Premier Handball League
The Premier Handball League is the highest level of men's club handball in England. It is organised by the England Handball Association.
Current season, competition or edition: 2022–23 Premier Handball League | |
 | |
| Sport | Handball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | England |
| Confederation | EHF |
| Most recent champion(s) | NEM Hawks |
| Most titles | London GD Handball Club (10 titles) |
| Relegation to | Championship North Championship South |
| International cup(s) | EHF Cup EHF Challenge Cup |
| Official website | premier-handball-league |
History
The Premier Handball League was formerly known as the Super 8, and was re-branded for the 2017/18 season[1]
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Relegated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Heriot-Watt University | ||
| 1973 | Ford Warley HC | ||
| 1974 | Ford Warley HC | ||
| 1975 | Birkenhead | ||
| 1976 | Birkenhead | ||
| 1977 | Birkenhead | Kirkby | |
| 1978 | Kirkby Select | Brentwood '72 | |
| 1979 | Brentwood '72 | Kirkby Select | |
| 1980 | Brentwood '72 | Kirkby Select | |
| 1981 | Brentwood '72 | Liverpool | |
| 1982 | Brentwood '72 | Liverpool | |
| 1983 | East Kilbride | ||
| 1984 | Liverpool | ||
| 1985 | Liverpool | ||
| 1986 | Kirkby Select | ||
| 1987 | Liverpool | ||
| 1988 | Liverpool | ||
| 1989 | Manchester United | ||
| 1990 | Manchester United | ||
| 1991 | Tryst 77 | ||
| 1992 | Tryst 77 | ||
| 1993 | Liverpool | ||
| 1994 | Manchester United | ||
| 1995 | Manchester United | ||
| 1996 | Liverpool | ||
| 1997 | Salford | ||
| 1998 | Liverpool | ||
| 1999 | Tryst 77 | ||
| 2000 | Tryst 77 | ||
| 2001 | Great Dane (London GD) | Ruislip Eagles | |
| 2002 | Liverpool | ||
| 2003 | Liverpool | Ruislip Eagles | |
| 2004 | Great Dane (London GD) | ||
| 2005 | Great Dane (London GD) | Heathrow | |
| 2006 | Oxford University | University of Manchester | |
| 2007 | University of Manchester | Great Dane HC London | |
| 2008 | Great Dane (London GD) | University of Manchester | |
| 2009 | Great Dane (London GD) | Olympia HC | |
| 2010 | London GD | Olympia HC | |
| 2011 | London GD | Ruislip Eagles | |
| 2012 | Salford | Ruislip Eagles | |
| 2013 | London GD | Salford | Liverpool |
| 2014 | London GD | Salford | Deva |
| 2015 | Warrington Wolves | London GD | Coventry |
| 2016 | London GD | Olympia HC | Manchester |
| 2017 | Warrington Wolves | NEM Hawks | Coventry |
| 2018 | London GD | Olympia HC | Liverpool |
| 2019 | London GD |
Data sources: 1972-2019;[2] 1975-1976 Wirral Handball Club Clubs and Honours;[3] 1977-1982 Midlands Handball Association (1982) Handball Directory. page 12.;[4] 1983 British Handball Association Word is ... No.5 page 3;[5]
Format
The league consists of 8 teams which play each other twice in a season, once at each club's home venue. 3 points are awarded for each win, 2 points for a draw, and 1 point for a loss. Should the situation occur that two or more clubs finish with the same number of points, their final positions shall be determined by (and in the following order):[6] a. goal difference; b. taking into account the results of the headtohead Super 8 matches between the clubs concerned; c. goals scored; d. further matches played at a neutral venue.
The team finishing bottom of the Men's Premier Handball League (8th Place) will be relegated directly to their nearest Championship League (North or South). Following the final matches of the Championship, a series of playoff matches will take place to determine the club which will be promoted to the following season's Super 8.[6] The top 2 clubs from each Championship league will play 2 semifinals as follows:
- North 1 v South 2
- South 1 v North 2.
The winners of the above semifinals will then play one match to determine the promotion spot.
European competitions
The Premier Handball League contributes teams to European Handball Federation club competitions. The England Handball Association is awarded places in European competition based on its EHF coefficient rank. Currently the Premier Handball League provides 1 team to the EHF Cup and 3 teams to the EHF Challenge Cup.[7]
See also
References
- Association, England Handball. "Champions Wolves face promoted Liverpool in Premier Handball League op - England Handball Association". www.englandhandball.com.
- "Historic League Winners". 21 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- "Clubs and Honours". Wirralhandballclub.tripod.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- "MA+Directory++p12.jpg (image)". 1.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- Hadd, Russell (9 March 2009). "British Handball History: British Cup and League Tables 1983". Britishhandballmemories.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- "Rules and Regulations" (PDF). England Handball Association. August 2016.
- "European Cup 2016/2017" (PDF). European Handball Federation. 6 March 2015.
