The Great Dane meets the new Danish giant

The draw of the EHF Cup took place before KIF Kolding of Denmark, and former players and sponsors from AG Kobenhavn joined up with KIF Kolding. Now an amateur club from London will face one of the emerging forces in European handball.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for London Great Dane Handball Club,” commented Ulrik Juhl Tingrupp, a new member of the club from Denmark. “I just hope friends and family can make it to the game,” continued Tingrupp.

Remus Bugariu, the chairman of London GD Handball Club stated: “It is a funny coincidence that 36 years after its creation by Danish students, we are in the position to play against one of the great names in European handball, which also happens to be a Danish team.”

The native from Romania, and a long lasting figure in handball in the United Kingdom, knows that the challenge ahead of his team is tough. “Of course we want to show that with limited funding, some small sponsors and with only two training sessions a week we are able to play decent handball and give Kolding a fair game. We are training hard and we didn’t take any break this summer.” 

London Great Dane Handball club was founded by Danish students in 1976. It was originally a club for girls, the club moved on to become a mixed club and a driving force of handball development in the UK. From 2000 to 2012, the men’s team has claimed seven English crowns and eight cups. The European adventure began in 2005 when the Great Dane travelled to Luxembourg for their first EHF Challenge Cup. 

Radu Miclaus, the executive director of the club and a member since in 2004 stated: “It’s a very international team, with around 15 nationalities and everyone brings in its own handball culture.” The hard work carried out by the club and its members eventually paid and in the last season, when the club managed to reach the Second Round of the EHF Challenge Cup finishing first in its group in Malta. 

London Great Dane Handball club will face KIF Kolding in Round 1 of the EHF Cup over two matches on the 15 and 16 September. 

Further information

For more information on the EHF Cup Round 1 click here.

For more information on London GD Handball click here or visit their facebook page

Photo: Harald Haugan