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.
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 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.
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.
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. In 2018 Watt re-joined Instonians.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Surbiton Between 2013 and 2015 Watt played for Surbiton in the Men's England Hockey League. He also played and scored for Surbiton in the 2013–14 Euro Hockey League.
Lisnagarvey In 2015 Watt joined Lisnagarvey. 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. Watt and Lisnagarvey also reached the final of the Irish Senior Cup but lost to Monkstown after a penalty shoot-out.
Hampstead & Westminster Between 2016 and 2018 Watt played for Hampstead & Westminster in the Men's England Hockey League.
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. In his first major tournament, the 2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier, he scored twice in the opening 4–0 win against France. Watt was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II. He also helped Ireland win Men's FIH Hockey World League tournaments in 2012 and 2015. Watt was also 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. He made his last appearance for Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and in November 2017 he announced his official retirement from the team.
Tournaments Place2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier4th2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II 2nd2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers3rd2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II1st2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship5th2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier2nd2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 11st2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I3rd2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 22nd2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals7th2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship6th2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup2nd2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 21st2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals5th2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship2016 Summer Olympics10th
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.
Honours Ireland Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1 Winners: 2012 Cardiff Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 Winners: 2015 San Diego Runners up: 2013 New Delhi Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II Winners: 2011 Runners up: 2009 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier Runners up: 2012 Men's Hockey Investec Cup Runners up: 2014 Lisnagarvey Men's Irish Hockey League Winners: 2015–16: 1 EY Champions Trophy Winners: 2016: 1 Irish Senior Cup Runners up: 2015–16: 1 Grange Scottish Hockey Cup Winners: 2008–09: 1 Instonians Irish Senior Cup Winners: 2003–04: 1 RBAI All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship Winners: 2003–04: 1 Runners up: 2002–03: 1 Burney Cup Winners: 2002–03, 2003–04: 2 McCullough Cup Winners: 2003–04: 1
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