Islington Handball Club
| Islington Handball Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full name | Islington Handball Club Community Interest Company |
| Nickname(s) | The Rats The Ratitas |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Arena | London Metropolitan University Science and Sports Centre Holloway Road / London |
| President | Alexandra Geanina Văideanu |
| Head coach | Icham Benallal Anton Lammers |
| League |  Premier Handball League |
| 2023-24 | Premier Handball League South 3rd out of 6 Premier Handball League 5th out of 12 (nationwide) |
| Club colours | |
| Website Official site | |
Islington Handball Club (IHC)[1][2][3], known as the ’Rats’, is an amateur English handball club based in Islington, London, UK.
The club fields men's, women's and youth's teams, and competes in South Division of the Premier Handball League, England Handball Association’s (EHA) top male and female competition.[4]
The men’s team achieved promotion back to the first division in 2023,[5] whilst the women’s team achieved promotion to the first division in 2024.
The club has more than 120 members representing around 20 different nationalities.
The motto of the club is ‘Join the Mischief’.
History
[edit]The club was founded in 2012,[6] but it was later incorporated as a Community Interest Company in 2017.[7]
IHC started after an influx of interest in the sport due to the 2012 London Olympics. The club had initially three teams (one of each for men's, women's, and youth). The teams competed in EHA's regional leagues.
In 2017, the men's team reached the English Cup final and secured promotion to the top English Handball competition, the Handball Premier League. The club failed to take up due to administrative mistakes, and was demoted to third division.[6]
Teams
[edit]IHC currently fields five teams in EHA competitions:
Three men's teams:
- Team 1, competing in the EHA Premier League (South).
- Team 2, competing in the EHA Regional League South 1. The team acts as a development base for potential Team 1 players.
- Team 3, competing in the EHA Regional League South 2 (East). The team is open to players of any skill-level.
Two women's teams:
- Team 1, competing in the EHA Premier League (South).
- Team 2, competing in the EHA Regional League South. The team acts both as a development base for potential Team 1 players, and an all-skill-level team.
A youth team, aiming to introduce children under 18 to the game, is also part of the club.
Men’s Team
[edit]Team 1
[edit]Team 2
[edit]Team 3
[edit]Women’s Team
[edit]Team 1
[edit]Team 2
[edit]Youth Team
[edit]In accordance with the EHA’s national guidelines and in the spirit of the game, Islington HC has re-established its youth team in 2022. [8]
Achievements
[edit]Men’s Team 1
[edit]- EHA Men's Premier League South
- 3rd: (1): 2023-24
- EHA Men's Premier League Play Off
- EHA Men's National Cup
Men’s Team 2
[edit]- EHA Men's Regional League South 1
- 2nd: (1): 2023-24
Men’s Team 3
[edit]Women’s Team 1
[edit]- EHA Women's Regional League South
- Runners-Up: (1): 2023-24
- EHA Women's Premier League Play Off
- Runners-Up: (1): 2023-24
References
[edit]- ^ "About Premier League 4 Sport". Arsenal Football Club. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Handball in Islington". Find Your Islington. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Tense contests and great goals as handball returns". England Handball News. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "England Handball Competitions". England Handball Match Centre. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Islington Handball Club enjoy Premier League highs". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ a b "About Us". Islington Handball Club. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Incorporation of a Community Interest Company". Companies House Service. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Team Islington show 'ability and passion' at London Youth Games". Islington Tribune. Retrieved 1 January 2025.