Emeline Legros, president of the Kop des Irréductibles, vibrates for the exploits of Cesson-Rennes. Interview made for Handball Magazine and Le Quotidien du Sport.
Can you introduce us to the Kop des Inréductibles?
We just celebrated our 10th birthday in September. We are 22 members, half are from Cessonnais, the other half come from the surrounding towns, Rennes, Noyalsur-Vilaine,… and we also have people from Côtes d’Armor and Morbihan. We do it within our means, Cesson being one of the smallest budgets in the NHL (the 9th, ed), the group of supporters goes hand in hand (smile). There were the irreducible Gauls, now there are the hand irreducible !
Does this mean that there isn’t much enthusiasm for handball in Cesson-Rennes?
The Glaz Arena has 4,500 seats. In big matches against Paris or Nantes it is almost complete. 3,500 people were invited against Chartres recently including maces Ile and Vilaine. We typically shoot between 2,500 and 3,000 fans, but it’s more of an audience of spectators than fans. They don’t actually respond to the speaker’s requests or our encouragement.
No students to set the mood?
It happens, but the club is reluctant to invite them. There were no explosions like in Chartres or Limoges, but they were a little too virulent…
Follow the team on the go?
We make some. We were in Nantes. There were 8 of us. We planned to go to Chartres and Créteil. We try to stay in the Great West. Traveling to Nîmes or Toulouse is financially complicated. Paris, there is not much enthusiasm to go there, the room is not very well configured. Coubertin, when you’re on the third floor you shouldn’t feel dizzy… (smiles) The atmosphere isn’t the best either.
“There is no rivalry with Nantes”
Aren’t you jealous of the neighbor in Nantes who pride themselves on having the best atmosphere in Europe?
We are not jealous and we readily admit, it’s the best atmosphere in Europe! We get along well with the Ultr’H. There is no such rivalry as in football between Nantes and Rennes where the derbies are often tense. In hand, at the end of the game, they offer us a drink. They are not enemies. He is a very good boy. Five minutes from the end of the derby we also went with them to the stands to celebrate because it was their fifth birthday.
But don’t they get you supporters?
There are two clubs, two atmospheres even if, even within the kop, there are Cesson fans who also follow Nantes’ matches. We can very well support the two clubs without problems, there is no rivalry.
Does the Cesson-Rennes club help you?
We benefit from a small reduction on our annual passes, with an advantageous positioning, we are on the edge of the field on the sides. We also have a room for our gear. For the journey, however, is at our expense.
The Kop of the Untameables at his club’s bedside
Who is the public’s favorite player?
There are several, but Sylvain Hochet remains our Sissou. It has been there since the beginning (since 2006, ed). It is with him that we discuss the most. There is also Romaric Guillo, the Menhir!
What is your best memory as a fan?
The victory against Nantes last season in the first leg (29-27, ed). We didn’t expect to win and, in the end, everyone exploded in the stands.
Do you think that this season the club can finally break the glass ceiling of the 7th place ?
We have an excellent team. There is a very good atmosphere. If we continue, we can finish in the top 5 or top 6.
How did you end up at the Kop?
I have friends whose children play handball. I’ve been in the Kop for seven to eight years. They had extra seats, they asked us if we were interested. My husband is more of a footballer, he has been a season ticket holder at the Stade Rennais for 20 years, he is an irreducible footballer, I fell in love with handball and have been part of the Kop for four years.
Is Cesson-Rennes safe from the slip-ups that occurred in Chartres (insults to Valentin Porte (trained in Chartres) and Montpellier) and Limoges (Dunkerque goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene was reprimanded by a group of people)?
We have to stop this kind of thing (Chartres has forbidden access to his room to members of the 28 Brigade, ed), which do not happen again because it is absolutely not the spirit of handball. That’s why we approached other supporter clubs, to make travel easier, but also to be careful who we admit to our ranks. The football mentality, while I don’t want to stigmatize a sport, doesn’t have to come to hand.
Do Kops football fans come to Cesson-Rennes matches?
Last season, the club invited the youngsters from Stade Rennais to create some atmosphere because that’s what we lack too. But some were borderline and the club didn’t invite them back… After that, if some of the players want to come to the Kop and they are respectful and want to create a good atmosphere, we will welcome them with great pleasure. But, at the slightest overflow, it will be out!
