Congratulations to the North East Talent Centre Athletes on a Summer to Remember!

It was certainly a summer to remember for the North East Talent Centre athletes and team staff. They have been on an international training camp and also showed great success at the Talent Centre Games!

A Trip to the Netherlands!

It was a flying start to the summer holidays for 34 young athletes, who are on the England Talent Pathway and members of the North East Water Polo Talent Centre, based at Maltby Leisure Centre. The group, all part of the England Talent Pathway, made a powerful start to the summer holidays by travelling to Volendam, Netherlands, for a high-level Water Polo Training Camp from 20–24 July. These talented players, aged 12 to 16, train regularly at Maltby Leisure Centre and were given the incredible opportunity to learn under the guidance of Olympic gold medal-winning coach, Paul Metz.

The five-day camp was nothing short of a transformational experience. Alongside their Dutch peers, the athletes engaged in world-class training, participating in two water polo sessions per day, plus an end-of-camp tournament. But it wasn’t just about the pool – players also took part in orienteering, an assault course, and various team challenges, helping to build leadership, resilience, and a strong team ethos.

One of the defining features of the camp was the unique camaraderie built between the British and Dutch athletes. Sharing accommodation, meals, and training facilities helped forge lasting friendships and cultural exchanges, with many players describing it as an “amazing experience” and an “opportunity to learn new skills, meet new friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime.”

For some of the North East athletes, this was their second time attending the camp, and their continued growth reflects the impact of such international opportunities. The experience is designed to prepare these young players to potentially progress to national squads, and the exposure to elite coaching and international peers is a crucial step in that journey.

Head Coach Matt Birch summed it up perfectly:

“It was an incredible success, where the players had learned invaluable skills and the connections forged will continue well into the future, providing opportunities for many more young athletes.” 

Summer Talent Games

They recently took part in the Talent Centre Summer Games, which proved to be an amazing success for the squads. The U14 Open team brought home the Gold medal, a fantastic achievement that reflects their teamwork, discipline, and talent. All other squads also celebrated wins during the competition, showing clear progress across the board. Every athlete played their part, with great energy, resilience, and a strong sense of North East pride on display throughout the event.

Full list of athletes and team staff that attended the event are below

Well done again to the entire North East Talent Centre team – your passion, determination, and unity were a credit to the region and a promising glimpse of the future of English water polo!

25/26 North East Talent Centre Squads

Huge congratulations to those that have been selected to be on the North East Talent Centre ahead of the next season! Full list of athletes are below: