David Ames (field hockey)


David Vincent Leslie Ames is a field hockey player from Northern Ireland who has represented Ireland, England and Great Britain at international level. He represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Ames was a member of the England team that won the bronze medal at the 2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented England at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup.

Domestic teams

Cookstown High School

Ames attended Cookstown High School between 2001 and 2009. Between 2007 and 2009 he captained the Cookstown High School team that won the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship and two successive Burney Cup/McCullough Cup doubles. In the 2007–08 Burney Cup final David Ames scored four goals as Cookstown High defeated the Royal and Prior School of Raphoe 6–3 after extra time. In the 2008–09 McCullough Cup final David Ames scored twice as Cookstown High defeated Sullivan Upper School 3–0 in the final. In the 2008–09 Burney Cup final Ames opened the scoring as Cookstown High defeated Banbridge Academy 4–3 in the final.

Cookstown

In 2008–09 Ames was a member of the Cookstown team that played in the Irish Senior Cup final, losing 6–0 to Pembroke Wanderers.

Ulster Elks

Ames played for Ulster Elks at intervarsity level, helping them win the 2009 Mauritius Cup.

Beeston

Between 2010 and 2016 Ames played for Beeston in the Men's England Hockey League Premier Division. He also played for Beeston in the Euro Hockey League In 2015–16 Ames was voted Player's Player of the Year in the Men's English Hockey League.

Holcombe

Since December 2016 Ames has played in the Men's England Hockey League Premier Division for Holcombe.

International

Ireland

Between 2008 and 2012, Ames made 64 senior international appearances for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II. He also represented Ireland at the 2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, the 2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship and at a 2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier. In April 2012 Ames made his last appearance for Ireland in a 2–1 away win against Germany. Ames and Ian Sloan both scored for Ireland. In January 2013 Ames and Sloan announced that they were switching allegiances from Ireland to England/Great Britain.

Great Britain

Having previously played for Ireland, Ames had to wait for three years before he was eligible to play for Great Britain. He eventually made his debut for Great Britain in April 2015 in a 3–2 win against Germany in an unofficial international. He made his official debut for Great Britain on 14 May 2015, in a 1–1 draw against Argentina. He subsequently represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

England

Ames has represented England at the 2015 and 2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championships, and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup.
TournamentsPlaceTeam
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
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals3rd
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship4th
2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy4th
2016 Summer Olympics9th
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals3rd
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Final8th
2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship3rd
2018 Men's Hockey World Cup4th
2019 Men's FIH Pro League4th
2019 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship5th

Field hockey coach

In addition to playing the game, Ames has also worked as a field hockey coach. He was a coach at Repton School between 2010 and 2011. During the 2011–12 season he was the head coach of the Nottingham Trent University first team. Between 2011 and 2017 he was a junior coach at Beeston. Between 2012 and 2015 he was coach of the University of Nottingham first team and in 2015 guided them to an intervarsity title. Since 2012 Ames has worked for MT13, a field hockey coaching company, and since 2013 he has served as a field hockey development officer at Rugby School.

Honours

;Ireland
;Beeston
;Ulster Elks
;Cookstown
;Cookstown High School