Coming second to Nottingham in the Central England Regional League gave Warriors a shot at promotion into the National League at the Champs Trophy! Expect to win we did not, but this was an opportunity to experience korfball at a really high standard and hopefully learn a few things along the way. A nervous squad of 10 travelled down to Croydon one Friday night in May, slightly depleted in numbers but excited for the challenge that lay ahead. Lacking Mike, Mel and Paul we drafted in Tom, Pete and Chris (not sure who was Mel’s replacement!) to join Mossy, Jonesy, Fish, Sophie, Emma, Jenny and Amy.

Our first match on Saturday was against Tornadoes, a nippy squad of youngsters who went on to win the tournament and move into the National League. Needless to say it was a loss for Warriors, and quite a painful one at that. Fortunately for us, our Welsh international player, Kev Jones, saved us from a goal-less scoresheet: final score 14-1.

Next up was Highbury, a slightly fairer matching, however we did not play our best korfball and the goals were just not dropping, leaving us more disappointed in ourselves than in the loss itself. After a Ferguson-esque team talk from coach Kev Moss, the fire returned to our bellies and we were keen to redeem ourselves. Divisions clicked and we were strong both in attack and defense. However the improvement in our play was not reflected by the score of the final match of the day, 13-2 to Cambridge.

Exhausted and already aching due to the enormous court size and shot clocks (which we were not used to), we enjoyed three courses of comfort food and a few drinks at Pizza Express, up early again on Sunday we renewed enthusiasm. First up, Norwich Knights, who came a close second to Tornadoes. Warriors managed to hold off the opposition’s goals for the majority of the match – by half time we had conceeded only two goals to Norwich. This was our best play by far, and although Norwich’s energy (and endless list of substitutions!) surpassed ours, the eventual loss did not bother us as it was a game to be proud of. The last game of the weekend was against Bristol City, unfortunately — due to injury — Bristol had a team of only 7. That said, Warriors’ were effectively reduced to a side of 7 due to an ankle sprain for Sophie. This changed the dynamic of the game and Warriors rose to the challenge – coming away with our first win of the weekend: 10-5!

A big learning curve for the squad, but looking forward to next year!

Sunday 8th April saw our brand new social… The Warrior Egg Hunt Social.

Scattered around Didsbury were Warriors Easter Eggs. Find the egg and win some chocolate. However the small print read “also receive a forfeit”. The conclusion was that it was amazing what people would do for chocolate!

The reason for our social was that Warriors had reasons to celebrate:

• Warriors have recently won the North West Cup;
• Warriors 1 have just qualified for the Champions Trophy; and
• We have a load of new players that need initiating to the club…

The brave ones started at 3pm in the Didsbury and the hardcore ones finished at 2pm in Revolution in Fallowfield where many shots were had and even lots of dancing.

Due to the success of our recent recruitment drive we felt it apt to hold our popular Bowling Social to get to know some of the newer players and more importantly for them to see how “special” Warriors are.

The night was a great success with about 16 Warriors there bowling and a few joining us later on. After the bowling where lots of drinking fines were accumulated we headed to Didsbury to drink them all!

The weekend of 27 to 29 January 2012 marked the annual Edinburgh International Korfball Tournament (or EIKT for short).

The first major tournament of the year, EIKT offers two packed days of korfball, as well as a huge Scottish céilidh dance on the Saturday night, set in the traditional surroundings of Teviot Row House, the UK’s oldest purpose-built students’ union.

This year, twenty-four teams from across the UK and Europe competed for something shiny and this is how we got on…

Manchester’s finest.  Or thereabouts.

Socials:

Upon arriving in fair Edinburgh on Friday night, we descended upon the city centre in search of a late bar and a quick bite to eat.  The bite to eat was very quick and the bar we found stayed open very late, so it all worked out quite nicely.

Between “The Pyramid of Death” and what best be described as the “Downing Straw of Doom,” we announced our arrival in the city with a bang (or more accurately, a glug).

It may look friendly, but the Pyramid of Death is a cruel mistress (just like Paul).

Warriors’ very own Scousewife demurely models the Downing Glasses of Doom.

The traditional céilidh on the Saturday involved much of the same, but with added dancing and a lot of this…

SNAKE!  Obviously…

Game summary:

1st game – Stockholm 3-3 Warriors (Mossy:2, Jonesy: 1)

Thankfully, our first match on Saturday morning was at a sensible time (11:15) and allowed for the more delicate of the Warriors clan to recover from the antics of the night before.

Unsurprisingly, we were a little slow to wake up and although Mossy was on fire, we only managed to draw against a very spirited (and infinitely less hungover) Swedish team.

Whilst we probably should have won the tie, we were consoled by the very sweet (and equally random) “Visit Stockholm!” pencils that they passed around at the end of the game.

2nd game – St Andrew’s University 2-2 Warriors (Sophie: 1, Jonesy: 1)

The team got off to a great start, thanks to some very vocal support from the sidelines, with two quick goals from Sophie and Jonesy.

However, the St Andrew’s lot battled hard and promptly scored two goals by way of a response and with the tournament games only being fifteen minutes in length, we did not have enough time to finish off the game before the theme from “Countdown” (yes, you read that correctly – the theme from “Countdown!”) brought the match to a close.

3rd game – Edinburgh University (3rd team) 1-2 Warriors (Jonesy: 2)

The first game of the afternoon also signalled our first win of the day.  Which may or may not have had something to do with the threat of a ten shot drinking fine, each, if we lost.

Pavlov, eat your heart out.

4th game – Original Ruff Shakers 6-1 Warriors (Paul: 1)

Los Luchadores may have been the Harlem Globetrotters of the tournament, but Originals Ruff Shakers – consisting of a number of National League players – were not far off the pace.  And it showed.

Mums across the country tell their children that, “It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts,” which is probably for the best, given that we were, for the want of a better word, destroyed.  Despite being thoroughly tonked, it was the most enjoyable game of the weekend, in a sadomasochistic sort of way.

A big shout out goes to Dr Blood, whose long range effort managed to prevent a complete whitewash.

5th game – UEA 2-1 Warriors (Si: 1)

We should have, but didn’t, win this.  Not that we are bitter or anything…

Sunday

6th game – Athens 5-2 Warriors (Jonesy: 2)

In a Groundhog Day performance reminiscent of our 1st game of the weekend, drink and sleep deprivation managed to get the better of us and we were duly punished by a far-too-hyper-for-first-thing-on-a-Sunday-morning Greek team whose long distance shooting soon picked holes in our gin-soaked defence.

After the game, our Athens friends rubbed ouzo into the wound.  Literally.  They actually gave us a bottle of ouza.  εβίβα!

7th game – Birmingham 3-5 Warriors (Kim:1 , Jenny: 1, Mossy: 2, Tom: 1)

If our seventh game of the tournament were an episode of Friends, it would be called: “The one where Fish got blammed.”

It says a lot for the quality of said blam that none of us can remember our match-winning performance!

And, thanks to the wonders of digital photography…

8th game – UEA 0-1 Warriors (Kim:1 – we think…)

Our final match of the weekend was the play-off for, er, thirteenth(!) place.

As mentioned above, the first time we played UEA, we should have beat them.  The second time we played them, we did.  Phew!

Final standings and league tables:

Shamelessly (but lovingly) lifted from the EIKT 12 website: VIEWABLE HERE.

Tiger! (of “Tiger, Dragon, Snake” fame…)

Honourable mention:

Despite being *that* close to winning the tournament (for “that close” read: miles away), we were able to take solace in the fact that Los Luchadores, the eventual victors of the weekend, included a number of current (Mike and Mel) and past (Fro and Marv) Warriors.  ¡Warriors para la victoria!

Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas.

Second team: Saturday 4th February – Warriors (5) v (3) Lancaster University

Despite being the first week of February, this match was the first second team match of 2012, complete with a new look team.

Starting in attack were Pete, Chris, Jenny and Sophie,  whilst Mossy, Tom, Emma and Fran started in defence.  This turned out to  be a shrewd selection, resulting in a convincing win.

Debutants Fran, Emma and Phil all put in a good shift and  this prompted – following a quickfire goal scored during the first  attack – one of the Lancashire University players to ask the referee,  “Is this really Warriors 2?”

The answer?  An exceedingly modest, “HELL  YEAH!”

Our dominance in possession was not really reflected in  the scoreline but with a comfortable win under their belts, we are  hoping for big things from Warriors 2 in 2012.

The goals came courtesy of Jenny, Chris, Pete (2) and Emma (on her debut!).

Second team: Sunday 5th February – Warriors (8) v (7) Manchester University

The second team’s second game in the second month of 2012 was a tight  affair, thanks to Manchester University having come on leaps and bounds  since last season under the tutelage of our very own (sorta traitor)  Kev Moss.  Warriors 2 also welcomed back the elusive Dave Dean.

Mossy, Dave, Clare and  Sophie started in attack , whilst Pete, Tom,  Lucy and Clem were in defence.  Koppul, yet another debutant, waited in  the wings.

Manchester Unversity created some problems for us, as they sought to  pressure the newbies (some of us expereinced players!), to make it a  close match.  But with Pete on fire, scoring four goals, plus two cheeky  (and trademark) shots from Kev and one-a-piece for Clem and Sophie,  Warriors took the spoils.  Just.

First Team: Sunday 5th February – Warriors (14) v (11) Manchester City

Strangely, this was the first team’s first league match since November 2011!

After suffering a frustrating defeat against our local  rivals before Christmas, for the first time in Warriors’ history, and  having had plenty of time to binge away the pain during the festive  season, we were desperate to win the local derby match.

Due to the absence of our crystal ball-headed Fish (due  to some soft Americans in padding throwing an egg around a field…),  Mossy stepped up to join Kev, Amy and Soph in defence, with Mike, Paul,  Mel and Jenny starting in attack.  Emma started on the bench and  patiently waited to make her debut for the first team.

It took us a while to shake off the rust and we conceded  three early goals without response as Manchester City kept to a solid  game plan.  However, we eventually found our rhythm, equalising and then  taking the lead through some excellent movement and finishing.

Manchester City kept the game close with some great  distance shooting courtesy of their captain, Joe Cooper (and who Kev now  has quite a few drinking fines because of!).

In summary: the first team held their nerve during a very tense and vocal match, but came away with a very well deserved win.

Our goals came from Mossy (3), Kev (4), Amy (1), Jenny (1), Mike (3) and Mel (2).

Three from three this weekend for the Warriors.  Excellent stuff – bring on the Snakes next Sunday!

On Saturday 7 January 2012, members of the club will be harassing unsuspecting members of the public in East Didsbury, Manchester, as part of our first recruitment / publicity drive of the new year.

We will be wandering up and down Wilmslow Road – starting at Gusto (the Italian restaurant between Marks & Spencer and the Co-operative on Wilmslow Road) – from around 11am on Saturday morning. We will be handing out fliers and will be answering all questions about the wonderful world of korfball. Also, weather permitting, some of us will set up shop at Fog Lane Park and you will be able to try your hand at the sport itself.

Come and find us!

It should not be hard to miss us, as we will all be dressed in (blue) club shirts or hooded sweaters. Which, thinking about it, means that we will probably resemble a posse of Smurfs.

When the sun goes down (or when the trusty Manchester weather brings a halt to proceedings), we will be going for lunch and then embarking upon the Didsbury Dozen pub crawl. If you want to pop along, come and see us during the day and we will give you further details.

The recruitment drive was going terribly until Smurfette flashed a bit of leg.

Come and say hello!

In the meantime and by way of further background on the club, here is some gentle recruitment propaganda…

Manchester Warriors are looking for new recruits to become part of our friendly and ambitious korfball club. No experience of korfball is required – our training sessions are designed for beginners upwards and the first two sessions are free!

Korfball is the world’s only true mixed-gender sport, with each team consisting of four men and four women, and incorporates the ball handling and shooting skills of basketball, netball and handball, plus the spatial awareness of rugby and football.

As a club, Manchester Warriors boast success both on and off the field. We have a number of expert coaches, talented players and (perhaps most importantly) we are a social bunch and arrange regular trips here, there and everywhere.

Have a look around this site to get a flavour of our past events (editor’s note: which has coincidentally just been updated in time for the recruitment drive…), as well as our current social calendar for 2012.

Above all, korfball is fast paced and easy to pick up, so what not give it a go?

Our training sessions take place every Tuesday from 20:00 to 22:00 at The Barlow RC High School, Parrs Wood, East Didsbury, Manchester.

We hope to see you there!

Now that 2011 is done and dusted, we have used the Christmas break as an opportunity to reflect upon the club’s achievements over the last twelve months and also on our plans for the coming year.

Last year’s achievements (briefly!)

2011 brought with it some major challenges for the club, with a number of established players leaving the golden streets of Manchester for pastures new (and places a damn sight less wet than our beloved city).

As such, it was decided that we would reduce the number of club teams from three to two, with one playing in CEKL Division 1 and the other in the North West Korfball League. But, as they say, every cloud…

The reduction to two teams has allowed for some of our up-and-coming players to get an opportunity to challenge some of the (ageing) first team players for places, as well as get valuable experience playing against some very good players in the CEKL.

As expected, our league form has wavered slightly whilst the two teams seek to re-establish themselves in their respective leagues, however our tournament form continues to be excellent. Fantastic wins at the Edinburgh International Tournament and the Manchester City Summer Tournament (hosted by our local rivals…), among others, as well as our commendable fourth place finish at the Champions Trophy in Norwich has proven that Warriors are still a (korfballing) force to be reckoned with.

A few members of the club were even called up for international duty. Kev Jones represented Wales in China (of all places) during the 2011 World Korfball Championships and Mike Brayne represented Scotland (despite a very dubious ancestral link…) during the course of the year.

When Kev was picked for the Wales squad, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

Surviving the end of the world (2012 onwards)

Be it by way of earthquake, meteor shower or death by reality television – to some, 2012 signals the end of the world. Us Warriors are a little bit more optimistic about the whole affair, as we know for a fact that the world will not end. How? Because Marty McFly time-travelled to 2015. Simple.

Great Scott, the Mayans were wrong!

Anyway, following on from our success in 2011, the club has a number of exiting plans in the pipeline that will hopefully make Warriors a household name (in korfball circles, anyway) not only in the North West but across the UK and beyond.

This website will be updated periodically with further details of developments at the club, but current news includes the following:

Return to Attila

Warriors will be returning to Eindhoven in April 2012 (after a four year break) to take part in the famous Attila tournament in Holland. The tournament takes place over two days and it is on every korfballer’s bucket list. Incidentally, the sight of buckets at the tournament is not unknown, given that teams generally start on the Oranjeboom before the tournament starts and finish after it ends.

A Dutch bloke. Possibly not from Eindhoven and certainly not a korfballer.

National Youth Korfball Championships

There are rumours that the National Youth Korfball Championships will be held in Manchester in 2012 and if so, we are hoping to make it a massive tournament by organising and holding an adult competition alongside it.

This will hopefully give both UK korfball and Warriors some significant media exposure and the ball rolling in terms of our plan for world domination!

Warriors Juniors

One to watch out for: whilst this is in the early discussion stages, Warriors are hoping to launch a junior club in 2012. Watch this space…

A junior warrior, yesterday.

Dates for your calendar…

• 28 and 29 January 2012 – Edinburgh International Tournament
• February 2012 (date TBC) – rock climbing at Manchester Climbing Centre (website: HERE)
• March 2012 (date TBC) – bowling and night out
• April 2012 (date TBC) – fancy dress pub crawl / egg hunt
• July 2012 (date TBC) – Urbanathlon (website: HERE)

Keep checking back for updates!

A normal day at the office for Mike.