I often felt the need for a standard reference book of waterpolo records, and in compiling this publication the aim for quick and easy reference has been constantly at the back of my mind.

I think that it is the duty of the games’ governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association, to issue such a publication annually, before the start of the season. I have no doubt the waterpolo follower will be eager to have such records available.

The last publication of this kind by the association was in 1990. I feel it is time that an official ASA annual should fill the void on the sportsman’s bookshelf.

Efforts by clubs and individuals have been made to present some sort of review but unfortunately, these have sometimes been inaccurate in many ways. More often than not such contributions although professionally compiled, give rise to various points of disagreement where records are concerned.

However, I have always striven to present accurate records and balanced comments in this Neptunes’ annual publication. This could be seen in our club’s match reports and analysis.

When dates, results, honours won and other data at club and national team level are published, these are thoroughly checked.

This publication, as its name implies, is an annual of Neptunes WPSC and naturally bias towards the club could be expected in terms of special focus on our club’s matches and other sporting activities.

I have no doubt that all match reports and analysis prepared by club member  and The Times journalist, Alex Vella, are a fair and honest endeavour which give the neutral follower of the game a balanced picture of local waterpolo competitions.

The foreword of this annual, the 12th consecutive one, has not been easy for me to write and this because Neptunes’ senior team again failed to land any of the top honours.

Nevertheless the team, under Sergio Afric, performed above expectations, having gone very close to winning the league title and the knock out competition.

We can definitely boast of having in our ranks players of the highest calibre  who enjoy high esteem from other clubs.

It was no coincidence that new champions Marsascala requested the temporary service of John Paris when the team participated in the LEN Trophy competition.

Niki Lanzon too was lured to guest for Sirens  when their Under-19 team won a tournament in Reggio in which Neptunes had, incidentally, placed second in 1996.

The junior strings, usually dominant in the various competitions, again lived up to their reputation.
The under-17 squad landed the championship with the under-19s finishing second to Sirens.

The under-14 team, too, ended runners-up having also gone very close to regaining the title they had lost in the previous year, after having gone through a tremendous seven-year championship winning streak.
Swimming again reserved the usual success for Neptunes’ colours.

Gail Rizzo and Rachel Sullivan were the chief standard-bearers after winning the only two medals for Malta in the Iceland Games for the Small States of Europe.

One must also mention a crop of other young Neptunes swimmers who are gradually making the grade. Rachel Sullivan did our club proud when she was voted the top female swimmer of the year, no doubt, deserved recognition for the young swimmer’s remarkable progress reflected in the spate of records she established and culminating in the silver medal she won in Iceland.

In the final analysis I venture to say that 1997 could be a turning point for our club not so much in the administrative level -- there was a change at the helm when Joe Psaila succeeded Austin Sammut -- as in purely sporting terms.

One hopes that 1998 will have better things in store for our club and that would be a positive harbinger for the new millenium.

The 75th anniversary of our club is only six years away and the year 2004 should be a significant one for Neptunes.