Our History

2025/26
With the Men ascending to the Premier League for the first time in their history, they were given a stark reminder of the standard expected of them in a 31–17 defeat to long-time veterans London GD.

It also saw long time youth players Lola Fitzsimmons and Eliza Cutler be called up to the GB National team for the Under-20s and Under-18s at the IHF Tournament in Kosovo.

2024/25
The 2024/25 season was a historic one for Bristol Handball Club, with the men's team winning the EHA National League South and securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.

Bristol sealed promotion with a 29–27 victory over Chelsea in the final match of the season, winning the Premier League South play-off.

2023/24
The 23/24 season saw a struggling south-west area for teams, meaning that Bristol had to travel afar to continue playing the sport, with trips to Cambridge and central London.

For the men, they ultimately made the play-offs for the premier league by technicality, after an up and down season that saw some energetic play and determination. Ultimately, the loss to Chelsea Handball Club on the final play-off sealed their fate for another season in the UK's second division.

For the Women, it was a season where they had become competitive again, picking up a few wins with the addition of a number of further players. Ultimately it led to them finishing in mid-table, but it showed them the path that they were heading towards, being back towards their best as shown in the 2018–19 season.

2022/23
With the restructure to the Men's league in 22/23, the rats saw themselves neck and neck in an exciting league run, losing the title to Oxford Handball club on goal difference, following two draws home and away. In the National Cup, they took on Islington Handball Club and Chelsea Handball Club, before eventually succumbing to winners to be, NEM Hawks.

Bristol Women's team looked to get more players into the team. New additions to the team made the team more competitive.

2018/19
Following promotion for the men's team in 2017/18, a second men's team was formed for the 2018/19 season. The team was named Bristol Spartans to highlight the link between Bristol Handball Club and Somerset Spartans whose youth teams feed into BHC's senior teams. The men's first team play in the EHA National League South, whereas Bristol Spartans continue BHC's representation in the EHA Regional League South West. The women's team continue to compete in the EHA Regional League South West.

During October 2018, Bristol were proud to support 17 year old BHC and Somerset Spartan player George Sawyer who represented Great Britain in Kosovo in the IHF Trophy where GB finished with the silver medal.

2017/18
The start of 2017/18 season saw a lot of player changes, with new players coming in and a number of the international students heading home. The league itself was also rebranded as the Regional League South West.

The men's team had an excellent year, registering their first victory over Bath University for a number of years and ending up as Champions with 5 more points than runners up and last year's champions South Wales. At the end of the season, Bristol played Chelsea at the Derby Arena for a place in the National League South. Bristol were victorious winning 36–32 to secure promotion.

The women's team recorded victories against every team in the league at least once during the season, with the exception of Reading, who finished as league champions and were promoted to the Premier Handball League. In the National Cup, Bristol reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by London GD at the Copper Box Arena in London.

2016/17
A mixed season for the players of both men's and ladies teams in 2016/17, with the men finishing fourth in the South West Regional Development League and the ladies finishing fifth.

2015/16
In 2015/16 Bristol Handball Club and local rivals Bath University thought closely for the league, however it was down to games between the two clubs that ended with Bath winning and Bristol finishing second in the SW Development League.

2011/12
Bristol Handball Club lost out on promotion to England's top level in 2011/2012 at the final hurdle, losing out in the play-offs. This being their most successful season at that time.

2009/10
Despite Bristol Handball not being in the top tier of English Handball the club upset Liverpool Handball Club in the 2009/10 EHA Cup in a low scoring 16–13 win against the top-tier side. Bristol Handball faced Manchester (one of the top three ranked teams in the country) in their quarter-final tie and lost narrowly 30–25.