Tom Coe

Tom Coe was one of the most highly respected, and greatest, water polo players of his generation. The captain of England in many international matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland, he was also captain of the gold-medal-winning Great Britain team at the 1900 Olympics.

Coe was also an excellent swimmer and won his first Osborne Club members scratch event, over five lengths of the Osborne baths, in 1891. Despite turning his hand to water polo in 1893, he continued swimming and throughout his career, won more than 20 Lancashire and Northern County titles. He won his first national water polo title with Osborne, against Leicester, in 1894, and was part of the team that won seven consecutive national titles and 10 consecutive Manchester & District titles.

Coe, who worked in the fruit exchanges in Liverpool and Manchester, quit competitive water polo in 1908 and became a referee, officiating in many important matches, including a national county final and several regional county finals.