £3.25p per hour. However, Kimberly's hire charge had increased to £4 per hour. On January 30 1978 a new half-hour training session on a Monday evening was introduced at Hucknall Baths, the training fee was agreed at 15p. This session was intended to benefit those swimmers who were entering the Age Group and County Championships. The November Annual General Meeting agreed to change the club colour to navy, red and white. An Attendance Trophy and Swimmer of the Year Trophy were also agreed. The Swimmer of the Year Trophy was donated by Majestic Sports. Mr Gilborn - Secretary reported to the committee that a time card entry system was to be adopted at all Age Group and County Championship events. All swimmers entered will have the system explained to them together with written instructions. The year ended in sadness with the death of one of our Life Members, Walter Crisp. Walter had been a member of Falcon virtually since its inception. In order that his loyalty and love of the club shall never be forgotten, the club commissioned the Walter Crisp Memorial Trophy, which is still competed for to this day. In the interest of providing more competitive swims for our members we joined the Derby & Notts Junior Swimming League, Leicester Diddy League and The Swimming League - West Midlands in 1979. The launch of the 100 Club offset the high cost of hiring coaches for these away fixtures. In February 1981 Chief Coach Ted Edwards proposed that a new swimming league be created to provide competition for the smaller clubs. The event would be named the Nottingham and District League, and Falcon was to provide the trophy to be competed for on an annual basis. This was accepted by the Nottinghamshire ASA, but it was ruled that the Falcon Shield should be presented to the winners for the autumn round of the competition, and the David Cammack Memorial Trophy, donated by the Nottingham Leander Swimming Club, would presented for the following spring competition. The Noel Street learner pool session was closed on Thursday 8 February 1982. Roy Gillborn became President of the Nottinghamshire ASA in 1983. The Committee decided to celebrate it 30th Anniversary in November 1987, by organising an open meet, which was staged over two weekends ~ 15th & 22nd. Kath Pavier was presented with the Apeldoorn Plaque at the Nottinghamshire ASA Annual General Meeting for her outstanding achievements in swimming over the past thirty years. During this time she underwent advanced training for the Tokyo Olympic Games and broke the British and World records for 100 metres backstroke for her age group at the Masters Short Course Championships. Kath and her sister were the first two girls to join our club. In 1988 Keith Oldham succeeded Kath Pavier to become Chief Coach, joined by Assistant Coaches Rick Pates and Barry Yates Falcon developed into one of the most successful clubs in Nottinghamshire. A partnership that lasted for 8 years. We embarked on its first trip abroad in 1990 organised virtually single handed by Secretary Colin Rolle. The venue was the Sportica Sports Village - Gravelines, near Dunkirk, France. Thirty swimmers and twenty-two parents enjoyed a four-day break, which included two training sessions and a gala. Falcon returned victorious after beating strong opposition - Union Sportive Gravelines and Nautique de Bourbroug, who both provided two teams. The former Hucknall Baths on Baths Lane. The site of the baths is now part of the NET Tram Stop and Hucknall Robin Hood Line Railway Station car park. The end of an era on 31 December 1991 saw Hucknall's old town baths closed. It has been replaced by a new £2.25million swimming pool at Hucknall Leisure Centre. The old baths were a gift from John Edward Ellis of the Hucknall Colliery Company in 1909. After a total of 14 trophy wins during 1992 Falcon Swimming Club became the Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch Team of the Year. It was in this year that Peugeot car dealership - Plumtree Motor Group became the clubs first sponsor. With improved facilities at the new pool we join the Nottinghamshire Sports Centre League. The following year Chief Coach Keith Oldham became the Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch Sports Personality of the Year. Keith's remarkable success had netted almost 50 trophies in four years. On reaching his 50th trophy the club marked the event by presenting Keith with a cut glass decanter and glasses, plus whisky and flowers for his wife Christine. Also in 1993 we agreed a new sponsorship deal with Central Garage - Ford Hucknall, a partnership that has continued to this present day. Club Secretary for 10 years Colin Rolle retired in 1993. Realising the need to increase competition we joined the Speedo West Midlands League in 1994, for the second time. As an acknowledgement of Keith's hard work Ashfield District Council presented him with the Best Coach Award at the 1995 Community Awards Ceremony. November 1995 saw Falcon Swimming Club become the British Triathlon Teaser Champions. This event was held nation wide to raise money for the Marie Curie Cancer fund. Former Olympian Sharon Davies watched Falcon's successful team at the Beechdale Swimming Centre. December saw breaststroker Adele Drabble represent England's junior team in Germany. Adele was ranked 11th nationally in the under-17's age group, even though she was only 14 at the time. She was also the Midland District 14 yrs 200m breaststroke Champion. The year ended with a total of 18 trophy wins and the award of Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch Team of the Year 1995. Gregg Oldham became Midland District 50m Breaststroke Champion at Leicester in 1996. In the British Universities Sports Association Championships at Crystal Palace, Gregg took Gold in the 50m Breaststroke. Breaking the existing long course record, which he still holds today and achieved a Nottinghamshire County record. Keith Oldham retired in November 1996 recording 103 victories in 8 years. Keith's success was nothing short of phenomenal, between 1988~94 he won 19 League Trophies and 31 Trophy Galas and from 1994~96 17 League Trophies and 36 Trophy Galas. The club with a special presentation marked Keith's success and retirement. His Assistant Rick Pates took over the helm for 12 months and was followed the following year by Roy Bettison. The constitution was changed in 1998 to replace the title of Chief Coach with Head Coach to remove the Head Coach from team selection duties. Kevin O'Loughlin did exceptionally well in the 1998 Midland District Championships winning the 1500m Freestyle and 2nd in the 100m and 200m Butterfly. The following year Kevin's success continued by winning the 100m Butterfly and 2nd in the 200 at the Midland District Championships. Followed by wins in the 100m and 200m Butterfly at the National Championships. His hard work and determination have been reward with an invitation to compete for the England Youth Squad. Kevin became the 1999 English and British Schools 100m Butterfly Champion. The present Head Coach Paul Sears, like his predecessors is building on the foundation established over the past years, and with an increased number of assistant coaches and poolside helpers, as consolidated our position as one of the top clubs in Nottinghamshire swimming. A special mention should be made of Roy Gillborn, who retired from the Nottinghamshire ASA in January 2000. Despite suffering from ill health has been very supportive of the club for more than 30 years. Following his term of office has Secretary for the Club he was elected to serve on the Nottinghamshire ASA where he became President in 1983. He is held in high esteem for his work on the examinations committee and is very popular with officials and swimmers alike. After many hours of hard and enjoyable work by Steve Newton and Tony Sargeant, we proudly launched our website on Thursday 18th May 2000. In 2002 Falcon Swimming Club withdrew from competing in the Nottinghamshire Novice League. The 2002 Annual General Meeting saw the retirement of Secretary Steve Newton. Steve had been a Committee Member for thirteen years and had served has Secretary for nine years and Fixtures Secretary for seven years. After the AGM in November 2002 several senior committee members felt it was time for a change, including the then secretary Mr. Steven Newton after thirteen years service. Because of this, major changes within the club occurred which left us with a relatively novice committee, only half a dozen coaches and under a hundred swimmers at the beginning of 2003. It was at the AGM when Helen Copley became our new secretary, Andy Sheppard took on the role of Chairman and John-Claude Hesketh became our youngest ever President. Head coach was Andy Welsh with Chris Bramley as junior coach along with several total beginners drafted onto the new committee. Things at the club were not looking too good, but with new committee members came a new determination that the club would go on and get stronger. Major fund raising had to be done for the club to become financially viable. During 2003 the club slowly but surely began to turn around with fund raising and promoting Falcon Swimming Club in our community. This meant that by the end of this year we had money to spend and a growing membership. After a year of hard work breaking everyone into their new roles 2004 saw only minor changes. Andy Welsh stood down after a year of extremely good results considering the turmoil the club had gone through. The best of which was remaining in division one of the West Midlands Speedo League, the first time in our history. Chris Bramley took over as head coach with Dale Copley and Glynn Catton sharing the role of junior coach. Those involved with the club were now dedicating a great deal of time and energy into getting better structure within the coaching and volunteering poolside. For the first time in what seemed to be an eternity, stability was returning slowly but surely. The AGM. in November of 2004 saw changes to the coaching line up but not in the theory. After ten years of service to the club Mrs. Julie Woodfield stood down as our learner lane coach. She gave her time and expertise freely but now that her youngest daughter has made the change to water polo and is excelling there Julie found that with more hours at work doing what she does extremely well, teaching swimming, and travelling all over the country with the polo team something had to give. 2005 brought Glynn Catton and Chris Bramley together in a joint venture as head coach leaving Dale Copley as junior coach, a formidable working relationship was born and the theory work was based on technique and dedication. The time and effort was slowly but surely paying dividends. We have seen an increase in parents willing and eager to go poolside along with the increase in swimmers keeps the club moving forward. We now have seventeen poolside staff with over a dozen being A.S.A. accredited, a waiting list for our younger swimmers and a rapidly growing membership. Unfortunately due to a venture change for Gordon Sztejer of Central Garage we are now looking for a new sponsor after 11 years of Gordon’s loyal support. To show our gratitude the club presented Gordon with an engraved tankard. Last Updated on Monday, 20 October 2008 08:30