Liverpool Hope
Community Handball Club

2008/09 started in the best possible way for the club, as we were proud to become the first handball club in the country to be awarded the prestigious Clubmark award.  This was a major honour for the club and represents the hard work which members of the club put into bringing the sport to children and young people in the local community.

The national league division 1 team got off to a slow start as players initially found the move up to the top level a difficult one. However, the morale of the team remained high, even when a number of important players were lost through injury. By mid-season, under Coach Jimmy Smith, the team were playing with a new confidence and results began to match the hard work and effort. With some fine victories and some very close defeats the team finished in a very impressive 5th place, just one place below the National League play-offs. The final league game of the season saw everything fall into place as the team defeated local rivals Bolton 39-17.

The first team achieved the success it deserved at the 2009 Liverpool International Tournament, becoming plate Champions. Playing in the tournament for the first time in many years, the team dominated the first day's play of the Plate Competition and easily won every game. The Plate Final saw the team drawn against German side, Ochtrup, who had beaten top northern club Manchester in the semi-finals. The final produced a fine display of handball with our team running out deserved winners 12-10 after a very tough game. 

In National League Division 2 (North), the club's second team again proved to be very strong. Throughout the season the club's youngsters and seasoned veterans proved to be a strong blend and were once again crowned Champions.

On reflection 2008-09 has been a very good one for the club in it's period of rebuilding. Held together by some strong and very supportive  and experienced members, the club is proud of it's development of new and emerging talent. This bodes very well for the future of the club and we are already all looking forward to next season.