A Culture of Ambition and Excellence
To be a Nova Centurion swimmer is to be part of a programme built on ambition, resilience and sustained excellence. It represents more than performance in the water; it reflects a long-standing commitment to athlete development, professional coaching and a pathway that challenges swimmers to realise their full potential. They have, for decades, provided a clear and aspirational route for talented swimmers, underpinned by a culture that values hard work, progression and pride in representing both club and county.
Origins of the County Performance Pathway
The Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad was originally established as a pilot scheme under Nottinghamshire ASA, designed to create a structured performance pathway for the county’s most talented swimmers. In its early years, the programme operated across several bases, including Nottingham, Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark, reflecting a deliberate commitment to serving athletes from across the whole county.
The Evolution into Nova Centurion
As the pathway matured, it evolved into the structure now recognised as the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad alongside Nova Centurion, which operates as the programme’s competitive performance arm. The name “Nova Centurion” reflects this ambition, combining “Nova,” meaning new or star, with “Centurion,” symbolising leadership and strength, to represent an elite environment built on excellence, resilience and long-term athlete development.
Developing a High-Performance Home
The physical home of the programme developed alongside its competitive success. Early training bases at Victoria Baths in Sneinton and later Beechdale Baths supported the squad through its formative decades, before the programme relocated in 2015 to the purpose-built facilities at Harvey Hadden Sports Village. This move marked a significant milestone, providing a modern high-performance environment that continues to support the programme today.
Governance, Leadership and Lasting Success
From 1973 until 2012, the County Swim Squad was supported by Nottinghamshire County Council, after which responsibility transferred fully to Notts ASA. Despite changes in governance and facilities, the programme has remained one of the strongest and most respected development pathways within Aquatics GB. Over several decades, the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad and Nova Centurion have consistently produced national champions, international representatives and Olympians. Central to this sustained success has been the quality, continuity and influence of its senior coaching leadership.
To see how Nova Centurion athletes have performed on the national and international stage, visit our Honours Board at the bottom of the open meets page.
Neville Cross
Chief Coach, Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (1973–1980)
In 1973, Neville Cross was appointed as Chief Coach, becoming the first full-time coach in the programme’s history. Joining from Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club, he laid the professional foundations upon which the modern programme would be built. Prior to his appointment, Cross had coached Olympic medallist Brian Brinkley for six years, bringing invaluable elite-level experience to Nottinghamshire. At the time, he famously remarked in the local press that the county had “no senior swimmers, but a hell of a lot of talent,” a belief that shaped his approach. During his tenure, he established professional standards and clear performance expectations, guiding the squad through periods of transition at Victoria Baths and Beechdale Baths while raising performance levels across the county.
Bill Furniss OBE
Head Coach, Nova Centurion and Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (1980–2013)
In 1980, Bill Furniss succeeded Cross as Head Coach of Nova Centurion and the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad, beginning a remarkable 33-year tenure that defined one of the most successful eras. Under his leadership, the programme became one of the premier performance environments in British Swimming, consistently producing athletes selected for national teams and major international championships. His time in Nottinghamshire coincided with multiple national and international championship successes and firmly established Nova Centurion as a benchmark for excellence.
Among the many athletes developed during this period was Rebecca Adlington, a four-time Olympic medallist and former world record holder, whose achievements remain among the most iconic in British sporting history. Bill served as Head Coach at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and later held senior leadership roles at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 while still connected to Nova, before moving on to become Head Coach of Aquatics GB for Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024. During this period, Aquatics GB enjoyed its most successful era in over a century.
Jamie Main
Head Coach, Nova Centurion and Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (2013–2014)
In 2013, Jamie Main was appointed Head Coach, having previously served for many years as an assistant coach within the programme. His appointment ensured continuity and stability at a time of organisational change, most notably the transition of the programme from local authority management back to Notts ASA. During his time as Head Coach, Jamie provided clear leadership for athletes and staff before continuing his coaching career outside Nottinghamshire.
Nathan Hilton
Director of Coaching, Nova Centurion and Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (2014–2023)
In 2014, Nathan Hilton was appointed Director of Coaching, guiding the programme through a period of modernisation and strategic development. His leadership proved particularly significant during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the programme continued to place swimmers on national and international teams despite unprecedented challenges. During his tenure, athletes from the programme achieved major international success, including Freya Colbert, who won medals at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games under Nathans guidance. After leaving Nottinghamshire, Nathan moved into national leadership as Aquatics GB Performance Pathway Lead and later served as Head Coach of Great Britain’s Open Water Marathon Swimming Team at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
Dr Joseph Stanford
Director of Coaching, Nova Centurion and Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (2023–Present)
In 2023, Joseph Stanford was appointed Director of Coaching for Nova Centurion and the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad. Having joined the county coaching team in 2014, he progressed through the programme and played a key role in the early development of emerging senior international swimmers. Since taking on the lead role, the programme has continued to place athletes on junior international teams while also strengthening a sustainable senior performance environment across both Nova Centurion and the County Swim Squad. Under his leadership, swimmers have represented their Home Nations at senior international competitions across multiple continents, including Asia and Africa, reflecting the programme’s continued presence on the global stage.
Alongside his coaching responsibilities, Joseph completed his doctorate in 2025 examining the role of personality in elite sporting environments and continues to publish research in elite sport and coach welfare in partnership with Nottingham Trent University. His leadership reflects a modern, evidence-informed approach to performance, combining high standards in the pool with a strong emphasis on athlete development, wellbeing and long-term success.
Glenn Smith
Head Coach, Mansfield Performance Programme (1996-2022)
The strength of Nottinghamshire swimming has also been shaped by key programme leads across the wider county pathway. Glenn Smith served as Head Coach of the Mansfield Performance Programme from January 1996, developing swimmers who progressed to national and international teams, including para-swimmers who achieved success on the world stage such as brothers Sam Hynd and Ollie Hynd, and Charlotte Henshaw. In total, Glenn coached athletes to ten Paralympic medals, including four golds. Mansfield remains a vital part of the county pathway and continues to act as a strong link into Nottinghamshire’s senior squads today. Since taking early retirement in 2022, Glenn has remained actively involved with Notts ASA and continues to support the County Swim Squad structure.
Catherine Prichard
Head Coach, Bassetlaw Performance Programme (1992-2018)
In the north of the county, Catherine Prichard led the programme as Head Coach of the Bassetlaw Performance Programme from 1992, following more than two decades as a Swimming Development Officer with Bassetlaw District Council. Her leadership established a productive and sustainable pathway, consistently preparing swimmers for Midland and national-level competition and contributing athletes to the wider Nova Centurion system. Although there is no longer a bespoke performance base in Bassetlaw via the county Swim Squad or NOVA, the County Swim Squad remains committed to supporting swimmers from this area and maintaining strong county-wide links.
Together, these Head Coaches, Directors of Coaching and programme leads have shaped generations of swimmers and coaches. Their collective leadership has ensured that Nova Centurion and the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad remain synonymous with excellence, opportunity and long-term success within Aquatics GB.
