Attractive handball for the public needs reliable partners. This is where Stadtwerke Gießen is happy to step in. If the overall package is right - as is the case with HSG Pohlheim.
Central Hesse has been a region with a long handball tradition for decades. HSG Pohlheim is an excellent example. Formed in 2001 from the handball departments of the five district clubs, the club has long been one of the key players on the scene. Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) is not entirely uninvolved in the positive development of HSG Pohlheim. SWG has been a supporter of the club since 2007, when the first men's team was playing in the regional league. Those responsible at HSG and SWG recently extended the partnership for a further three years. "We are extremely pleased to have such a reliable partner at our side in SWG," explained Patrik Marsteller, 1st Chairman of HSG Pohlheim, on the occasion of signing the contract.
The whole spectrum
Anyone who takes a closer look at HSG Pohlheim quickly realises that there is more at stake here than just keeping a team in a relatively high league. Of course, the first team in the Oberliga Hessen is the club's figurehead. And of course it takes some effort to build and maintain a team of this calibre. However, not everything revolves around the Oberliga cracks. On the contrary. "We attach great importance to our work with young talent," continues Patrik Marsteller. A staff of 15 licensed coaches looks after around 120 children and young people aged between 4 and 18. As there are not always enough players in the relevant age groups, HSG Pohlheim also cooperates with neighbouring clubs in joint teams. "This enables us to offer young people attractive programmes," adds the chairman.
The club is particularly proud of its youth development concept. And rightly so. This is because HSG Pohlheim pursues a holistic approach: the support measures not only take sport into account, but also school and training. For example, the club provides free support with homework and extra tuition. The club also uses its network to find internships and apprenticeships or even employment to help the players enter the world of work. "The aim is to enable the players to attend training sessions regularly without their school performance suffering as a result. This takes the pressure off them and their parents. And avoids having to decide in favour of either school or sport," explains Patrik Marsteller. "HSG's sustainable approach has impressed us across the board for some time now," explains Ina Weller, SWG company spokesperson. "That's why the decision was quickly made to continue the cooperation." In addition to the sponsorship, SWG also supports the annual Handball Day at the start of the season, where all teams compete against a selected opponent in a preparatory match to determine their position before the start of the new season and practise team tactics in real game situations.
Now more than ever
Like all other amateur sports clubs, HSG Pohlheim is also suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. So far, not a single match has been played. This is of course also having a financial impact, as there is a lack of income from ticket sales. "Right now, we are particularly grateful to SWG for continuing to support us. After all, we can only fulfil our part of the agreement to a limited extent at the moment because we are not allowed on the pitch and are therefore only visible via special campaigns on our social media channels," says Patrik Marsteller. Irrespective of this, SWG stands by its partners: "Like so many things, the quality of a partnership is revealed in a crisis. And we at SWG are convinced that the current situation can best be overcome together," says Stephanie Orlik, responsible for cooperation with sports partners at SWG, explaining the commitment.