Meet the Eagles
The people who make everything happen!
Marc Fayemi
Chairman
Marc’s first touch of a handball was in the late 1980’s in his hometown of Dourdan (France!) and he has been passionate about the spot ever since. He joined the Eagles in January 2005 and has been active in the management of the men’s team in various roles and capacities since 2008. His best moments in an Eagles jersey have been winning the EHA Cup in 2010 and taking part in several European Challenge Cup campaigns. He was also a handball technical official at the London 2012 Olympics and was voted England Handball’s Coach of the Year 2015!
Court position: where the team needed me
Favourite eagles memory: 20 years of amazing friendship & love
What you love about handball: the team spirit required, the intensity, the physical engagement, the game strategy, ... - just an excellent sport to practise from an early age.
Anna Thornhill
Seniors Director
Shortlisted for Ealing Adult volunteer of the year in 2023.
Where you're from: Poland
Years spend with handball: since 10 years old
Court position: left wing
Favourite Eagles memory: seeing my teammates in person at training after Covid restrictions were lifted
What do you love about handball: the camaraderie of the team and pace of the game
Peter Gannon
Junior director, U14s Coach, assistant to U16 girls, U19 girls Harlequins, and Men's II Team Coach.
Awarded EHA Volunteer of the Year in 2024
Peter has been an outstanding volunteer to the West London Eagles Handball club over the recent years. He has been the Club Juniors Director over the past 4 years. But more recently he really became the “Go to” person for any information regarding the whole club as he is holding so many different hats. He is working a lot behind the scenes on administration, communication with the main club stakeholders and partners, the players, the parents, on tournament organisation and travelling, equipment funding and a lot more. Peter is also immensely contributing to the development of the sport not only for the club in Ealing but in the whole of West London and even outside but always with a positive energy. He really embraced the club philosophy to support the growth and development of handball in England. During 2024, thanks to Peter the club has delivered handball outreach sessions to over 150 primary school children. Over 100 hours of handball sessions have been delivered in secondary schools, both in and out of West London. That’s as well as committing to supporting more events far and wide, and continuing to develop links and relationships with local primary and secondary schools. With Vidar Ulkebøl, our junior handball partner club based in Sonderborg, Denmark, he has now established the possibility for some of the younger players to travel and attend training camps in Denmark every year. The club now runs more junior sessions than senior sessions on a weekly basis. Peter is at the heart of all those positive initiatives that keep the club vibrant. He is very reliable, very enthusiastic and approachable, a great friendly person to have around in the club.
Years in handball: 5 years
Court position: The bench
Favourite Eagles Memory: Yet to happen
What do you love about handball: Fast, dynamic and inclusive sport which allows players to express themselves. For me specifically as junior direct it is giving youth an opportunity to play a team sport, to develop new skills both physically and emotionally, to gain lifelong friendships and memories and to get off their behinds!
Erika Recska
Welfare Officer & U16s Girls Coach
Erika joined the Eagles in 2008 and since then has won 4 National Championships and 5 EHA Cups with us. Before joining Eagles, she played handball from the age of 13 in Hungary with a one year break in 2013 to have her twin boys. During London Olympics in 2012 Erika was promoting handball in Hyde Park. She works in education and has always been passionate about encouraging children to take part in physical activities and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Years spent in handball: 30 years
Court position: Right wing
Favourite memory: sharing the news with my team that I could not play because I was expecting my babies🥰 We all cried😊
What I love about handball: It is a fast paced game, a great team sport where anyone can score. It is so fun to play it, you can never get bored of it!
Maria Seri
Treasurer
Where you’re from: Argentina
Years spent with handball: Since I was 12yo with a few breaks when I came to this country and then when I had kids.
Court position: wing and line player
Favourite eagles memory: the trips to the Liverpool Tournament. Not only we played lots of handball but also we went out a lot and played games other than handball with the men and other teams.
What you love about handball: being part of the team, the camaraderie, working hard.
Aurelia Prat
Secretary
Where you're from: France
Years in handball: as a player maybe a couple of weeks during high school in France, as a supporter more than 25 years as my partner Franck played at Uni and then joined the Eagles( then Ruislip Eagles) in 2002 maybe 2003 when he moved to England. He stopped after dislocating his shoulder in 2005 but managed to give the bug to our children Julie and Samuel and we rejoined the Eagles in 2018.
Court position: on the side ☺️
Favorite memories: bbq at Mel's when the club was smaller, Julie's team winning the 2022 U16 girls english championship and Samuel's team winning the 2024 U14 boys english championship.
What you love about handball: the fast pace, accessible to everyone and the camaraderie.
Lydia Leung
Communications Officer
Where you’re from: Hong Kong
Court position: LB/CB
Favourite eagles memory: winning national cup champion!
What you love about handball: I love handball because it got a mix of everything that makes it fun, such as power, speed, team play and physical contact. I have also made some friends for life.
Zai Hardiman
Fundraising Officer
Position: Backcourt
Time playing handball: 8 years
Favourite eagles memory: Beach handball summer 24
What I love about handball: making a comeback as part of a team and fighting for everything
Erika Hodosi
Development Officer
Where you’re from: Hungary
Years spent with handball: 10+ years
Court position: Goalkeeper (newly trying line player)
Favourite eagles memory: going to Scotland together and the whole experience from travelling, playing and hanging out for a weekend with the team 🥰
What you love about handball: the community and just how this sport has completely captured my heart since I was 8 years old 💙
Naomi Bell
Social Officer
Years spent with handball: 12
Court position: Pivot
Favourite eagles memory: Playing the cup final in 2023 with not only some of the best handballers I’ve played with over the years but some truly amazing friends. I always chase the feeling that game made me feel, the happiness we all held on court and the pride we had to represent the club by playing some good handball and later celebrating the well earned win with the people I love most!
What you love about handball: For me handball has always been a place for me to challenge and push physical boundaries - I love the rush of accomplishing such goals. But more importantly, the key element that’s held me down in the sport for this long is the beautiful connections and friendships I’ve made along the way.