Shortly before joining the Great Britain water polo team for the 1936 Olympics, David Grogan was appointed captain of the Lancashire County side, and two years later was honoured with the captaincy of England. He was a clever, speedy and ambidextrous player. A fireman with the Oldham Police Force, his career was interrupted during World War II, but he resumed playing after the hostilities. In 1948 Grogan was captain of one of the two teams that took part in the Olympic trial at Blackpool, but he never gained his second selection. The following year, he guided Lancashire to the English County Championship when he was player/coach of the Royton team, who he also led to the final of the English Water Polo Club Championship against Sheffield Dolphins. In 1950, Grogan was still coaching Royton, and played the occasional game, in his mid-40s.
Great Britain