2025 is a landmark year for Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club as it celebrates its 90th anniversary of competitive swimming, writes Matthew Houten.

To make it a double celebration, head coach Ian Negus is also marking 30 years at the club.

Sherwood Colliery — which was the starting point for star Olympian Rebecca Adlington and Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw — is often referred to as ‘small, but mighty’, punching above its weight compared to larger clubs in the Notts ASA and always well represented at county, regional and national levels of competition.

It finished third in the medals table at the Nottinghamshire ASA County Championships this year and was third in the medal table at the Nottinghamshire ASA County Relays.

It also reached the final of the Arena League East Midlands Division in 2024, competing against clubs throughout the region across the year, for only the third time in the last 30 years.

Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club was formed on 6th October, 1934 by a small group of Sherwood Colliery employees and became affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association in 1935.

It is based at the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre, formerly known as the Sherwood Colliery Swimming Baths, which was renamed in recognition of Rebecca’s Olympic achievements.

She started her swimming career at Sherwood in 1997 before moving on to the elite county swim squad, Nova Centurion, with which the club still has strong ties.

Rebecca Adlington and Charlotte Henshaw began their swimming careers at the club.

Coached in her early days by current Sherwood head coach Ian, Rebecca went on to become Great Britain’s most decorated female swimmer with four Olympic medals, two golds in 2008 and two bronzes in 2012.

Sherwood was also the base club for Paralympian swimmer Charlotte, who gained a silver at the London 2012 games and a bronze four years later in Rio. She has since gone on to become one of the top Paracanoe athletes, winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 games and double gold last year in Paris.

Alongside Rebecca and Charlotte, Sherwood continues to produce exceptional talent in the pool and other notable swimmers who have started their swimming careers at the club are Commonwealth Games medallist Elliot Clogg and junior international Lily Bosely.

Head coach Ian, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary at the club, was instrumental in the early development of these outstanding athletes and works hard to instil his passion and commitment into the swimmers of the future.

With the support of volunteers and parents, Sherwood hosts an annual club championships and annual Robin Hood Open Meet at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Sherwood Colliery SC works with swimmers of all ages and abilities, from beginners to elite performers, and has a team of dedicated, professional, and experienced coaches.

They help to develop swimmers through its training pool, where coaches ease swimmers’ transition from swimming lessons to competitive swimming. Then, when swimmers move up the levels of the competition pool, the coaches develop and refine their technique to allow them to perform at their best in all competitions.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the club should go to www.sherwoodswimmingclub.com