BOLTON School's enormous array of water polo talent from down the years came together to pay tribute to the man behind its remarkable success in the sport, Trevor Pledger.

The school became the first in the country ever to win national titles in all three age groups for three years running last year.

It has also produced club, national and international players and much of that is down to Mr Pledger who arrived at the school in 1986 looking to improve its quality in water polo.

Former and current pupils, many of them internationals, played against each other at Bolton One, including senior internationals such as Andrew Crawford, Richard Lawlor and Olympian Ed Scott.

A total of 42 former pupils took part in the games, many of them junior internationals, with more than 50 attending the day's celebration of Mr Pledger's career including senior internationals Lewis Daly and Aaron Winstanley, and junior internationals Ben and Chris Ray, Dominic Speakman, Chris Graham and Simon Baker.

Mr Pledger said: “I have been privileged to be part of what I truly believe is the unique Bolton School water polo team at a time of great success.

"The success of the boys during this period is a tribute to their talent, hard work and dedication and to the quality of the coaches we have been able to bring to the school to work with them.

"The team and the future is in the very capable hands of Dr Mike Yates and GB water polo coach of the year Andy McGinty.”

During Mr Pledger’s career, the school produced more than 40 youth and junior internationals and nine full internationals, including three girl youth and juniors and one senior woman.

He officiated at four European Championships, two Commonwealth Games and the London Olympic Games. He is a former president of English Schools’ Swimming Association and current chairman and lead delegate of World Schools’ Games Swimming in Doha.