Young North East handball players get smart new look thanks to Hay & Kilner kit sponsorship

Young members of a fast-growing regional sports club have received a welcome hand from
Hay & Kilner.

Players in the mini and junior sections at the Newcastle Vikings Handball Club are now
wearing smart new playing kit that’s been provided through a sponsorship deal with the
Newcastle-based practice.

Described as football with hands and water polo without the water, handball is a fast-
paced, court-based team sport played by people of all ages, and is especially popular
across much of continental Europe.

Newcastle Vikings was founded by chairperson Marlen Slinning Goulty after the sport had
been widely showcased during the 2012 London Olympics.

Originally from Norway, Marlen had played handball since the age of five and was keen to
develop the sport in her adopted North East homeland.

A PE teacher by profession, Marlen also regularly visits primary schools across Tyne & Wear
to introduce the sport to the children and to help them develop the skills and
understanding they will need if they want to give it a go.

The Vikings now run weekly training sessions for junior players at the Beacon of Light in
Sunderland on Tuesdays and at the Benfield Centre on Wednesdays, with anyone aged
between three and 16 years-old welcome to come along to try it out.

Its senior section, which has around 30 members, trains at the NuCastle Foundation Sports
Centre every Monday and at the Benfield Centre on Wednesdays, with both men’s and
women’s teams playing matches against other English and Scottish clubs, as well as solely
for leisure and enjoyment.

Marlen says: “We had a really positive response when we set the club up and quickly
established a junior section to capitalise on all the interest that the Olympics has generated
from children and families who’d probably not seen handball before.

“Our youngest players focus on the fun of spending active time with their friends while
building the skills that will help them play the game as they get older, and it’s great to see
how much everyone enjoys taking part in these sessions.”

“We have around 50 members in our mini and junior sections, but we’re always open to
new players coming along to our training sessions and love giving them the chance to try a
fun new team sport that they might decide is for them.”

“All our young members look great in their new sponsored kit and it’s really giving them an
extra feeling of belonging, so we’re hugely grateful to Hay & Kilner for their support in
making it available to everyone.”

Ruth Fell, HR Manager at Hay & Kilner, whose six-year-old son Charlie has been part of the
Vikings junior section for the last two years, adds: “Charlie and his friends are so proud of
their new kit and they all look great as they’re hurtling around the court.

“This is a great way for Hay & Kilner to support a community sports club and we hope the
new kit helps to encourage more North East kids to give handball a try.”

Head to www.newcastlehandball.co.uk for further information on Newcastle Vikings Handball Club.