Billy McConnell (field hockey)

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Billy McConnell
Personal information
Full name William David Robert McConnell
Born (1956-04-19) 19 April 1956 (age 67)
Newry, County Down
Northern Ireland
Height 177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 73 kg (161 lb)
Playing position Defender
Senior career
YearsTeam
19xx–19xx Newry Olympic
198x–198x Belfast YMCA
19xx–19xx → Ulster
19xx–199x Holywood 87
National team
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1979–199x Ireland
198x–198x Great Britain
Teams coached
2007–2010 Pegasus
201x–201x Queen's University
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1984 Los Angeles Team
Champions Trophy
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1985 Perth Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1984 Karachi Team
Representing Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg  Ireland
EuroHockey Junior Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1978 DublinTeam

Billy McConnell (born 19 April 1956) is a former field hockey player from Northern Ireland who represented both Ireland and Great Britain at international level. He represented Great Britain at the 1984 Summer Olympics when they won the bronze medal. He also represented Ireland at the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup.

Contents

Domestic teams

McConnell played club field hockey for Newry Olympic, [1] Belfast YMCA [2] and Holywood 87. [3]

International

Ireland

McConnell was a member of the Ireland team that were silver medallists at the 1978 EuroHockey Junior Championship. Other members of the team included Martin Sloan, Jimmy Kirkwood and Stephen Martin. [4] He made his senior Ireland debut in 1979 against the Netherlands. [5] He subsequently represented Ireland at the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup. [6] In 2010 he was inducted into the Irish Hockey Association Hall of Fame. [5] [7] [8]

Great Britain

McConnell represented Great Britain at the 1984 Summer Olympics. [2] McConnell also represented Great Britain in Champions Trophy tournaments, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and a silver in 1985. [9] [10]

TournamentsPlaceTeam
1978 EuroHockey Junior Championship [4] Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Ireland hockey team.svg  Ireland
1984 Summer Olympics [2] Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1984 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [9] Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1985 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [10] Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1986 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [11] 4thFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1987 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [12] 4thFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1989 Intercontinental Cup [13] Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg  Ireland
1990 Men's Hockey World Cup [6] 12thFlag of Ireland hockey team.svg  Ireland

Later years

Between 2007 and 2010 McConnell coached Pegasus. At the time, the Pegasus squad included his daughter, Kate McConnell. [14] [15] [16] Kate was an Ireland women's field hockey international and in 2010–11 was a member of the Pegasus team that won a Women's Irish Hockey League/Irish Senior Cup. She also captained Pegasus. [16] [17] [18] Billy McConnell has also coached at Queen's University. [19]

Related Research Articles

Stephen Alexander Martin is a former field hockey player from Northern Ireland who represented both Ireland and Great Britain at international level. Between 1980 and 1991 he made 135 senior appearances for Ireland. He also captained the Ireland team. He represented Ireland at the 1983, 1987 and 1991 EuroHockey Nations Championships and at the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup. Between 1983 and 1992 Martin also made 94 senior appearances for Great Britain. He represented Great Britain at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and a gold medal in 1988. In 1994 he was awarded an. In 2001 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Ulster University. In 2011 Martin was inducted into the Irish Hockey Association Hall of Fame. After retiring as a field hockey player, Martin became a sports administrator. Between 1998 and 2005 he served as Deputy Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association and between 2006 and 2018 he served as Chief Executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland. He now runs his own leadership and management consultancy business and is an associate consultant at Lane 4.He is currently Chair Commonwealth Games NI.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland men's national field hockey team</span>

The Ireland men's national field hockey team is organised by Hockey Ireland and represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in international men's field hockey competitions, including the Summer Olympics, the Men's Hockey World Cup and the EuroHockey Nations Championship. They have previously competed in the Men's Intercontinental Cup, the Hockey Champions Challenge, the Men's FIH Hockey World League and the FIH Hockey Series. On 26 January 1895 Ireland played in the first ever international field hockey match when they defeated Wales 3–0 in Rhyl. Ireland were finalists and silver medallists at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Ireland were also bronze medallists at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship.

Pegasus Hockey Club is a women's field hockey club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club enter teams in the Women's Irish Hockey League, the Irish Senior Cup, the Irish Junior Cup and the Ulster Shield. Pegasus has also represented Ireland in European competitions. Pegasus was founded in 1961 by students and teachers from the Ulster College of Physical Education, Jordanstown and Stranmillis University College. The Pegasus name is an acronym of Physical Education Girls and Staff Ulster College and Stranmillis.

Iain Lewers is a field hockey player from Northern Ireland who represented Ireland, England and Great Britain at international level. He represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. He was also a member the England teams that won bronze medals at the 2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship and 2014 Commonwealth Games. He also represented England at the 2013 and 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championships and at the 2014 Men's Hockey World Cup. In both 2014 and 2015 Lewers was named the England/Great Britain Player of the Year by the Hockey Writers' Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland women's national field hockey team</span>

The Ireland women's national field hockey team is organised by Hockey Ireland and represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in international women's field hockey competitions, including the Women's Hockey World Cup and the Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship. They have previously competed in the Women's Intercontinental Cup, the Women's Hockey Champions Challenge, Women's FIH Hockey World League and the Women's FIH Hockey Series. On 2 March 1896, Ireland played England in the first ever women's international field hockey match. Ireland were finalists and silver medallists at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup and competed at the 2020 Olympic tournament.

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.

David Vincent Leslie Ames is an Irish field hockey player, who plays as a defender or midfielder for Oranje-Rood and the England and Great Britain national teams.

Ian Martin Sloan is an Irish field hockey player, who plays as a midfielder for Wimbledon and the England and Great Britain national teams.

John Jackson is an Ireland men's field hockey international. 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, he has played for both Loughborough Students and Reading in the Euro Hockey League. He also won the EHA Cup with Reading in 2014–15.

Michael Watt 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.

Eugene Magee Ireland men's field hockey international. 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 and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. At club level he has won Men's Irish Hockey League, Irish Senior Cup and Kirk Cup titles with Banbridge. He has also scored for three clubs – HGC, KHC Dragons and Banbridge – in the Euro Hockey League.

Paul Gleghorne is an Ireland men's field hockey international. 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 and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. At club level, he has won the Men's Irish Hockey League with Lisnagarvey. Gleghorne comes from a family of field hockey internationals. His older brother, Mark, has played for Ireland, England and Great Britain. Two of his aunts, Margaret Gleghorne and Jackie McWilliams, were also Ireland and Great Britain women's internationals.

Sean Murray is an Irish field hockey player who plays as a midfielder for Belgian Hockey League club Gantoise and the Irish national team.

Shirley McCay is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. McCay has played in the Women's Irish Hockey League for Old Alex, Ulster Elks and Pegasus. She was a member of the Ulster Elks team that won two successive Irish Senior Cup titles in 2014–15 and 2015–16. Since 2015 she has been Ireland's most capped women's field hockey international.

Megan Frazer is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup. She has also captained the Ireland team. Frazer was a member of the Maryland Terrapins team that won the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships. Between 2010 and 2012 she was named three times as an NFHCA All-American and in 2011 she also won the Honda Sports Award. Frazer has also won Irish Senior Cup titles with Ulster Elks.

Gillian Pinder is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Pinder has also won Irish Senior Cup and Women's Irish Hockey League titles with UCD.

Ayeisha McFerran is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. She was also named Goalkeeper of the Tournament. McFerran was also a member of the Pegasus team that won the 2014–15 Women's Irish Hockey League. Between 2015 and 2017 she was named three times as an NFHCA All-American while playing for Louisville Cardinals.

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References

  1. ↑ "Testing times in history of Newry". newsletter.co.uk. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Billy McConnell". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "RUC to make historic journey for Junior Cup tie". The Irish Times. 12 January 1996. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Oral History Interview: Stephen (Sam) Martin". hockeymuseum.net. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Hall of Fame Inductees". irishhockey.newsweaver.ie. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Flying with drunken angels, riot police, dodgy curry, potent 7-Up and spotless trainers as Irish play a lament in Lahore". hookhockey.com. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ "Leinster stars feature heavily on Awards night". hookhockey.com. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "Battle for Senior Cup hots up". The Irish Times. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Netherlands v Great Britain". tms.fih.ch. 14 December 1984. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Great Britain v India". tms.fih.ch. 24 November 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "India v Great Britain". tms.fih.ch. 10 April 1986. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "Champions Trophy". sikhsinhockey.com. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "Men's Hockey road to Rio outlined". olympics.ie. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "The symmetry of success". newsletter.co.uk. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "Women's Hockey: Pegasus put title bubbly on ice". Belfast Telegraph. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Kate takes over as the new Pegasus captain". Belfast Telegraph. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "McConnell returns, Clarke in line for 100". hookhockey.com. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "Beaney bashes Pegasus to All-Ireland double". hookhockey.com. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ "Summer Transfers 2018 Premier League Men". ulsterhockey.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
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