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ABOUT US

Who We Are

NOVA Centurion is the competitive arm of the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad. The swim squad is the elite performance programme for Nottinghamshire swimming and one of the UK’s top swimming clubs.

We train at many pools including the 50-metre pool at Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham and have squads and training facilities based around the county.

We are proud to be one of Swim England’s National Performance Centres partnering with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University and supported by local clubs to deliver outstanding training and a range of swimming scholarships to talented, high-performing students.

Harvey Hadden

History

The programme first started with Nottingham City Council at Victoria Baths in Sneinton and was then based at Beechdale Baths prior to moving into Harvey Hadden Sports Village in 2015.

The Sports Village is the flagship facility of Nottingham City Council. The £16m redevelopment is the home of NOVA Centurion where the squad trains, and also hosts all of our competitions throughout the swimming season.

Our Coaching Heritage

Neville Cross

Neville Cross

Chief Coach
1973 to 1980

 

Bill Furness

Bill Furness (OBE)

Head Coach
1980 to 2013

 

Jamie Man

Jamie Main

Head Coach
2013 to 2014

 

Nathan Hilton

Nathan Hilton

Director of Coaching
2014 to 2023

 

Joseph Stanford

Dr Joseph Stanford

Director of Coaching
2023 to present

 

Decades of Achievement

For over five decades, our Squad has been a cornerstone of elite swimming success. Originally supported and managed by Nottinghamshire County Council, the programme has continued to evolve and strengthen, and today operates under the leadership of Notts ASA.

Competing under the NOVA Centurion banner, we have established ourselves as one of the most successful performance programmes in the country. Our athletes have claimed national titles, secured Great Britain Club Team Championship victories, and consistently finished as Top Team at National Senior, Youth, and Age Group Championships.

Our success extends far beyond domestic competition.

We are immensely proud of our Olympic and Paralympic legacy, with multiple medal-winning performances across successive Games, including gold, silver, and bronze medals on the world’s biggest sporting stage. These achievements reflect not only exceptional talent, but a culture of performance, resilience, and ambition that defines our programme.

Our swimmers have continued to perform at the highest international level, representing their nations at major global events including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games, delivering podium finishes and outstanding final performances.

In recent years, our programme has become increasingly internationally focused. We are proud to support athletes representing nations across Asia and Africa, with swimmers competing as senior internationals at prestigious events such as the Commonwealth Games and the World University Games. This global reach reflects both the reputation of our programme and our commitment to developing world-class athletes, wherever they represent.

While medals and titles are a source of pride, our greatest achievement is the consistent progression of athletes from national success to international excellence.

Our story is one of sustained performance, global ambition, and a relentless drive to be among the very best.

Read the full story to explore the history of our exceptional head coaches whose vision and leadership have helped build a lasting programme of excellence.

“

At Nova Centurion, we are committed to developing young swimmers across Nottinghamshire through strong partnerships with local clubs. We provide a clear pathway for athletes to progress, whether they aspire to reach the top of their sport or simply become the best they can be. Our exceptional coaching staff focuses on both technical excellence and personal growth, ensuring every swimmer is supported in reaching their full potential, whether that’s competing at the Olympic level or achieving their personal goals.

”

Joseph Stanford – Director of Coaching, NOVA Centurion

Our Aim

To be the leading swimming programme in GB; achieved through providing a connected pathway that develops individuals into international senior swimmers.

Join us!

To start your performance swimming journey with NOVA Centurion.

Contact

TESTIMONIALS

"Training at Nova Centurion completely opened my eyes to how exceptional the sprint program is. With the incredible support services from my coach, I’ve been able to get faster than I ever imagined.”
Zach Moyo
Zach Moyo - Zambia Swimming Association Senior International Athlete (University of Nottingham Alumni)
"Training at Nova Centurion has been a hugely positive experience, giving me the speed and belief to compete confidently on the international stage."
Nubia Adjei
Nubia Adjei - Ghana Swimming AssociationSenior International Athlete (University of Nottingham Alumni)
Balancing Medicine with performance swimming at an international level is challenging, but the NOVA Scholarship has made it possible. The financial support, world-class facilities, and expert coaching have been invaluable in helping me train and perform at my best. I’m truly grateful for the opportunities, support, and friendships I’ve gained through the programme.
Megan Sng
Megan Sng - Hong Kong China Swimming AssociationSenior International Athlete (University of Nottingham Alumni)
I have a great experience at NOVA, the training was always challenging but I loved doing it with my friends by my side! There aren't many programmes in the country with the level of performance coaching and quality distance training that NOVA has. I don't think I would be the person I am today without the relationships I have at NOVA with my team mates and staff, so a big thank you always.
Freya Colbert - Aquatics GB
Freya Colbert - Aquatics GBEuropean Champion and Commonwealth Medallist
I have had so many great experiences since joining NOVA at the age of 9, always having felt supported by my coaches and team mates from Regional Development through to the Performance Squad. NOVA's great programme has given me the opportunity to compete internationally, both in the pool and open water. It has also given me the opportunity to receive a scholarship to train and study in the US for 4 years and I would not be the athlete or person that I am today with NOVA's support.
Livia Kingsland - Aquatics GB & Wingate Swimming
Livia Kingsland - Aquatics GB & Wingate SwimmingInternational Junior Athlete and NCAA Scholar
NOVA and the University of Nottingham provided me with the environment to thrive as an athlete. The programme and support enabled me to achieve things I never dreamt of achieving.
Polly Holden - Aquatics GB
Polly Holden - Aquatics GBSenior International Athlete (University of Nottingham Alumni)
I started swimming in a small club in Staffordshire. The opportunity to train under such a great coaching team and the emphasis on developing and the emphasis on developing homegrown talent drew me to NOVA. Highlights of my career include competing at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. I think the impact NOVA Centurion and the University of Nottingham had on me is to always do things with integrity, work hard, be honest with yourself, show up every day and believe you will be rewarded.
Jessica Sylvester - Aquatics GB
Jessica Sylvester - Aquatics GBOlympian, European & Commonwealth Medallist (University of Nottingham Alumni)
Being a member of NOVA from age 12 to 29 shaped my swimming career, guiding me to two Paralympic medals, and influenced my life beyond the pool. The lessons learned, discipline instilled, experiences had, and connections forged have been key in building my character and impacting my career.
Charlotte Henshaw- Aquatics GB
Charlotte Henshaw- Aquatics GBDouble Paralympic Medallist
It's an incredible journey with so many highs and lows! I started swimming with NOVA Centurion from Sutton-in-Ashfield when I was 10 years old and was a member of the squad until I retired at 25. I am proud to have been part of the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad and to have been part of a legacy that has produced so many world class swimmers.
Ollie Hynd- Aquatics GB
Ollie Hynd- Aquatics GBParalympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion
I was fortunate to be selected for the NOVA Centurion program at just 10 years old, starting out at Radford Swimming Club. I remained with NOVA throughout my entire swimming career. The decision to stay with NOVA was easy, given the exceptional training. The discipline, commitment, and resilience I developed during my time with NOVA was pivotal in preparing me for my future career in the Royal Air Force.
Adam Faulkner - Aquatics GB
Adam Faulkner - Aquatics GBOlympian & Commonwealth Medalist

See all our international swimmers and international medallists here. 

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