SWG and HSG Pohlheim Extend Successful Cooperation for Three More Years

The SWG has been working with HSG Pohlheim for 12 years. The two partners recently extended their successful cooperation for another three years.

HSG Pohlheim has played an important role in the Central Hesse handball scene for more than two decades. Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) plays a small part in this. “We have been supporting the club since 2011,” explains Ulli Boos, Head of Marketing & Communications at SWG. At that time, the 1st men’s team still played in the regional league – today’s 3rd handball Bundesliga. The two partners recently extended their successful cooperation. “We are happy that SWG will remain with us as a reliable partner for another three years,” said Patrik Marsteller, first chairman of HSG Pohlheim, when signing the contract.

From mini to major league crack

It all started in 2001. At that time, the HSG was formed from the handball departments of the five district clubs. At that time, the 1st team played in the Oberliga-Hesse, to which it returned after a few trips to the 3rd league in the 2023/24 season. Nevertheless, not everything in the club revolves around the top team. On the contrary. “The first team in the Oberliga Hesse is of course our flagship, but there is so much more in the HSG,” says Patrik Marsteller in a nutshell. Because those responsible at the HSG attach at least as much importance to the work of young talent. In fact, no fewer than 25 licensed trainers currently look after around 150 children and young people between the ages of four and 18, who play in 14 teams.

Despite the many young members, sometimes there are not enough players from one year group to offer everyone a team with their level of performance. “In these cases, we cooperate with local clubs and form gaming communities. “Several teams can now register in almost all years,” adds Patrik Marsteller. “We not only succeeded in keeping all children and young people engaged in both competitive and recreational sports, but also increased the number of members last year and offered everyone an individually tailored perspective.”

Sophisticated funding concept

A truly unique selling point of HSG Pohlheim is its sophisticated youth development concept. It follows a holistic approach. “We not only take sport into account, but also attach great importance to school and training as well as the early involvement of young people in the decision-making structures and club work of HSG Pohlheim,” says the club chairman in a nutshell. This is particularly clear through the formation of a youth committee that represents the interests of young people and actively supports board member Christopher Jung.

In addition, the club uses its now extensive network for its young talents. “We always arrange internships and training positions, and sometimes even jobs,” explains Patrik Marsteller, explaining the concept. All of this serves the goal of enabling the players to train regularly without letting the really important things in life slide. The groundbreaking support therefore prevents young talents from having to choose between school and sport. “That makes a lot of things easier,” says Patrik Marsteller with certainty.

This very unique HSG approach, which is geared towards sustainable development, is convincing: “The coherent overall package that HSG Pohlheim offers made it easy for us to extend the cooperation for three years and thus do our part to ensure that the club is successful “We can continue on our way,” says Ulli Boos in a nutshell.