Michael_Watt_(field_hockey)

Michael Watt (field hockey)

Michael Watt (field hockey)

Irish field hockey player (b. 1987)


Michael Watt (born 13 April 1987) is a former Ireland men's field hockey international. Between 2006 and 2016 Watt made 201 appearances and scored 54 goals for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At club level, Watt has won the Irish Senior Cup with Instonians, the Scottish Hockey Cup with Grange and the Men's Irish Hockey League with Lisnagarvey. He also played and scored for both Grange and Surbiton in the Euro Hockey League.

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Early years, family and education

Between 1998 and 2005 Watt attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. In addition to playing field hockey at RBAI, Watt also played rugby union for the school. Between 2005 and 2009 he attended Heriot-Watt University were he gained a BSc in Real Estate Management. His older brother, Johnny, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, played rugby union for Ireland at schoolboy and university levels.[1][2][3]

Domestic teams

RBAI

In 2002–03, together with Mark Gleghorne, Watt was a member of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that won the Burney Cup and finished as runners-up in the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship. In 2003–04, together with Paul Gleghorne and John Jackson, he was a member of the RBAI team that won the McCullough Cup, the Burney Cup and the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship.[1]

Instonians

Watts began playing for Instonians while still attending RBAI. In 2003–04, together with Mark and Paul Gleghorne, Watt was a member of the Instonians team that won the Irish Senior Cup, defeating Cork Harlequins 1–0 in the final.[1][4][5] In 2018 Watt re-joined Instonians.[6]

Grange

Between 2005 and 2009, while attending Heriot-Watt University, Watt played for Grange in the Scottish Hockey National League. He was a Grange player when he made his senior debut for Ireland. He also played and scored for Grange in the 2007–08 Euro Hockey League.[1][4] In 2008–09 Watt scored 17 goals for Grange, including two in the Scottish Hockey Cup final as they defeated Inverleith 4–0. He was also named the Scottish Hockey Union Player of the Year.[7][8]

KHC Dragons

During the 2009–10 season Watt played for KHC Dragons in the Men's Belgian Hockey League. Watt also helped coach KHC Dragons youth teams.[2][4][9][10]

RS Tenis

Between 2010 and 2012 Watt played for RS Tenis in the División de Honor de Hockey Hierba. His team mates at RS Tenis included fellow Ireland international, Geoff McCabe. Watt also helped coach RS Tenis youth teams.[2][4][11][12]

SCHC

During the 2012–13 season Watt played for SCHC in the Hoofdklasse. His team mates at SCHC included fellow Ireland international, Conor Harte. Watt also helped coach SCHC youth teams.[2][4][13][14][15]

Surbiton

Between 2013 and 2015 Watt played for Surbiton in the Men's England Hockey League.[16][17] He also played and scored for Surbiton in the 2013–14 Euro Hockey League.[18][19]

Lisnagarvey

In 2015 Watt joined Lisnagarvey.[17] In 2015–16, along with Jonathan Bell, Sean Murray and Paul Gleghorne, Watt was a member of the Lisnagarvey team that won the Men's Irish Hockey League and the EY Champions Trophy.[20][21] Watt and Lisnagarvey also reached the final of the Irish Senior Cup but lost to Monkstown after a penalty shoot-out.[22][23]

Hampstead & Westminster

Between 2016 and 2018 Watt played for Hampstead & Westminster in the Men's England Hockey League.[6][24][25]

Ireland international

Between 2006 and 2016 Watt made 201 appearances and scored 54 goals for Ireland. He made his senior debut for Ireland in July 2006, aged 19, against Poland.[4][26][27][28] In his first major tournament, the 2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier, he scored twice in the opening 4–0 win against France.[1] Watt was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II.[29] He also helped Ireland win Men's FIH Hockey World League tournaments in 2012[30] and 2015.[31] Watt was also a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship.[32][33] He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[34][35][36] He made his last appearance for Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and in November 2017 he announced his official retirement from the team.[1][26][27][28]

Occupation

Between 2013 and 2018 Watt was based in the West End of London where he worked as a surveyor, firstly for the Central London Agency later for Matthews & Goodman. In 2018, together with his brother, Johnny, he returned to Belfast to work for Fred J. Malcolm, a jewellery firm.[2][3][16]

Honours

Ireland
Lisnagarvey
Grange
Instonians
RBAI

References

  1. "Possessed and obsessed, Watt brings down final curtain on an Irish career on the edge". www.hookhockey.com. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Michael Watt". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  3. "Welcome Johnny & Michael Watt". www.fredjmalcolm.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  4. "Olympic biographies – Michael Watt". www.hookhockey.com. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. "Best defence secures the honours for Instonians". www.irishtimes.com. 5 April 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  6. "Watt a capture for Instonians next season". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  7. "Long wait is finally over as Grange capture Scottish Cup". www.scotsman.com. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  8. "Grange star Watt named top player in Scotland". www.scotsman.com. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  9. "Irish squad for BDO World Cup Qualifier announced". www.fih.ch. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  10. "Ireland defeat Chile in qualifier". news.bbc.co.uk. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
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  12. "McCabe the Centurion!". www.newsletter.co.uk. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
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  16. "Matthews & Goodman Graduate Surveyor Turns Olympian". bdaily.co.uk. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
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  20. "Lisnagarvey defeat Banbridge to lift inaugural Champions Trophy". www.newsletter.co.uk. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
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  24. "Lisnagarvey – Men's EYHL preview". www.hookhockey.com. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. "Ireland's Mikie Watt joins Hampstead & Westminster". hwhockey.club. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  26. "Michael Watt bows out as one of Ireland's most successful hockey players". www.irishtimes.com. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  27. "Mikie Watt calls time on Ireland career". www.newsletter.co.uk. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  28. "Forward Michael Watt announces international retirement". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  29. "'Scratchy' Ireland hit USA for six in Lille". www.hookhockey.com. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. "Ireland top World League pool with Swedish romp". www.hookhockey.com. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  32. "M1's Michael Watt In Bid For Euro Semis". surbitonhc.com. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  33. "Caruth heroics edge Ireland into historic semi-final". www.independent.ie. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  34. "Ross and Fearon wish local hockey players Olympic success". www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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  38. "Ireland v Chile - FIH Champions Challenge II Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  39. "Ireland v Japan - FIH Champions Challenge II Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  40. "Champion's Challenge II: Ireland denied on strokes". www.hookhockey.com. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. "Ireland squads named for European C'ship". www.rte.ie. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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  48. "Ireland 4-3 Malaysia (Aet)". www.rte.ie. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
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  51. "Belgium 6–3 Ireland" (PDF). www.fih.ch. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  52. "Captain Fantastic salvages Irish A status, averting Czech disaster". www.hookhockey.com. 25 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  53. "2013 European Men's Hockey". www.olympics.ie. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  54. "England win Investec London Cup in shoot-out thriller". www.englandhockey.co.uk. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  55. "Watt's Ireland Finish Fifth At World League in Antwerp". surbitonhc.com. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  56. "Ireland have shot at Rio 2016 with fifth spot in World Hockey League". www.rte.ie. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.

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