HISTORY OF HANDBALL CLUB VIRO VIROVITICA

History of men's handball is related to arrival of Coach Vilim Tičić to secondary school of Virovitica in 1948. In 1949 Tičić founded the first handball club «Mladost» who at the beginning was part of secondary school. They started trainings in school yard and in the yard of Borac. The club was getting more and more sympathies, especially after the match played on 24th of April 1949 against the team of town of Osijek. It was the first handball's encounter but unfortunately club lost 1:3. Already in 1950 club changed the name in Lokomotiva.

 The same year club participated in Croatian league and won 1st place during the fall's Championship. First international men's handball game took place on the 28th of August 1953 in Virovitica. Their first opponent was Winner Sport Club from Vienna. After that very interesting game, they drew 9:9.

 That same year 1953 un unofficial Yugoslavian championship in Mini Men’s handball (children less than ten years of age) was held in Virovitica.

In 1954 club participated in semifinal of Croatian Championship in town of NovaGradiška and won 3rd place. Club had a lot of influence over expansion of handball and consequently Virovitica got the national league in which 8 men's teams were participating.

In 1955 club changed its name in «Drvodjelac» and achieved an important success as a finalist of Yugoslavian kup, or the winner of Croatian Cup.

In 1956 club went on its first tour abroad ever and also participated in Yugoslavian Cup.

In 1958 first men's handball representation of Virovitica was formed .They won 4th place on the tournament of national representations which was held in Zagreb. They competed with other 24 representations.

During the season 1973/ 74 club changed its name one more time in HC Virovitica and participated in Croatian League North till 1991.

During the Croatian War, handball players of HC Virovitica were soldiers in Croatian Army and one of them got killed. After the Croatian Handball League was formed, they were playing in 2nd Croatian Handball League or 1^st B Handball league as it was called during one period. In that very period club played three times in row the qualifications for the 1st Croatian Handball League but unfortunately without success.

Today HC Virovitica developed trainings with younger categories which include more than 150 children and youth in five categories. 6 handball coaches coach in the club and give more than 1000 trainings per year while club plays almost 350 matches with in all its categories.