Billy McConnell (field hockey) explained

Billy McConnell
Full Name:William David Robert McConnell
Birth Date:1956 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Newry, County Down
Northern Ireland
Height:177 cm
Weight:73 kg
Position:Defender
Years1:19xx–19xx
Clubs1:Newry Olympic
Years2:198x–198x
Clubs2:Belfast YMCA
Years3:19xx–19xx
Clubs3:→ Ulster
Years4:19xx–199x
Clubs4:Holywood 87
Nationalyears1:1979–199x
Nationalteam1:Ireland
Nationalyears2:198x–198x
Nationalteam2:Great Britain
Manageryears1:2007–2010
Managerclubs1:Pegasus
Manageryears2:201x–201x
Managerclubs2:Queen's University

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.

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
1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy
1985 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy
1986 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy[11] 4th
1987 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy[12] 4th
1989 Intercontinental Cup[13]
1990 Men's Hockey World Cup12th

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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Testing times in history of Newry. newsletter.co.uk. 11 June 2019. 6 February 2013.
  2. News: Billy McConnell. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041401/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mc/billy-mcconnell-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. sports-reference.com. 11 June 2019.
  3. News: RUC to make historic journey for Junior Cup tie. The Irish Times. 11 June 2019. 12 January 1996.
  4. Web site: Oral History Interview: Stephen (Sam) Martin. hockeymuseum.net. 28 August 2015. 6 May 2019.
  5. Web site: Hall of Fame Inductees. irishhockey.newsweaver.ie. 26 May 2019. 30 May 2010.
  6. Web site: Flying with drunken angels, riot police, dodgy curry, potent 7-Up and spotless trainers as Irish play a lament in Lahore. https://web.archive.org/web/20200203223056/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2016/08/flying-with-drunken-angels-riot-police-dodgy-curry-potent-7-up-and-spotless-trainers-as-irish-play-a-lament-in-lahore/#.XM3fOvZFxy0. usurped. 3 February 2020. hookhockey.com. 3 August 2016. 4 May 2019.
  7. Web site: Leinster stars feature heavily on Awards night. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301195445/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2010/05/leinster-stars-feature-heavily-on-awards-night/#.XOqtKvZFxy0. usurped. 1 March 2020. hookhockey.com. 26 May 2019. 30 May 2010.
  8. Web site: Battle for Senior Cup hots up. The Irish Times. 23 April 2010. 26 May 2019.
  9. Web site: Netherlands v Great Britain . tms.fih.ch. 14 December 1984. 3 May 2019.
  10. Web site: Great Britain v India . tms.fih.ch. 24 November 1985. 3 May 2019.
  11. Web site: India v Great Britain . tms.fih.ch. 10 April 1986. 3 May 2019.
  12. Web site: Champions Trophy . sikhsinhockey.com. 11 June 2019.
  13. Web site: Men's Hockey road to Rio outlined. olympics.ie. 20 December 2013. 11 June 2019. 16 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190616195745/https://olympics.ie/sports/hockey/9129-mens-hockey-road-to-rio-outlined.html. dead.
  14. News: The symmetry of success. newsletter.co.uk. 11 June 2019. 29 May 2008.
  15. News: Women's Hockey: Pegasus put title bubbly on ice. Belfast Telegraph. 12 June 2019. 27 April 2010.
  16. News: Kate takes over as the new Pegasus captain. Belfast Telegraph. 12 June 2019. 21 November 2012.
  17. Web site: McConnell returns, Clarke in line for 100. https://web.archive.org/web/20200812120959/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2010/08/mcconnell-returns-clarke-in-line-for-100/#.XQFQMPZFxy0. usurped. 12 August 2020. hookhockey.com. 3 August 2010. 12 June 2019.
  18. Web site: Beaney bashes Pegasus to All-Ireland double. https://web.archive.org/web/20110528102502/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2011/05/beaney-bashes-pegasus-to-all-ireland-double/#.XQFPGfZFxy0. usurped. 28 May 2011. hookhockey.com. 1 May 2011. 12 June 2019.
  19. News: Summer Transfers 2018 Premier League Men. ulsterhockey.com. 11 June 2019. 14 September 2018.

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