London GD Handball Club explained

Clubname:London GD Handball Club
Namebefore:Great Dane Handball Club
Founded:1976 (as Great Dane Handball Club)
Ground:Copper Box Arena
Hackney Wick / Stratford
Capacity:6,000
League:Premier Handball League
Website:http://www.LondonGDhandball.co.uk/
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Affiliated to the EHA, London GD Handball Club currently has 3 men's and 2 women's competitive handball teams in both the English National and Regional leagues, as well as a Youth Development Programme in place to generate Junior squads. The club which was formerly known as London Great Dane[1] was founded in 1976.[2]

Club history

London GD Handball Club was previously known as Great Dane Handball Club, and was founded by Anne-Marie Thrysoe and Andrew Ferguson. Established in 1976 by a group of Danish girls involved with the Anglo-Danish Society Students Club, thereof the name of the club, "Great Dane".

Throughout the years, the club established itself firmly on the English handball scene, and has become much more than a club with mainly Danish players. In 2010, in a bid to reflect this, the club changed its name to London GD Handball Club and at the same time registered as a limited company. The East London-based club currently has over 100 registered players from at least 20 different countries, and many more people training with the club regularly.

The club started playing handball as a women's team only, with men occasionally coming to practice. They started training two days a week at Ruislip Eagles Sport Centre but soon moved to the new (at the time) Wapping Sport Centre in East London. London GD's main home ground is now the Olympic Handball Arena, also known as "Copper Box", although Leyton Score Centre remains as training venue for developing teams.

From 1976 to 1986, the club was heavily involved in the development of Handball in London with at one stage two sub venues spun off including Croydon and West London. The club also merged with another club at one stage run by Paul Bray.

Around 1980, members of the club formed the Greater London & South East Handball Association together with Ashford Tanners, Ruislip, Ipswich and other clubs in East London. The association is no longer active, but London GD is a member of the newly established London Handball Association that was set up in 2010.

In 2000, the back then called Great Danes started to get some success in both women's and men's handball and from then on the club has always been among the top three clubs in the country.

In 2005 the club participated in its first official European Competition by playing in round 2 of the men's Challenge Cup. Since then, London GD have participated every year.

In 2010, after winning their third Double (League and Cup Champions), the club's women's 1st team entered the Challenge Cup for the first time, managing an historic win against A.S. Aris Thessalonikis from Greece.

The 2010/11 season resulted in both league and cup victory for the men's team. This past September 2011 they have made history by winning their round 2 group in Malta to go through round 3 in Greece for the first time.

For the 2011/2012 season we entered two-second teams in the development leagues, both men and women, with the former winning the South Regional Championship.

After the London 2012 Olympic Games, London GD men 1st team participated in the new EHF Cup against a giant Danish Club, KIF Kolding Kopenhagen, playing their two games at foreign ground.

This past season 2012/2013 London GD ladies won the EHA Cup against Thames Handball Club, and the club's men 1st team won the Super 8 English National League without losing any single game, giving them the unique slot for EHF Cup again, which saw them playing against a Turkish team from Ankara in September 2013.

Teams

Women's current squad

Women Premier Handball League
  • Squad for the 2018–19 season[3]
  • Goalkeepers
    • Wingers
  • LW
    • RW
    Line players
    Women Regional Handball League
  • Squad for the 2018–19 season
    • GK
    WING

    Men's current squad

    Men Premier Handball League
  • Squad for the 2018–19 season
    • Goalkeepers
    Wingers
  • LW
    • RW
    Line players
    Men Regional Handball League and 3rd team
  • Squad for the 2018–19 season
    • Back players
  • LB
    • CB
    RB
    Coaches
    Fitness Coach
    LINE
    BACK
    CENTER
    COACH
    Fitness Coach
    Back players
  • LB
    • CB
    RB
    Head Coach
    Assistant coach
    Physiotherapist

    Club achievements

    Men's First Team

    CompetitionYears
    Premier Handball LeagueChampion: 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2001, 2000
    Runners up: 2015, 2007
    English CupWinner: 2018, 2012, 2011, 2009
    Runners up: 2016, 2015, 2014
    British CupWinner: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004
    Weymouth Beach Handball ChampionsChampion: 2007
    Runners up: 2006
    British Beach HandballChampion: 2015, 2014, 2013
    Oktopus Tournament (Eindhoven)Winner: 2005

    Women's First Team

    CompetitionYears
    English LeagueChampion: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2007, 1986
    Runners up:2017, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004
    English CupWinner: 2018, 2015, 2013, 2010
    Runners up:2012, 2011, 2009
    British CupWinner: 2007, 1986
    Runners up:2005
    British Beach Handball PlateWinner: 2013
    Oktopus Tournament (Eindhoven)Winner: 2006, 2005

    European track record

    Women
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClub1st leg2nd legAggregate
    2018–19EHF Challenge CupR2No participation due to the lack of budget
    2017–18EHF Challenge CupR2 MRK Žalgiris Kaunas13–4221–3234–74
    2016–17EHF CupR2No participation due to the lack of budget
    2015–16EHF CupR2 OF Nea Ionia11–3517–2728–62
    2010–11EHF CupR2Group phase
    Men
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClub1st leg2nd legAggregate
    2018–19EHF Challenge Cup1/16 finals Shakhtar-Academiya22–4015–3337–73
    2017–18EHF Challenge Cup1/16 finals AEK H.C.16–4021–4137–81
    2016–17EHF CupR1 Maccabi Rishon LeZion (handball)14–3822–4136–79
    2015–16EHF Challenge CupR3 HC Kehra16–3726–4342–80
    2014–15EHF CupR1 Limburg Lions18–2812–4430–72
    2013–14EHF CupR1 Ankara BB SK14–4418–3832–82
    2012–13EHF CupR1 KIF Kolding16–4616–4232–88
    2011–12EHF Challenge CupR3 AC Doukas20–3015–3635–66
    2010–11EHF Challenge CupR2Group phase
    2009–10EHF Challenge CupR2Group phase
    2008–09EHF Challenge CupR2Group phase
    2007–08EHF Challenge CupR2Group phase
    2006–07EHF Challenge CupGroup matchesGroup phase
    2005–06EHF Challenge CupR2Group phase

    Individual players' achievements

    Greater-London and South-East Select Men's Team 1981

    Thorkild Hove and Paul Bray[4]

    Players who played for national teams

    Juniors playing for national teams

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Thames Handball Club find the going tough against Great Dane. croydonguardian.co.uk. 22 June 2016.
    2. Web site: Club History. Miguel. Puig. londongdhandball.co.uk. 22 June 2016.
    3. Web site: WOMEN PREMIER HANDBALL LEAGUE. London GD Handball Club. 6 May 2018.
    4. Web site: British Handball History: GLSE Select's first ever game in 1981. britishhandballmemories.blogspot.co.uk. 22 June 2016.

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