Landmark Deal for Morley Water Polo Club: Thank You to Our Champions!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Morley Water Polo Club has successfully secured a groundbreaking pool hire agreement with Active Leeds. This fantastic new deal not only guarantees our pricing for the next five years, but it also establishes a vital framework for future hire fees for water polo clubs across all of the city’s facilities. Ultimately, this ensures excellent value for both community sports clubs and Active Leeds for years to come.

Getting to this point wasn't easy, and there was a time when our future looked highly uncertain. We are publishing this post to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible community and the dedicated individuals whose unwavering support helped keep our club afloat and pushed this historic deal over the line.

A Word from Our Pool Hire Lead

Gareth Twohey, Morley Water Polo's lead on pool hire, has been at the forefront of these discussions and shared his thoughts on this phenomenal outcome:

"Without the support of the general public, Mark Sewards MP and his team, and the Morley Borough Independents, the club faced a highly uncertain future. I would personally like to extend my sincere thanks to Mark Sewards, Ingrid (his Office Manager), Jane Senior and Simon Brown of the Morley Borough Independents, and retired Councillor Robert Finnigan for their steadfast support from day one. Without your assistance, a deal was looking incredibly unlikely."

A Collaborative Effort

Securing a five-year agreement requires a shared vision and a willingness to find common ground. Gareth was eager to highlight the pivotal role played by the leadership at Active Leeds in bringing these negotiations to a positive conclusion:

"The pragmatism shown by Jane Walne, Executive Director of Active Leeds, and her personal involvement in our negotiations completely changed the tone of the discussions. It returned our focus to the key principle of supporting organizations that create real social value in the community. I would like to sincerely thank Jane, whose personal involvement allowed for a constructive and professional dialogue to take place, where compromise and pragmatic solutions were agreed upon."

Recognizing Our Supporters

We want to formally place on record our immense gratitude to the following people. This victory belongs to all of you:

• Mark Sewards MP & Ingrid (Office Manager): For lending your weight, time, and resources to our cause. Your advocacy made a world of difference.

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Thank you, Mark, for the support provided by you and your team.

• The Morley Borough Independents: Specifically Jane Senior, Simon Brown, and retired Councillor Robert Finnigan. Thank you for standing by us from the very beginning and championing grassroots sports in our community.

  
  

• Jane Walne & Active Leeds: For demonstrating true leadership, pragmatism, and a commitment to preserving community organizations that provide social value.

  
  

• The General Public: To everyone who raised their voices, shared our story, and showed up for us—we literally could not have done this without you.

  
  

Looking Ahead

With our immediate future now secure and a fair, city-wide framework in place for water polo clubs, we can get back to doing what we do best: training hard, playing well, and fostering a welcoming, active community in Morley.

Furthermore, we look forward to working with our partner, Active Leeds, in widening the participation of water polo to all corners of the city. 

Water polo is a unique team-based sport that provides access to sport for those to whom traditional sports may not appeal. By working together, we can ensure that more people have the opportunity to experience the physical and social benefits of this incredible game.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who helped make this possible. We'll see you in the water! 🤽‍♂️🤽‍♀️