County call for handball lads

PICTURED left to right: Ethan Hardman, Ishmael James, coach Donna Hankinson, Marc Howard, Jamal Braithwaite and Dereece Keylock.

GREATER Manchester’s handball squad has new recruits from Oldham and they will be hoping to catch the eye of England selectors when they represent the county at a tournament in Birmingham on Saturday.

Five boys from Royton & Crompton School - Ishmael James, Dereece Keylock and Ethan Hardman from Year 11 plus Marc Howard and Jamal Braithwaite from Year 10 - were selected on the basis of recent performances against schools in Stockport and Rochdale.

Their coach Donna Hankinson, a former England player, runs a session each week at the school and is hoping that some members of the squad could progress, possibly as far as Olympic participation in London in 2012.