Plea to save future of oldest swimming club in Chester

City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club is Chester’s oldest established swimming club.

Beginning its days as The Chester Amateur Swimming Club, the club was formed in 1894 in the River Dee, before progressing to a floating bath on the river.

In 1901, the Victorian Chester City Baths opened, designed by John Douglas. Now, a Grade II-listed building, this historical pool would remain the club's home.

A funding plea has been set up to save the future of City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club.

But the club says it has faced serious challenges in recent years, which is now threatening its future.

The two-year closure of the Chester City Baths in 2013 for essential building works had already threatened the future of the club.

And due to the ongoing Covid lockdowns, which has meant the City Baths has again remained closed in recent months, the club is now in danger of disappearing for good.

An online funding page has been set up to safeguard the club's future and prevent it from going under.

A funding plea has been set up to save the future of City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club.

Writing on the funding page, organiser Anna Walsh said: "City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club has a long and magnificent history of successes both in swimming and water polo.

"Our accomplished history is not limited to competition, we have equal success with our teaching and coaching.

"At City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club an aspiration for excellence is at the heart of all our practice.

"Since the club was founded in 1894, we have supported swimmers through all stages of their development in to athletes and throughout their many competitive feats; from county level through to Olympic standard.

"In recent years, the club has faced some serious challenges. A two-year closure back in 2013 due to catastrophic, structural damage resulted in us having to find alternative facilities at a detrimental cost to both our finances and our members.

"After returning to our historical home in 2016, the club worked extensively to reverse the affects the two-year closure had and rebuild a club that had become a shadow of its former self.

"Four years on, come March 2020, the world had its feet knocked from under it as Covid-19 put us in to a national lockdown.

"As a non-profit organisation housed in a historical pool with all its trials and tribulations, the last year has not been about coping but surviving and the reality is City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club are in danger of disappearing without the funding we desperately need.

"Due to these exceptional circumstances, we now find ourselves in, we have decided to create this hardship fund to support the club’s considerable efforts to survive and rebuild during these unprecedented times of no activity and no income.

"This fund will allow us to rebuild and secure our future as City of Chester Swimming & Water Polo Club and continue to provide worlds of opportunity in swimming and water polo for our future generations.

"All donations, regardless of size will be welcomed and most sincerely appreciated.

"Help us to preserve part of Chester's sporting history."

Since the page went up, more than £1,000 has been raised in the first few days.

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-city-of-chester-swimming-water-polo-club