Following the initial suspension of all league and cup competitions in March 2020 due to the onset of the Covid-19 coronavirus health pandemic, the England Handball Association ultimately confirmed on 4 May 2020 that the 2019/20 season has been voided.
Due to the uncertainties as to when sport could resume, and to enable clubs to focus on preparing for the next 2020/21 campaign (all being well come the autumn), the EHA’s inevitable decision to cancel all outstanding unplayed matches and void all incomplete competitions means that no league or cup champions will be declared this year and no promotions or relegations across the leagues.
At the point of lockdown, Newcastle Vikings’ men were sitting top of their Regional League North, one point clear of Warrington Wolves II and the University of Manchester. The Vikings ladies were lying in fourth place in their league, six points behind leaders Liverpool. However, while both teams had two postponed matches yet to be played, most other teams had one or more games in hand, such that final positions were by no means certain.
Additionally, Newcastle Vikings Handball Club unavoidably had to cancel the 2020 Tyneside Handball Tournament that had been due to take place in early May, while this summer’s British Beach Handball Championships has also been cancelled.