Nova History |
The Squad was formed in September 1973 and was called the Notts ASA Training Scheme. The Notts ASA employed a part-time coach and training sessions were held in Nottingham in the early mornings and early evenings.
Initially the scheme was started as a six-month pilot scheme to give time for the Notts ASA to approach the local authority to support it. Unfortunately. owing to local government reorganisation, it was necessary to continue the scheme on a part-time basis until July 1975.
During this time, negotiations with the newly formed Nottinghamshire County Council Leisure Services Department proved successful and the scheme was adopted by them in April 1975.
 In May 1975 the first full-time coach was appointed and this policy was continued when the present coach, Bill Furniss, took up his post in August 1980. During this period the name was changed to the present Notts County Swim Squad and the first attempts to form a link squad in the Mansfield area were made.
In the early 1990's the squad was extended to the Bassetlaw area and a coach/ development officer post was created on a jointly funded basis between Notts County Council Leisure Services and the Bassetlaw District Council. Shortly after this the Mansfield District Council came on board with a similar arrangement for funding a similar position in Mansfield, taking responsibility for the Squad in that area. This gave us a County wide squad which meant that no swimmer should have to travel excessive distances to train with a professional coach in a squad situation. With Bill Furniss, Cathy Pritchard, and Glenn Smith, the County probably has more fully-qualified coaches than any other County, all working, together with various other assistant coaches in the same organisation.
When the County Swim Squad was taken over in 1975, it was hoped that for any competition of a regional, national or international level, members of the Squad would be able to swim together as a team whilst still swimming at a local level for their individual clubs. Unfortunately, the rules of the Amateur Swimming Association did not allow for squads to affiliate and in this way take part in competitions.
It was decided, therefore, to form a separate club, Nova Centurion, whose members would, in the main, also be members of the County Swim Squad in order that the above objectives could be achieved whilst still keeping faith with local clubs and ASA rules.
 | | Nicola Goodwin was a GB international and National Champion with Nova in 1990's. |
Nova Centurion is in effect the competitive side of the County Swim Squad. All members of the Notts County Swim Squad are automatically members of Nova Centurion, the subscription being part of the monthly Squad payments. This also applies to the Bassetlaw and Mansfield Squad, creating a competitive outlet at Midland District and above for all swimmers in the County. | | |
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