He has the Antoine Hairon trunk. A pivotal build, laughing eyes and easy speech. At 52, he says it himself with a smile, he has spent most of his life around handball courts. It was at Valogne Handball that he discovered this universe as a child, with a father involved in the club. Later, he will frequent the big halls like Bercy, and he discovers there the announcers of the big matches that he takes as an example.
More than twenty years behind the microphone
For him, the adventure behind the microphone begins a bit by chance. “One of my friends was organizing a gala match in Carpiquet, and as I was creating a good atmosphere in Valognes, he offered to host the event: people thought we were professionals! “says Antoine Hairon. It was about twenty years ago. Very quickly, he joined JS Cherbourg where the professional sports educator, accustomed to giving voice, becomes the “moodman” on match nights.
We had the opportunity to push our voices a little, but it doesn’t matter, we take a grog to recover.
“We don’t follow a program, we adapt to the scenario of the match. Very often we don’t need to start the public, the spectacle offered by the players is enough. But if necessary, we play the role of a lighter to light up the room, explains the speaker. It’s true that this year, and especially since the start of the return phase of the championship, the results of the Mauves and the level of play produced lead the public to ignite quite easily. However, Antoine Hairon does not rest during matches: presentation of the players before kick-off, with the baton to launch the ola, the clapping, but also to make the public sing the various chants of supporters. And despite the microphone, he must force his voice: “I have the advantage of having a job in which I’m used to speaking loudly so it’s generally going well, even if this season we had the opportunity to push our voices a little, but It doesn’t matter, we take a toddy to recover!”
The ambition of “speaker” in starleague
Well installed in the corner of the field, surrounded by his playmates, Paul Bézard, “bis” speaker, and Gwenaël Bigot, in charge of sound and music, he is ideally placed to observe the evolution of the public this season. “I think we’ve taken quite a step this year at Chantereyne. There are more and more spectators who come dressed in mauve, who are disguised, who sing. The Kop has also evolved, it’s really the foot “, concludes the enthusiast. For now, no question for Antoine Hairon to let go of the microphone. “I have a real desire, to go and see above!” And to add with humor, “as Thierry Rolland said, once we have seen the starligue, we can die in peace”. For the moment, it is above all a question of still living beautiful moments like during the play-offs which reach out to JS Cherbourg. And if the Mauves validate their ticket for these championship “finalities” which will take place in Dijon on June 4 and 5, Antoine will obviously be on the trip. “I don’t know if it will be with an official microphone or with a megaphone, but I will be there!”