The team of Hyde Seals Swimming Club, Champion of England in 1905. The Hyde Seals' Water Polo team travelled to Paris in 1904 as English champions. They took part in a competition organized by the French newspaper L'Auto and defeated the defending champions, Brussels, 14-2 in a match which was played in the River Marne.The team included George Wilkinson who was to captain Great Britain to the Olympic Water Polo gold at the 1908 Games in London and at Stockholm in 1912. The Hyde Seals returned to Paris in 1905 and 1906 to retain their title.
Source: credit to Tameside Local Studies and Archives, http://www.tameside.gov.uk/
