Danny Casey, Class of 2011

I studied Spanish and Chinese at University of Leeds, getting a 2:1. I then spent one year in Shanghai, China and six months in Granada, Spain as part of the course.

I played water polo for the Leeds first team, and played with the Shanghai team in China. I also played with Huetor Vega (Granada). In my third year at Leeds, I was Vice Captain of the Leeds Water Polo Team. In my fourth year, I was the Leeds Uni Men’s Team Captain & Coach, the Women’s Coach and a Swimming Coach. The men’s team came third and then fourth nationally in the BUCS competition for two consecutive years under my leadership.

I graduated from Leeds in 2015, after which, instead of going down the traditional London graduate scheme route, I followed my heart back to Granada. Here I taught English and played the water polo season for Huetor Vega again, where we won the Andalusian League and the Play Off tournament (one of the highest standards of WP I have played), qualifying for the 2nd National League.

Then I went to Seville, to play for Epsilon Sevilla Water Polo Club, and to begin my work as an international agricultural commodities broker. I played and worked in Seville for three years, before having a burnout. I went to Argentina for one month before the end and even played Water Polo with a local team there.

Eventually the burnout was too much, so I left and went on a journey to go and study yoga, which I had been practising more and more since living in China.

My journey took me to Australia, Sri Lanka and then India. In March 2020, I was in a Silent Meditation Retreat in Sri Lanka when Covid-19 began . . . three years later I finally left Sri Lanka, and came back to the UK. (I also played water polo in Sri Lanka.)

In September 2022 I was back in London, I started working for Red Sky, as Senior Commercial Manager, working in Food & Agriculture Software and Finance solutions. I played water polo for Beckenham and Invicta again, playing with Aarav Ganguli, Fred Turpin, Pierre Rivet and Alex Jones.

I am living in Bristol, working on my new company Om Holistic, www.om-holistic.com

What initially drew you to water polo, and when did you start playing?

I joined Trinity at 11 and was already a serious swimmer, for which I am extremely grateful to have received a sports scholarship.

I was quickly scouted out by Mr Marsh and so naturally began to play water polo in the first few weeks at Trinity. I continued to swim competitively for Beckenham Swimming Club and Trinity until year 9, when I gave up competitive swimming and took up water polo. I subsequently joined Beckenham and Invicta Water Polo Clubs and began to play for them in the Kent, London and the National Leagues.

How did you balance your academic and athletic commitments during your time as a student-athlete?

Good question. I am not sure that I ever did manage to balance my academic and athletic commitments. I tried to do whatever work I could at lunch time and free periods. I used to train every single week night, sometimes in the mornings before school as well, so inevitably I was often still up at 1am completing work for the next day.

My A-Level results show how I failed to balance all my extra-curricular activities with my academic studies Regardless, I am grateful for everything that sports, especially water polo, gave me, that I could never have got from more academic studies.

Can you share a memorable moment or game from your water polo career?

That’s easy. I was year 11 and it was the English Schools National Finals in Walsall, Birmingham. We were playing in the National Finals for U16s and also U18s. Me and Adam Dyer (2011), Jonny Cannon (2009), Mark Pepper (2009), Tom Price (2010), Kitan Ogunfeibo (2011), Tim Poole (2011), Jack Barnes (2010), Daniel Brown (2010), Marcus Lawton (2011), Chris Thamlin (2010) and many others not mentioned . . . We were playing King Edward’s Birmingham in the final. Mike Jukes (from Birmingham) was reffing. Within three minutes Jonny Cannon (our best player) was wrapped and sent to the dressing room. Then we conceded a penalty.

Mr Marsh screamed, “Oh no, what are you doing!” and kicked his toe against the wall. As the legend goes, Mr Marsh broke his toe in this legendary national final by kicking a wall.

What specific skills or attributes do you think contributed most to your success in water polo?

Vincit qui patitur. Determination.

Persistence. Passion. Teamwork. Perfectionism.

Mr Marsh and his anecdotes! Our favourite ones were:

“How did you miss the goal? The goalkeeper could have been sat on the side eating a cheese sandwich!” He is right of course, as he always was. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. A shot off target is worthless compared to a shot on target.

As he also used to say: “Practice doesn’t mean perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”

Once again, he taught me a lesson I’ve never forgotten, and which I have taught many people since.

I worked hard to reach the level of skill, tactics and athleticism needed, without any of which, it would not have been possible.

How did you overcome setbacks or failures along the way?

By getting back up every time. By trying again. By training harder. When I’d get angry and annoyed with myself for losing a game, my father would say: “Turn that anger into determination for the next game.” This seemed to work.

Can you describe the camaraderie and team dynamics within your water polo team?

Many of the infamous funny stories, jokes and good memories come from the camaraderie of the Trinity water team.

We laughed, we joked, we cried. It all happened in the pool, outside the pool, and usually in the minibus driving back from Walsall! We worked hard, and played hard. Training was intense but fruitful. Games were demanding and usually triumphant. The feeling of winning a national final was, of course, incredible. As it was to compete in all of the national finals we ever competed in, which were many!

What role did your coaches play in your development as a water polo player?

The student can only be as good as the teacher.

Mr Marsh, Mr Lawson and Mr King were fundamental to my development as a water polo player. I simply wouldn’t be the player I am today if it were not for all of them. I likely would have never found water polo had I not gone to Trinity.

I am eternally grateful to them for all of their warmth, support and encouragement over the years.

What changes would you like to see in the development of water polo, particularly at the grassroots level?

Great question! A bigger, better and more serious club set-up.

In Europe, US, Australia and many other countries, one sports club may have up to five different sports belonging to the same club body. This means there is a huge pool of talent to bring through and they can choose the sport that is right for them! All at minimal cost and with as much community focus as possible. This would mean those who excel at any given sport at school are given a place outside school where they can play with, and learn from, children who are as good as, or better, than them, which is where real improvement and learning is made.

Naturally this will benefit the children, schools and clubs alike.

What were some of the most memorable lessons you learnt from your water polo career?

Passion and commitment is more powerful than any God-given physical or mental talent.

I learnt that when we love something, we can do it to our heart’s content. Water polo has taught me that one must do what one loves to achieve real perfection, mastery and execution of any action.

How has your experience in water polo influenced your life beyond the pool?

Water polo has been a huge influence on the man I am today. It has made me strong - mentally and physically. It made me know pain. It made me know hard work. It made me feel victory.

It also taught me defeat, and how to rise again from the ashes.

It especially taught me team-work. A team is only as good as its weakest player. A strong player is good, but it takes a leader to win games.

These are all strengths and skills that I embody every day. Water polo has taught me how to lead men and women.