News / Handball
Historic moment for handball in Bristol
Bristol Handball Club has achieved something that neither of our men’s Bristol football teams has ever achieved: it has won promotion to the Premier League.
A 29-27 victory against Chelsea in the final match of the season clinched promotion for the side, who train at City Academy in Redfield and play most of their home games at Winterbourne Academy.
For chairman Balazs Musitz, “this has definitely been one of the most memorable seasons in the club’s history”.
is needed now More than ever
“We had a consistent run of strong performances, which helped us maintain momentum throughout the year,” said Musitz.
“The win against Chelsea was the decisive moment that sealed our promotion. It was an incredible way to finish the season.”
High fives all round for Bristol Handball Club
Musitz, 31, who is originally from Hungary, works as a quality, health, safety & environment technician at a company that designs, engineers and manufactures aluminium windows and doors.
He told Bristol24/7 that promotion “still hasn’t fully sunk in. It’s a massive achievement for all of us, not just the players, but everyone working behind the scenes, week in and week out”.
Musitz added: “We’re excited, proud and a bit nervous all at once! It means a lot to help put Bristol handball on the national map.”
Bring it in!
For the uninitiated, handball is a sport that has seven players on each team who compete by passing a ball using their hands, with the aim of throwing the ball into the other team’s goal.
A match lasts just 60 minutes and games are high scoring with both teams regularly scoring more than 20 goals.
“Handball is fast paced, physical and full of energy,” Musitz explained.
“You have to think quickly, move constantly and rely on your teammates. It combines skill and athleticism in a way that’s truly unique, and what really makes it stand out is the welcoming community around it.
“It’s a brilliant sport that more people should get to experience.”
Bristol Handball Club has won promotion to the Premier League for the first time
Musitz said that there is “a real sense of unity” in the Bristol Handball Club squad.
“Everyone is committed fully to training and games. Even though we’re all volunteers, many of us balancing full-time jobs or studies, we kept showing up and giving our best.
“That level of dedication and consistency made all the difference.”
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 edition of Bristol24/7 magazine
All photos: Bristol Handball Club
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