HISTORY OF THE CLUB
The earliest documented Polytechnic Netball Club leader was Miss Gates (1914). The club was part of the ‘Gymnasium’ and many match reports feature in the Polytechnic Magazines which are stored at Westminster University archives (The Polytechnic was one of the institutions that now makes up the University of Westminster).
For many years Poly Netball Club was run by a devoted netball enthusiast Winnie Watling (1905-1996). Winnie has left a lasting legacy to both England Netball and The Poly for all she did to foster and promote netball. Mary French (the first England Captain touring overseas) was a friend of Winnie’s and was of invaluable help with our research. Poly was always the club for which Winnie played, umpired and coached. She became the AENA treasurer in 1951 and organised the first netball film in 1958.
Winnie could have been involved with the Poly team as early as the mid 1920’s and this association continued on through WWII, and certainly the 1950s. From about 1925 the club always trained on Wednesday evenings and this was the case until a few years ago. Teams were still known as the Hailshams, E. Hoares, Portlands and Kynastons until at least 1970.
The Poly have had teams in the Middlesex County Netball League & the North London Netball League for the last 17 years or more and now the club competes in the Middlesex County, North London Netball League and has returned to the Poly League and the Acton Netball League as well as winning a place in the London and South East Regional League. The Poly has had the honour of playing in the final of the Challenge Shield Competition in 2007 & 2009.
The Poly League has been running for over 60 years, offering a high standard of netball to the invited clubs in the London area. The archives detail a league was set up and run by the Poly as early as 1914 although it is not clear if The Poly League we have today is linked to this early competition.
Throughout our research we have located several ‘old’ members. Some years ago new members were given a sewing pattern and were told to make their own playing uniforms, including the bloomers and we also heard one member played a match on the day of her own wedding!
We would love to hear any memories from players of yesteryear. These are vital if we are to build a wider picture of the club’s rich history.
We would like to thank Mary French and Elaine Penn (University of Westminster Archives) for their kind contributions to our research.
For many years Poly Netball Club was run by a devoted netball enthusiast Winnie Watling (1905-1996). Winnie has left a lasting legacy to both England Netball and The Poly for all she did to foster and promote netball. Mary French (the first England Captain touring overseas) was a friend of Winnie’s and was of invaluable help with our research. Poly was always the club for which Winnie played, umpired and coached. She became the AENA treasurer in 1951 and organised the first netball film in 1958.
Winnie could have been involved with the Poly team as early as the mid 1920’s and this association continued on through WWII, and certainly the 1950s. From about 1925 the club always trained on Wednesday evenings and this was the case until a few years ago. Teams were still known as the Hailshams, E. Hoares, Portlands and Kynastons until at least 1970.
The Poly have had teams in the Middlesex County Netball League & the North London Netball League for the last 17 years or more and now the club competes in the Middlesex County, North London Netball League and has returned to the Poly League and the Acton Netball League as well as winning a place in the London and South East Regional League. The Poly has had the honour of playing in the final of the Challenge Shield Competition in 2007 & 2009.
The Poly League has been running for over 60 years, offering a high standard of netball to the invited clubs in the London area. The archives detail a league was set up and run by the Poly as early as 1914 although it is not clear if The Poly League we have today is linked to this early competition.
Throughout our research we have located several ‘old’ members. Some years ago new members were given a sewing pattern and were told to make their own playing uniforms, including the bloomers and we also heard one member played a match on the day of her own wedding!
We would love to hear any memories from players of yesteryear. These are vital if we are to build a wider picture of the club’s rich history.
We would like to thank Mary French and Elaine Penn (University of Westminster Archives) for their kind contributions to our research.
TIMELINE
Prior to 1907 there is no mention in the archives of any ‘basket’ or ‘net’ ball activity. But at a Garden Party, held on 8 June an exhibition match is held at Chiswick between a Men’s Basket ball team and a Women’s basket ball team. From then onwards there are regular references to ‘basket’ ball until 1910 when references change to ‘net’ ball (for both men’s and women’s teams).
1909 28 January there is a record of a ‘net ball match’ against Northampton Institute which Poly win 40 - 4
1909 ‘basket ball is still very popular’- (Polytechnic Magazine (PM) April 1909)
1909 ’basket ball team seek opposition from other teams’- (PM, Nov 1909)
1910 ‘I ask again - does anyone know of any other teams’ - (PM Jan 1910)
1913 The results of a further match against Northampton Institute are reported. Poly win 5 to 1
1914 A strong military edge to Poly activities, they contribute a company ‘F’ of 200 members to the 12th Battalion County of London Regiment. As well as inter-company football they engage in some inter-company net ball with ‘F’ company beating both ‘D’ company and the ‘officers’
1914 First mention of the ‘netball cup competition’. The team is coached by Miss Gates and the Gymnasium agree to provide a Silver Cup and medals for annual competition. The Poly League includes 4 Poly teams, 2 teams from Morley Hall along with teams from St John’s Lewisham, Tellington Old Girls and Catford Ladies Gymnastics Club
1924 London and Home Counties Net Ball Federation formed. Poly was a member. England Netball was born out of the South East Counties. What is now London and SE region was once known as the SE Counties Netball Association
1925 Cup match report. Poly had been in the finals most years in the 11 that the cup been held, and Poly organised the competition
1925 Club advertises for members and practices at the gymnasium in Regent St. Wednesdays from 6.30-9.30pm. Annual membership fee 1/-!
1926 12 February, Inaugural meeting of the A.E.N.A. was held in London
1937 Wembley Festival of youth - 2 teams from S.E
1939 The county champions (Middlesex) went to Scotland to represent England at the Glasgow Exhibition. In 1944 the association became AENA (All England Netball Association)
1951 Winnie Watling became AENA treasurer
1958 Town and Country planning made the first netball film at the Poly ground in Chiswick - Winnie Watling (see below) organised it
1954 Poly are recorded to have won the London County Council Parks tournament
1967 Winnie toured Jamaica as the umpire with the greater London team
1971 Winnie was one of the 2 delegates to the IFNA council meeting in Jamaica
1976 Winnie became the longest serving life member of AENA (25 years) but retired soon after
Prior to 1907 there is no mention in the archives of any ‘basket’ or ‘net’ ball activity. But at a Garden Party, held on 8 June an exhibition match is held at Chiswick between a Men’s Basket ball team and a Women’s basket ball team. From then onwards there are regular references to ‘basket’ ball until 1910 when references change to ‘net’ ball (for both men’s and women’s teams).
1909 28 January there is a record of a ‘net ball match’ against Northampton Institute which Poly win 40 - 4
1909 ‘basket ball is still very popular’- (Polytechnic Magazine (PM) April 1909)
1909 ’basket ball team seek opposition from other teams’- (PM, Nov 1909)
1910 ‘I ask again - does anyone know of any other teams’ - (PM Jan 1910)
1913 The results of a further match against Northampton Institute are reported. Poly win 5 to 1
1914 A strong military edge to Poly activities, they contribute a company ‘F’ of 200 members to the 12th Battalion County of London Regiment. As well as inter-company football they engage in some inter-company net ball with ‘F’ company beating both ‘D’ company and the ‘officers’
1914 First mention of the ‘netball cup competition’. The team is coached by Miss Gates and the Gymnasium agree to provide a Silver Cup and medals for annual competition. The Poly League includes 4 Poly teams, 2 teams from Morley Hall along with teams from St John’s Lewisham, Tellington Old Girls and Catford Ladies Gymnastics Club
1924 London and Home Counties Net Ball Federation formed. Poly was a member. England Netball was born out of the South East Counties. What is now London and SE region was once known as the SE Counties Netball Association
1925 Cup match report. Poly had been in the finals most years in the 11 that the cup been held, and Poly organised the competition
1925 Club advertises for members and practices at the gymnasium in Regent St. Wednesdays from 6.30-9.30pm. Annual membership fee 1/-!
1926 12 February, Inaugural meeting of the A.E.N.A. was held in London
1937 Wembley Festival of youth - 2 teams from S.E
1939 The county champions (Middlesex) went to Scotland to represent England at the Glasgow Exhibition. In 1944 the association became AENA (All England Netball Association)
1951 Winnie Watling became AENA treasurer
1958 Town and Country planning made the first netball film at the Poly ground in Chiswick - Winnie Watling (see below) organised it
1954 Poly are recorded to have won the London County Council Parks tournament
1967 Winnie toured Jamaica as the umpire with the greater London team
1971 Winnie was one of the 2 delegates to the IFNA council meeting in Jamaica
1976 Winnie became the longest serving life member of AENA (25 years) but retired soon after