Michael Watt (field hockey)

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.

Michael Watt
Personal information
Full name Michael Watt
Born (1987-04-13) 13 April 1987 (age 37)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 79 kg (174 lb)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
1998–2005 RBAI
Senior career
Years Team
199x–2005 Instonians
2005–2009 Grange
2009–2010 KHC Dragons
2010–2012 RS Tenis
2012–2013 SCHC
2013–2015 Surbiton
2015–2016 Lisnagarvey
2016–2018 Hampstead & Westminster
2018– Instonians
National team
Years Team Caps Goals
2006–2016 Ireland 201 (54)
Medal record
Representing  Ireland
EuroHockey Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 London

Early years, family and education

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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 where 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

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RBAI

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Ireland international

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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]

Tournaments Place
2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier[37] 4th
2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II[38][39][40] 2nd
2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers[9][10] 3rd
2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II[29] 1st
2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[41][42][43][44] 5th
2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier[45][46][47][48][49] 2nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1[30] 1st
2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I[14][50] 3rd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2[51][52] 2nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals[53] 7th
2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[15][54][55] 6th
2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup[56] 2nd
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2[31] 1st
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals[57][58] 5th
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[32][33]  
2016 Summer Olympics[34][36] 10th

Occupation

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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

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Ireland
Lisnagarvey
Grange
Instonians
RBAI

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ a b c d e "Michael Watt". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Welcome Johnny & Michael Watt". www.fredjmalcolm.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Irish squad for BDO World Cup Qualifier announced". www.fih.ch. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Ireland defeat Chile in qualifier". news.bbc.co.uk. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Player exodus hockey's big talking point". news.bbc.co.uk. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  12. ^ "McCabe the Centurion!". www.newsletter.co.uk. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  13. ^ "SCHC Heren 2012 / 2013" (in Dutch). hoofdklassehockey.nl. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Meredith includes just six Irish-based players in first squad". www.irishtimes.com. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Jackson to lead Irish men in Boom". www.hookhockey.com. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ a b "Matthews & Goodman Graduate Surveyor Turns Olympian". bdaily.co.uk. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Watt a signing as Garvey go clear at the top". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Surbiton impress in EHL 2013-14 opener". ehlhockey.tv. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Half dozen Irish come unstuck in EHL". www.hookhockey.com. 18 April 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "Lisnagarvey defeat Banbridge to lift inaugural Champions Trophy". www.newsletter.co.uk. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Reception held to honour champions Lisnagarvey HC". www.lisburntoday.co.uk. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Lisnagarvey fall to Monkstown in Irish Senior Cup final". www.newsletter.co.uk. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Jonny Bruton helps Monkstown snatch Irish Senior Clup glory". www.irishtimes.com. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  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. ^ a b "Michael Watt bows out as one of Ireland's most successful hockey players". www.irishtimes.com. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Mikie Watt calls time on Ireland career". www.newsletter.co.uk. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Forward Michael Watt announces international retirement". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  29. ^ a b "'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. ^ a b "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)
  31. ^ a b "Ireland add gold to Olympic progression as O'Donoghue shoots down Austria". www.hookhockey.com. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ a b "M1's Michael Watt In Bid For Euro Semis". surbitonhc.com. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  33. ^ a b "Caruth heroics edge Ireland into historic semi-final". www.independent.ie. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  34. ^ a b "Ross and Fearon wish local hockey players Olympic success". www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Rio 2016 Olympic Games - Day 2 - Hockey Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  36. ^ a b "Michael Watt". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Irish men prepare for Olympic qualifiers". www.rte.ie. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  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.
  42. ^ "Jermyn's strokes of genius earns rising Irish big win over France". www.hookhockey.com. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  43. ^ "Ireland v France - Group B - GANT EuroHockey Nations Men's Championships 2011 Photos". www.sportsfile. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  44. ^ "Ireland v Netherlands - Group B - GANT EuroHockey Nations Men's Championships 2011 Photos". www.sportsfile. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Men's hockey: Russia no match for Ireland". www.the42.ie. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  46. ^ "Ireland 12-0 Ukraine". www.rte.ie. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  47. ^ "Ireland v Malaysia - Men's 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Jermyn raises roof to set up Olympic decider". www.hookhockey.com. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ "Irish men's hockey team suffer late heartbreak". www.the42.ie. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  50. ^ "Ireland 4-3 Malaysia (Aet)". www.rte.ie. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  51. ^ "Meredith heads to Delhi event with strong Irish squad". www.irishtimes.com. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  52. ^ "O'Donoghue drags Ireland into World League round three". www.hookhockey.com. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  53. ^ "Belgium 6–3 Ireland" (PDF). www.fih.ch. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  54. ^ "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)
  55. ^ "2013 European Men's Hockey". www.olympics.ie. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  56. ^ "England win Investec London Cup in shoot-out thriller". www.englandhockey.co.uk. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  57. ^ "Watt's Ireland Finish Fifth At World League in Antwerp". surbitonhc.com. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  58. ^ "Ireland have shot at Rio 2016 with fifth spot in World Hockey League". www.rte.ie. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.