The team is selected for the two legs of the EHF European Promotional Round taking place this week. On Wednesday 10 January 2024, GB will play the first leg in Kosovo at 19.30 (20.30 GMT), before they travel to Derby Arena for the second leg on Saturday 13 January at 13.00.
Meet the team below:
 | Kylian Ferrier - 22years old/ goalkeeper (shirt 1) I’ve started playing handball in France at the age of 7 and I actually play in Livry-Gargan a club near Paris as a professional. My first selection with the GB team was in November at the home game against Finland. One of my fondest memories is from my first European league game, which I played with my old club, Toulouse. I'm incredibly proud to represent Great Britain and be part of the team. |
| Craig Yule (shirt 2) I have played handball since I was 5 years old. I got into handball because my dad played his whole life, and so, I began playing at a young age. I played my whole childhood for Tryst 77 in Cumbernauld. I’ve represented GB and Scotland at all age groups, and am incredibly proud to be a part of the current senior team. I’ve played my club handball in Portugal for the last 3 years, representing 2 teams. Lamego and academico de Viseu. I also played for some clubs in Denmark during my time there. My favourite handball memory would have to be my first appearance for the GB senior national team. It was a moment I’ll never forget. |
| Jeremy Hirel (shirt 3) I'm Jeremy Hirel, and I started playing handball at the age of 10 in my hometown, Le Chesnay, located in the Parisian region in France. Throughout my journey, I had the opportunity to represent the county selection, allowing me to play at the national level from a young age. Eager and motivated to continue playing at this level, I logically changed clubs to compete nationally in the -18 category. Subsequently, I joined the youth teams of the Great Britain national handball team. Since that day, I have never left this wonderful national team, which has allowed me to experience unforgettable adventures, especially with the senior team, where we are currently achieving impressive results in competitions. Today, at the age of 22, I balance high-level sport with the senior team of my club, competing at the national level, and the Great Britain team, participating in international competitions. I am also pursuing my studies at a business school, where I will graduate this year with a Master's degree. |
| Chris White (shirt 4) I started playing handball at 10 years old after leaflets being handed out at school. At this point I knew nothing about handball but decided to give it a try and now 15years later I owe so much to the sport on and off the court. I have travelled all across Europe experiencing things I could have never imagined representing GB from u17s all the way to the senior team. After living and playing in both Denmark and Portugal I am now back in Scotland playing for Livingston and coaching Kelvinside HC. |
| Reuben Wardle (shirt 5) I grew up playing for Deva handball, based in Chester. I then moved to Warrington handball when I turned 16. After finishing my A levels I moved to a Højskole in Denmark, I lived in Ikast for 2 years before moving to Skjern to play in their Academy set up for 6 months. In January 2023 I moved to Lamego handball (based in Central Portugal) , where I stayed until the end of the 22/23 season. In the summer of 2023 I signed a professional contract with an Israeli team, Be'er Sheva but due to the current conditions there I had to move home. I'm currently training by myself back home in Chester where my handball journey started. |
| Sebastian Edgar (shirt 7) I was born in Basildon, United Kingdom, and since the age of 5 I lived in France. At 11 I started playing handball and have been part of the national team since March 2008, starting with the U21 category and progressing to the senior team. My handball journey includes clubs like Guilherand-Granges, my local club, Valence HB, and then Nîmes HB in the French top division. My professional career spanned 8 years with Valence Handball in pro D2 (second division). Since July 2019, I’ve been playing for the HB Käerjeng in Luxembourg’s top division. With this club I've had the opportunity to compete on the European stage, facing off against teams like Alingsas (Sweden), Tallin (Estonia) and also Motor Zaporozhye (Ukraine). This experience further broadened my horizons in the world of handball, presenting challenging competitions. One of the highlights in my sporting career was participating in London 2012 Olympic Games, especially the memorable first match against my motherland’s national team, France, in the copperbox in front of 5.000 fans ! This experience was truly special and added a unique dimension to my Handball journey. |
| Ryan Goodwin (shirt 8) Handball was a sport that came into my life during high school when Mr Popovic introduced me to the sport in Year 7. I’d traditionally played football and had no real interest in any other sport. However, the speed and aggression of handball caught my interest and I have been hooked ever since. Since I started playing handball in 2005, I’ve won every competition in England that has been available, ranging from the U16’s league up to the Men’s British Super Cup this year with my team NEM Hawks. I have played in international competitions all around the world, in places such as Luxembourg, Sweden and Azerbaijan. Travelling leads to my favourite handball memory which is when I moved to Denmark in 2012 and I was able to experience the handball culture in another country and play with some unbelievable players along the way. |
| Ben Howard (shirt 9) Hi - I am Ben Howard, 26 years old and playing for Nottingham handball club. I’ve played handball since I was 14 and I love the sport. My first international call up was for England U16 at the Partille Cup in Sweden, and since I have represented GB U21 and subsequently the GB Senior team for the past 5 years. I am excited to be able to play against such a strong team in England, and hope that the game and event inspires others to take up the sport! |
| Josh Plumridge (shirt 10) I began my handball journey at 13, transitioning from school to Nottingham Handball Club. By 15, I proudly represented England and later GB, getting the opportunity to compete all over Europe. I spent the 2019/20 season in Portugal with Associação Atlética de Águas Santas, where I contributed to the U20 league and made my debut in the Portuguese first division. This diverse trajectory, from grassroots to international play, has significantly shaped my playing style and fuelled a lasting passion for the sport. |
| Tiago Babb (shirt 11) I have been playing handball for 8 years now, and what a journey it has been! I started playing in FC Porto, that at the time used my school's venue to train. I fell in love with the sport pretty quickly, not knowing what was to come... Today, I play in Portugal for FC Gaia, and I have represented Great Britain U20's and senior teams in a couple of tournaments. My best memories from handball are definitely the inter-continental phase of the IHF Trophy in Costa Rica (for the U20's) and playing my first official home game for GB, against Finland. |
| Craig McClelland (shirt 12) I’ve been playing handball since I was 15. I started for a team in Scotland in my hometown of Ayr. After my first season with Ayr HC we went from the development league with a very young team to the first division. I played one more season for Ayr before moving on to Livingston HC which was the last year I played in Scotland. Over the past seven years I have broadened my handball experience and knowledge having played in 3 different countries. I moved to Denmark at the age of 18 for two years and train at the idrætshojskolen in Århus but I also played outside of the school with AGF Århus. After spending two years there I got the opportunity to move to Portugal and play in the top league (Andebol 1) for Aguas Santas Milaneza, and played there for two seasons. I then moved to the south of Portugal, still playing in Andebol 1, and signed for Vitoria FC for one season. I then moved to the Netherlands and have been playing my handball for the last two seasons in the beneleague for HV Kras Volendam. The beneleague is the best 6 teams of the Netherlands and the best 6 teams of Belgium. I have played in the European Cup and I have also won the Dutch Cup and came runner up in the Dutch Super Cup. I have been in the Great Britain Handball set-up since U18s all the way to seniors. I also had the honour of being the captain of the U20s GB team and was voted into the All-Star team as top goalkeeper at the recent IHF Emerging Nations tournament in Bulgaria. |
| William Carter (shirt 13) My introduction to handball began at the age of 7 while living in Norway, and even after moving back to the UK, the sport stayed with me. It wasn't until I turned 15 that I decided to take it more seriously. At M18, I became a part of the GB setup, patiently waiting until M20s to officially represent GB. That moment became even more special as we achieved a historic win, making us the first GB team to secure a European championship victory and then at the IHF trophy bringing home GB's first-ever trophy. For the past two and a half years, I've been playing and living in Norway with Grenland Tophåndball, contributing to my growth as a player. Now, my focus is on the chance to represent GB at the senior level. |
| Francisco Pereira (shirt 14) My handball journey started in Portugal when I was just 5, playing at my primary school. After five years, I earned a spot at the Sporting Lisbon academy, where I spent the next 5 years growing athletically. At 15, life took me to the UK, and I smoothly transitioned into English handball with the Nottingham Handball Club, balancing it with studies. From playing in the U19s, I moved up to the Men’s team at 16, proudly representing the Nottingham Handball Club badge for an amazing 5 years. In 2020, during my second uni year, I also played in Norway’s top league for Stavanger Viking Handball (now called Ryger Håndball). After graduating with a Sport & Exercise Science Bachelor’s in 2021, Berlin called. Two years with Füchse Berlin's 2nd team taught me a lot, including giving some appearances in their 1st team, and now I'm in the 2nd Bundesliga, representing EHV Aue. Joined Team GB in 2021, played the World Championship Qualifiers in Finland, and two years on, we're still rocking it - bright future ahead! |
| Aaron Gillet (shirt 16) My name is Aaron Gillet, I’m 24 years old. I was born in France, my father is French and my mother is English. I started playing handball in France when I was 10 years old in my home town. I fell in love with the sport after the Beijing Olympics when France won and haven’t stopped loving it since. I’ve joined Team GB in June 2022, it’s been an amazing opportunity to be able to play for this team and in Great Britain lately. |
| Ollie Tyler - captain (shirt 17) I've been playing Handball since the age of 13 where I became involved with the sport through my local club, Deva. Since then I have represented England and Great Britain from U16 to Senior level, playing in a number of different tournaments across much of Europe. One of my earliest Handball memories dates back to 2012, where I travelled to London for the Olympics to watch Great Britain vs Sweden. Now, I find myself living and playing in the capital, and training in the very venue where I first experienced an international match. |
| Ben Tyler (shirt 18) I’m one of the older players in the current squad having made my debut for the senior team in 2015. I love playing handball and especially love playing with this team and group. I started playing at Tarporley High School, and have played for teams including Deva, Warrington Wolves, Nottingham and Tarouca HC, a team I played for in Portugal. I love defending in handball, the coming together of physical power and tactical awareness. |
| Ran Yonish (shirt 19) Born and raised in Israel to an English father, my handball journey began at the age of 13 in the Hapoel Rishon LeZion H.C. At the age of only 16, I made my debut in the Israeli Premier League and then participated in EHF competitions such as the Challenge Cup and the European Cup. I represented Israel in various national teams from U-14 to U-21, before finally deciding to wear the colours of Great Britain, which marked a significant chapter in my international handball career. |
| James Adamson (shirt 23) In 2013, I was introduced to handball when a coach from our local club, Deva, came to my high school show us the sport. Originally being a football goalkeeper, I immediately found my position in goal as well as a love for the sport. Five years later, I found myself travelling to the Generation Cup in Viborg, Denmark, with the England u16s where I had an unforgettable time both on and off the court- igniting my passion for the sport. After playing against some of Europe’s top youth sides, I decided to fully commit to handball and put all my energy into becoming the best player I could. In the summer of 2020, I moved to Denmark to see how far I could progress- a path which I still find myself on to this day, playing for AGF Håndbold in both the third and fourth highest divisions in the country. My favourite moments so far have been claiming Great Britain’s first ever M20 win at a European Championship against Lithuania and winning the IHF Trophy Europe, again with the M20s. |
The team are supported by Ricardo Vasconcelos (GB Men's Senior Head Coach), João Castro (assistant coach), Chris White (assistant coach), Jamie Hodgson (physio), and Kevin Matthews (team manager).
Thank you to the continued support of our fans, families, kit supplier RJM Sports/Kempa, and England and Scottish Handball.
