Louise is an inspiration as the 'Copper Box' feel comes to Ipswich

During the Olympics I was fortunate to get to see GB Women play handball and experience a live match at the ‘Copper Box’.

The popularity of handball at the games made it even harder to understand the taking away of funding for the elite teams. At least funding was kept in placefor ‘grassroots’ handball and this week England Handball launched the game in Ipswich.

We have a number of advantages over many towns when it comes to launching handball, a new sports hall at Suffolk One and even more importantly our own inspiration – Louise Jukes, a star of the GB women’s team at Stratford and now playing professional in Denmark.

Louise not only attended the event but coached, spoke inspired and even played!!
For the next 6 weeks coaching sessions will be held at Suffolk One and it was great to see so many signing up for the initiative. The support of the Ipswich Town Football Community Trust is also a much needed boost to the sport.

I have a feeling that handball can catch on in this country and especially the women’s game – let’s just hope that Ipswich helps handball reach the heights that many of us feel it can.