Ruislip Eagles West London Handball Club

Affiliated to the EHA, Ruislip Eagles West London Handball Club currently runs competitive men’s and women's handball teams in the Super 8 and Super 7 leagues respectively, as well as development teams in the regional divisions.

Ruislip Eagles WLHC
Full name Ruislip Eagles West London Handball Club
Founded 1970
Arena Queensmead Sports Centre,
South Ruislip
League Super 8, Super 7 and London Development League
Home
Away
Website
Official site

Club history

Ruislip Eagles Handball Club was formed in 1970 when they were based in the old South Ruislip Leisure centre. The Club have previously been known as Graphite Eagles (when sponsored by Graphite Equipment Ltd) and Robert Jenkins (Graphite were acquired by Robert Jenkins Systems and the name changed as a result of this).

The men’s and women’s teams were started and coached by Bill Holderness, a GB goalkeeper. The teams were largely made up of British players but gradually more and more overseas players joined the club and brought new skills and experience.

The club enjoyed a successful spell through the 1980s playing in the national leagues,[1] when many of their players were picked for the regional team [2] and the national team and the women won the national league and cup on several occasions alongside fierce rivals Wakefield.[3]

The men also were involved with great competition with Brentwood and Liverpool but it was the women’s team who enjoyed the greater success.

In 1982 the women became the first British team to win a match in a European Cup, beating the Belgian champions over two legs.

Both men’s and women’s teams have an international flavour with many nationalities playing in both teams.

Recent performance

Men's Team

In 2010 Ruislip Eagles won the EHA Cup after a 26-25 victory over Manchester.[4]

During the season 2010-11 Ruislip Eagles qualified for the EHF Challenge Cup for the first time in its history thanks to a second place in League 1.[5] The team also finished as the runner-up of EHA Cup.[6]

Ruislip Eagles started the season 2011/12 with a second place in the EHF Challenge Cup Round 2. They beat Dublin International Handball Club and the Maltese host Aloysians ProMinent but narrowly missed the top spot in the group after a defeat against local rivals Great Dane.[7] Ruislip Eagles finished as the runner-up of the National League 1 and therefore qualified for the EHF Challenge Cup for the second time in a row.

In 2012/13 Ruislip Eagles were again knocked out in the second round of the EHF Challenge Cup, this time in fourth place with three defeats, against the Lithuanian side Dragūnas Klaipėda, SPE Strovolos from Cyprus and the Moldavian host team HC Olimpus-85-USEFS.[8] [9] However, they finished 4th in the inaugural Super 8 League, therefore guaranteeing them a place in the EHF Challenge Cup 2013/14.[10] The team also finished runner-up in the EHA Cup, losing to Salford H.C in the final.[11]

Ruislip Eagles started the 2013/14 season with a close defeat in EHF Challenge Cup against the Bulgarian side Spartak Varna. The second leg was broadcast on Bulgarian National TV 1 (BNT1).[12][13]

Women's Team

In recent years the women’s team have dominated the women’s game, at one point winning the cup and league for 16 consecutive years, a reign that was ended in 2006/07 by new rivals London GD.

In 2012/13 they finished 4th in the South League 1[14] and 3rd in the EHA Cup,[15] however they have accepted an invitation to take up a place in the newly formed Women's Super 7 League for the 2013/14 season.

Men's Development Team

In 2012/13 Ruislip Eagles II finished 4th in the Sporthouse London League,[16] and are set to take part in the competition again for the 2013/14 season.

Women's Development Team

Ruislip Eagles II finished 8th in the South Tier 2 2012/13[17] and will remain in the same league for the 2013/14 season.

References

  1. ↑ http://britishhandballmemories.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/salford-ladies-v-ruislip-ladies-19.html
  2. ↑ http://britishhandballmemories.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/glse-selects-first-ever-game-in-1981.html
  3. ↑ http://britishhandballmemories.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/cupfinal-programme-1983-female.html
  4. ↑ http://morehandballnews.blogspot.com/2010/06/underdogs-ruislip-secure-eha-cup.html
  5. ↑ http://eharesults.weebly.com/play-offs.html
  6. ↑ http://morehandballnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/cup-finals-mark-end-to-great-english.html
  7. ↑ http://www.sportstats.com/handball/europe/challenge-cup-2011-2012/ruislip-eagles-hc-dublin-883750/
  8. ↑ http://moldova.sports.md/handball/articles/13-10-2012/20584/olimpus_85_ruislip_eagles_39_17_video/
  9. ↑ http://www.eurohandball.com/ec/chc/men/2012-13/round/2/Round+2
  10. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/super-8-league/
  11. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/a-great-day-of-handball-at-the-eha-cup-finals/
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1oT312InVI&feature=youtu.be
  13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_znx14zI1w&feature=youtu.be
  14. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/women-south-league-1/
  15. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/eha-cup/
  16. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/london-regional-league/
  17. ↑ http://www.englandhandball.com/women-south-tier2//

External links

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