Premier Handball League

For Indian handball league, see Premier Handball League (India).

Premier Handball League

Current season, competition or edition: 2024-25 Premier Handball League
Sport	Handball
Founded	2012 (as The Super 8)
No. of teams	8
Country	England
Confederation	EHF
Most recent champion(s)	London GD
Most titles	London GD Handball Club (13 titles)
Relegation to	Championship North Championship South
International cup(s)	EHF Cup EHF Challenge Cup
Official website	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.

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	Olympia HC	Brighton Seahawks
2020	competition suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2021	not disputed due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2022	NEM Hawks	London GD	Cambridge HC
2023	NEM Hawks	Olympia HC
2024	London GD	NEM Hawks

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

• List of handball clubs in England

References

1. Association, England Handball. "Champions Wolves face promoted Liverpool in Premier Handball League op - England Handball Association". www.englandhandball.com.
2. "Historic League Winners". 21 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
3. "Clubs and Honours". Wirralhandballclub.tripod.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
4. "MA+Directory++p12.jpg (image)". 1.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
5. Hadd, Russell (9 March 2009). "British Handball History: British Cup and League Tables 1983". Britishhandballmemories.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
6. "Rules and Regulations" (PDF). England Handball Association. August 2016.
7. "European Cup 2016/2017" (PDF). European Handball Federation. 6 March 2015.