Damien Noel, Karim Hammache and Gregory Pinoteau old friends frustrated at not being able to play their beloved sport in the rainy city founded Manchester Handball Club in September 2003.
No awareness of the sport by local authorities, no court marked anywhere, no sports hall to train in, no funding...all these were never going to be hurdles for them: their motivation was simply too high.
Slowly but surely, with adverts posted there and then, the silent army of handball amateurs living in Manchester got in touch, allowing the club to slowly but steadily develop. Registration with the England Handball Association following suit with entry in Division 2 and promotion to Division 1 in its first season of existence.
From the start, the club's ideals were two folds: "Competition and Leisure Handball as well as Promotion of Cultural Diversity". This philosophy will never change...
And today, as well as being a sports club, MHC has gathered people from many different backgrounds who have all in common the passion for Handball, with no less than 12 countries of origin being represented by the players of the club, all committed to playing and developing Handball in Manchester.
After focusing on the Men's team for the first couple of years, which allowed us to become a key club of the north of England, we have now established a strong partnership with the sports development unit of Manchester and some schools of the council.
Work on the Women's team and youth section has begun...
Previous clubs: San Victor / BM Valladolid / San Augustin (Esp)
Moussa Taleb 4
Chris FULTON 70
Nationality:Algerian
Age: 34
Height: 1 m 82 Weight: 97 kg
Position: line
At Manchester HC since: 2005
Previous club: Algiers HC (Alg)
Nationality:British
Age: 25
Height: 1 m 87 Weight: 70 kg
Position: winger
At Manchester HC since: 2006
Previous club: /
Fabien Lauret 1
Aurelien Bouche 18
Nationality: French
Age: 19
Height: 1 m 77 Weight: 70 kg
Position: Goalkeeper
At Manchester HC since: 2007
Previous club:
Nationality: French
Age: 23
Height: 1 m 85 Weight: 85 kg
Position: Half
At Manchester HC since: 2007
Previous club: /
IMPORTANT MILE STONES:
Season 2003 - 2004 - Club founded in September 2003, joining the EHA in November 2003.
- Entry in division 2, finishing 3rd, promotion to Division 1.
Season 2004 - 2005 - Finishing 3rd in Division 1 National league.
- Winning the First Edition of the Manchester International Handball Tournament.
Season 2005 - 2006 - Finishing 2nd in the Division 1 Northern League, reaching the Quarter Finals of the National Play offs,
losing to Oxford University, the eventual Champions.
Season 2006 - 2007 - Finishing 2nd in the Division 1 Northern League, reaching the Quarter Finals of the National Play offs (again!)
British Cup semi final: Defeat to Great Danes 27-25, the eventual Winners.
Club Objectives
Our objectives for the season to come are to develop the club further, including the women's and youth sections, and improving on our ranking in the top tier of division 1, hoping to bring an England Handball Association trophy back to the club.
