Hapoel is one of the oldest handball clubs in the country, the most successful period was in the late-1960s and early-1970s when the team won 3 championships.
The last time Petah Tikva played in the top division was in the 1996-97 season, they finished 12 out 14 and did not manage to win the relegation playoff.
In August 1997 Hapoel merged with Maccabi Petah Tikva and played as Ironi Petah Tikva for 12 seasons in the top division. In September 2009 the merger was over as the supporters of Hapoel reformed their team.[1]
