David Ames (field hockey)

David Ames
Personal information
Full name David Vincent Leslie Ames
Born 25 June 1989
Durban, South Africa
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Playing position Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current club Oranje-Rood
Youth career
2001–2009 Cookstown High School
Senior career
Years Team
20xx–2010 Cookstown
2009 Ulster Elks
2010–2016 Beeston
2016–2019 Holcombe
2021–present Oranje-Rood
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Ireland 64
2015–present England and GB 119 (4)
Teams coached
2010–2011 Repton School
2011–2012 Nottingham Trent University
2012–2015 University of Nottingham
Medal record
Representing England
EuroHockey Championship
Silver medal – second place 2023 Mönchengladbach
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Amsterdam

David Vincent Leslie Ames (born 25 June 1989) is an Irish field hockey player, who plays as a defender or midfielder for Oranje-Rood and the England and Great Britain national teams.

He represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 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.

Club career

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

Between 2016 and 2019 Ames played in the Men's England Hockey League Premier Division for Holcombe.

Oranje-Rood

In April 2021 he signed a 1-year contract at Dutch Hoofdklasse club Oranje-Rood for the 2021–22 season.

International career

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.

Tournaments Place Team
2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 3rd Ireland
2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II 1st Ireland
2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship 5th Ireland
2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier 2nd Ireland
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals 3rd Great Britain
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship 4th England
2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy 4th Great Britain
2016 Summer Olympics 9th Great Britain
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals 3rd England
2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Final 8th England
2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship 3rd England
2018 Men's Hockey World Cup 4th England
2019 Men's FIH Pro League 4th Great Britain
2019 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship 5th England
2021 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship England

Source:

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
  • Mauritius Cup
    • Winners: 2009: 1
Cookstown
Cookstown High School