Edinburgh's Korfball club seeks funds for Euro play-offs

The Netherlands' Marjolijn Kroon, left vies with Belgium's Karen Van Camp during the World Championships korfball final in November last year, at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp. Picture: Getty Images

The current Scottish champions are hoping to book their trip to the Continent for the tournament that runs from January 12-14 when they face three qualification matches in Cardiff later this month.

However, the Stockbridge-based club were only recently informed they must pay £640 if they are to take their place on the court in Wales in three weeks.

Korfball has similarities to both basketball and netball with eight players making up a team at any one time. The squads are also of mixed gender.

Player/coach Dan Pratt, who is also vice-captain of the Scottish national team, is hopeful this is an opportunity the club doesn’t let slip by.

“We’ve confirmed our place for Cardiff but the entrance fee is around £640. Taking into account the cost of accommodation, food and drink, it is quite a lot,” Ward explained. “We’re always looking for funding and sponsorship as a club but the entrance fee is what we’re fundraising for at the moment.

“The qualification rounds are a little bit like the group stages of the Champions League. There are two groups of four and the top two from each group will qualify for the finals and join the six other teams in Holland who have already qualified. It’s a tough group as we’ve been drawn with the champions of both France and Turkey but we’ve got a strong squad going so we’re quite hopeful.

“The latest rankings have just been published and Scotland are 17th in the world so we’ll be hoping to break into the top ten in the next few years. The club is going to be playing some of our matches at the Oriam Centre at Heriot-Watt University as well so that’s great news for us.”

Anyone willing to help reach the club’s target of £640 can do so at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/edinburgh-city-korfball.