As proud National league champions in nine of the twelve years between 1996 and 2007, Lancaster City's standing as one of the UK's Premier teams is unquestioned. It is sobering thought, therefore, that it was not till 1979 that the club took the big decision to apply for the National League membership for the first time.

Just one year after (1980) they joined division three they finished top on 26 points with Bristol Central second on 20 points. Lancaster got promoted to division two.

A long wait then for Lancaster as it was not till 1990 Lancaster made it to division one. The incredible run of the National League success in the past decade begin in 1996 when Lancaster lifted their first division one title

Lancaster have won the National League NINE times in the past twelve years and for five consecutive years (2002-2007)

Winners: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996
Other years: 2007, 2001

National League Landmarks:

Water Polo has undergone dramatic changes. When the first league title was won in 1963 only 91 goals were scored. Now the top teams hit around 200 goals at the end of the session.

1963 - National League Division one introduced

1972 - 45 second possession rule (instead of one minute)

1973 - Start of Division Three

1975 - Introduction of refs' assessment by clubs

1975 - Poly become first club to win Title with 100per cent record

1977 - Southport become first club to win promotion from Third to First Division

1978 - Two referees introduced in Division One only

1981 - New rule increasing periods from five to seven minutes and teams from 11 to 13 players

1982 - Maindee Olympics take the title out of England for the first time

1986 - British Deep Water Championship launched by the National League

1986 - League starts Forth Division

1986 - Durham's George Carpenter scores league record 100 goals in a Division Two season and then betters that in 1987 with 105.

1988 - Entire league program briefly suspended over the banning of leading players by the ASA for taking part in unofficial South Africa tour

1991 - League season switched from summer to September - December format

1996 Return to summer program

1998 - Back to a September start!! FIrst and Third divisions at shared venues

1999 - All games at shared venue

2000 - Dan Siddons (Hucknull) sets league record with 14 goals in one game