GB handball ace relishing Liverpool Challenge

International handball ace Kathryn Fudge is preparing to return to her native North West as the Great Britain team get ready to play host to Italy, Portugal and Switzerland in a Four Nations Tournament at the Echo Arena in Liverpool from September 23-25. Fudge, a 20-year-old left back from Bury, has fond memories of the Echo Arena, having scored there against Finland to help Great Britain reach the qualifying round of the 2010 European Championship.

"Playing in Liverpool will be special for two reasons," said Fudge, pictured. "The last time we played there we won and qualified for Europe. It was one of the biggest wins ever for a GB handball team. And secondly playing in the North West is a real home match for me being from Bury. It allows for my family to be able to come and watch, and also so all my old friends can come too which is just brilliant. I have lots of friends coming and for them this will be the first time they have seen handball, and so will be amazing for them to actually see what I'm doing first hand. The tournament itself will be interesting and close. We’ve already beaten Portugal this year, so this could be a really good tournament for us. And it’s a great chance for us to play some good handball and promote the sport to people from across the North!"

Great Britain will play Portugal in their opening match on September 23, and then go on to play Switzerland on September 24 and Italy on September 25. Kathryn has ten international caps for Great Britain, and will be keen to get back into international action after  missing the final two Euro 2010 matches against Austria and France through injury. She plays her domestic handball in Norway for Asker, near Oslo.

Tickets for the Four Nations Tournament are on sale from www.amiando.com/britishhandball or direct from the Echo Arena.