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 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 2025 Oxford University London GD NEM Hawks 2026 London GDOxford University Data sources: 1972-2019; 1975-1976 Wirral Handball Club Clubs and Honours; 1977-1982 Midlands Handball Association (1982) Handball Directory. page 12.; 1983 British Handball Association Word is ... No.5 page 3;
Format The league consists of 8 teams which play each other two times in a season, once at each team'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): (A) goal difference; (B) taking into account the results of the head to head Super 8 matches between the clubs concerned; (C) goals scored; (D) further matches played at a neutral venue.
The team that gets 8th place in Men's Premier Handball League will be relegated directly to their nearest Championship League (North or South). Following the final matches of the Championship, a group of playoff matches will take place to figure out the team who will be promoted to the following season's Super 8. The top 2 teams from each championship League will play 2 semifinals as follows:
North 1 vs South 2 South 1 vs North 2
The winners of the above semifinals will then play one match to figure out 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.
See also List of handball clubs in England
References