David Harte (field hockey)


David Harte is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He captained Ireland at both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. He was also a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. At club level, he was a member of the SV Kampong team that won the 2015–16 Euro Hockey League. Harte has won national league titles in Ireland, the Netherlands and Malaysia and has played in the Hockey India League. In both 2015 and 2016 he was named the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year. Harte's twin brother, Conor, and his sister, Emer, are also Ireland field hockey internationals. The Harte brothers have lined out together with eight different field hockey teams – Bandon Grammar School, Cork Harlequins, Pembroke Wanderers, DCU, SCHC, Dabang Mumbai, Munster and Ireland.

Early years, family and education

Harte was raised in Ballinspittle, near Kinsale, West Cork. His mother was from Ballyheigue, County Kerry where his grandfather won county hurling medals. His father, Kieran Harte is a member of the prominent Tyrone GAA family. He was a goalkeeper for Tyrone in the 1972 Ulster Senior Football Championship final. Kieran's team mates on the day included his first cousin, Mickey Harte. Consequently David Harte is also a cousin of Michaela McAreavey, Mark Harte, Peter Harte and his Gaelic footballer namesake, David Harte. Harte's twin brother, Conor, is also an Ireland men's field hockey international and his sister, Emer is an Ireland women's field hockey international. In his youth Harte played gaelic games with Courcey Rovers and also played badminton and tennis. Harte was educated at Bandon Grammar School and at Dublin City University where he gained a Bachelor of Science in PE and biology and qualified to become a teacher. He is currently studying for an MA in Sports Business from Leeds Beckett University.

Domestic teams

Bandon Grammar School

Harte began playing field hockey at the age of thirteen at Bandon Grammar School. In 2005 David and Conor Harte helped Bandon win the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship.

Cork Harlequins

While studying for their Leaving Cert at Bandon Grammar School, David and Conor Harte, also played for Cork Harlequins, helping them win the 2006 Irish Senior Cup.

Pembroke Wanderers

While studying at Dublin City University, Harte also began playing for Pembroke Wanderers. In 2008–09, together with his brother Conor, Ronan Gormley, Stuart Loughrey, Justin Sheriff, Craig Fulton and Alan Sothern, Harte was a member of the Pembroke Wanderers team that won the Irish Senior Cup, the Men's Irish Hockey League and the EuroHockey Club Trophy. While playing for Wanderers, the Harte brothers also represented DCU at intervarsity level.

SCHC

In 2010 Harte began playing for SCHC. Harte had just accepted a job offer as a PE teacher at Sutton Park School when SCHC invited him to play for them. His brother, Conor, also played for SCHC.

SV Kampong

In 2012 Harte began playing for SV Kampong. He was a member of the SV Kampong team that won the 2015–16 Euro Hockey League. In 2016–17 and 2017–18 he helped Kampong win the Hoofdklasse title.

Hockey India League

At the 2014 Hockey India League players' auction, Harte was drafted by Mumbai Magicians for $11,000. The 2015 Hockey India League season saw Harte drafted by Dabang Mumbai for $51,000. His brother Conor was also drafted by Dabang Mumbai for $10,000. Harte was retained by Dabang Mumbai for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Dabang Mumbai retained him after paying $65,000 in the players' auction, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in the league. In 2017 Harte helped Dabang Mumbai finish as runners up in the league.

UniKL

With no Hockey India League in 2018, Harte played for UniKL in the Malaysia Hockey League, helping them win their first title. In 2019 he again played for UniKL in the Malaysia Hockey League.

Ireland international

Harte made his senior debut for Ireland in August 2006 in a Celtic Cup game against France. Harte's brother, Conor, and his sister, Emer, also made their senior international debuts on the same day. Harte was a member of the Ireland teams that won the 2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy and the 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II. He also helped Ireland win Men's FIH Hockey World League tournaments in 2012, 2015 and 2017. He has captained the Ireland team since 2015. In 2015 Harte was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the World League Round 2, the World League Semifinals and the Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. Along the way he helped Ireland qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics and win the bronze medal at the 2015 EuroHockey Championships. He was subsequently named FIH Goalkeeper of the Year for the first time. He won the award for a second time in 2016. In June 2017 Harte was a member of the Ireland team that won the Hamburg Masters, defeating Germany 4–2 in the final.
TournamentsPlace
2007 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship7th
2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier4th
2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II2nd
2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy1st
2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers3rd
2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II1st
2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship5th
2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier2nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 11st
2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I3rd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 22nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals7th
2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship6th
2014 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I4th
2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup2nd
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 21st
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals5th
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship
2016 Summer Olympics10th
2017 Hamburg Masters1st
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 21st
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals5th
2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship6th
2018 Men's Four Nations Cup4th
2018 Men's Hockey World Cup14th
2018–19 Men's FIH Series Finals2nd

Honours

;Ireland
;SV Kampong
;UniKL
;Dabang Mumbai
;Pembroke Wanderers
;Cork Harlequins
;Bandon Grammar School
;Individual
Goalkeeper of the Tournament
2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I
2014 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2