Club Update – Training Schedule Adjustment
Dear Members and Parents,
Hope you've all enjoyed the half term break. Following previous communication regarding the financial challenges the club has been facing, we want to update you on an important and proactive decision.
Until further notice, all Thursday sessions will be removed from the club schedule.
This includes:
- U16 Boys & Girls
- U19 Boys & Girls
- Senior Men
- Senior Women
This decision has not been taken lightly. It is a necessary and responsible step to place the club in a stronger and more secure financial position.
Our Thursday booking (6–9pm), full court x 3hrs) costs approximately £350 per week By removing these sessions over the next couple of months, the club will save between £1,300 and £1,500 per month.
These savings will stabilise the club and ensure its continued existence. After a challenging financial period, this change gives us the breathing space required to rebuild properly and operate with more security.
We fully recognise that reducing one weekly session does limit our overall training volume. In the short term, it may impact the amount of court time available to players.
Regardless, we remain fully committed to maintaining high training standards across all age groups. Our coaching staff will work deliberately and efficiently within the revised schedule to ensure that all key areas of development including technical, tactical, physical and mental components continue to be covered to the highest standard possible. Sessions will be structured with clear objectives, good intensity and purposeful planning to maximise every minute on court.
This change is not intended to be permanent. Our aim is to fully reinstate a second weekly session for the 2026/27 season. In the meantime, we will focus on building strong local partnerships, strengthening community relationships, and creating opportunities that support the long-term sustainability of the club. We believe this strategic step sets a clear path for us to stabilise, rebuild, and ultimately thrive in a more secure manner.
Training Schedule (Moving Forward)
The following sessions will continue Monday-Wednesday:
- U14 Boys & Girls – Monday & Tuesday, 6:00–7:00pm
- U16 & U19 Boys & Girls – Wednesday, 6:00–7:30pm
- Senior Men – Tuesday, 7:00–9:00pm
- Senior Women – Monday, 7:00–9:00pm
In addition, selected U19 players will continued to be invited to participate with the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s squads. This will support their development and progression within the club pathway.
Membership Fees
Membership fees will remain unchanged.
While we understand that removing a weekly session may raise questions, maintaining current membership pricing is essential in order to:
- Sustain the financial health of the club.
- Cover increased competition-related costs from January onwards.
- Ensure we can continue competing and operating at an appropriate standard.
The second half of the season is always more competitive and brings additional costs including fixtures, administration, travel, and officiating. This is the period where financial stability is most important.
Game Day Fee (From March 2026)
From March, a £5 game day fee per player, will be introduced.
This fee will primarily contribute towards referee expenses and match-related operational costs.
Payment Options
The £5 game day fee can be paid in one of the following ways:
· Cash on the day
OR
· Via SportsMember, through a separate game day payment link
The SportsMember payment will either be sent to you directly by email or will appear within your SportsMember account as a game day event payment. This allows us to track payments clearly and maintain transparency around match costs.
Further details regarding the game day payment process will be shared over the coming weeks. The structure may vary slightly depending on the team or age group, as we want to ensure the system is appropriate and fair for all participants.
We are taking the time to implement this properly rather than rushing the process. It is important that the introduction of this new structure is clear, consistent and managed smoothly from its beginning. Once finalised, full guidance will be communicated to all members.
We appreciate that these adjustments require understanding and cooperation. Every decision being made is focused on protecting the club’s future, maintaining competitive standards, and ensuring Trafford Handball Club continues to grow in a sustainable way.
Thank you for your continued commitment, patience, and belief in what we are building.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
trafford@handballfoundation.co.uk
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